The Teaching Challenge
Teaching today is a challenge. Your biggest challenge is finding the time to get everything done. That’s what I hope to help with in this series of posts. Each will address the best websites, strategies, and resources for teaching the Social Studies content areas. In this post, We’ll take a look at everything for U.S. History.
Teaching U.S. History
As our nation ages, so does the amount of content we have to teach in our U.S. History classes. Getting everything in, and actually making it through the Vietnam era can be a challenge. Let me help with great tools to put in your teacher toolbox – and all in one place! Teaching U.S History will be a breeze!
Great Links for Teaching U.S. History
- Explore by Timeline – This government program lays out U.S. History in a timeline format. It’s great for student research and for helping students evaluate the changes over time in America.
- History Channel – The History Channel not only has great videos and documentaries son U.S. History, but you can also find great articles with vivid imagery or primary source illustrations.
- National Archives – This is your place to go for everything primary source! It has America’s founding documents and great links to help your students study American history through documents.
- Library of Congress – The LOC is another treasure trove of great American documents. You can also find the WPA collections and others documenting eras in American history.
- Smithsonian – Smithsonian sites like the National Museum of American History, the African American Museum, the Native American Museum and the Art Institute can help you find topic specific primary sources and enriched articles on the people of America throughout our history.
- U.S. History Textbook – This website is exactly like it sounds – it’s an old fashioned textbook. Somewhat dry in content delivery, like any textbook, but it does have the content and is helpful in research and remedial presentation.
- More Websites for Primary Sources – This list was compiled a few years ago, but is still filled with great links for all the primary sources you could possibly want for teaching U.S. History.
- Websites for Current Events – There are so many options for incorporating current events, and this is just a short list of some of those great options.
Great Strategies for Teaching U.S. History
Most Social Studies teachers are tasked with teaching different subjects. While they are all within our wheelhouse, there are different strategies that are best suited for each. Knowing and utilizing these strategies can be very helpful in leading you students toward success. Teaching U.S. History with these strategies is your best bet for a good start!
- Timeline Development – One of the most vital tools for the U.S. History classroom is the timeline. But don’t just show students timelines; let them create illustrated, annotated timeline. This will help them practice a number of vital skills while also reinforcing the content in your units. Find Timeline activities here.
- Mapping Change Over Time or History Events – Mapping is something your students should be practicing in every unit, but not just the locations of places. Instead, teach them to map events where they can begin to see the evolution of history and how the nation has changed over time. Find Mapping activities here.
- Walking Tours or Gallery Walks – These resources help you to present large amounts of information in a quick manner. Take tours of events, changes over time, or through the effects of an era in history. See Walking Tours here.
- Analyze Primary Sources – Teaching U.S. History is so much easier (and less controversial) if you teach with primary sources. Let your students analyze primary sources to view varied perspectives on events of our past. And I’ve done th ewer for you on this one! Examine individual topics or eras or grab the full year of primary sources to help your students see real images, quotes, statistics, and more throughout American History.
- Use Images to Bring History Alive – America is young, so that means much of our history is there to see in photographs. Let your student evaluate images for a greater understanding of the time, places, and events of America’s past. Need a step by step for image analysis? Take a look at this post.
Great Resources for Teaching U.S. History
I know you are super busy, so let me cut to the chase. If you are overwhelmed, a new teacher, or just overwhelmed with trying to organize everything, I have a resource that will help you while also providing your students a structured curriculum to guide them through the year.
Examine U.S. History from Settlement to the Age of Terror with rigorous, comprehensive lessons on each era in history. And here’s the best part – there are over 10 teaching resources for each era, so you can pick and choose what you use each unit. Use them all, or mix and match.
- Start with a brief reading that hits the highlights and introduces the key vocabulary.
- Follow up with mapping activities that help your student identify America in that time and place.
- Timeline the major events.
- Evaluate the important people and their differing perspectives.
- Examine primary sources to step back into history.
- Categorize topics from the era to help determine the big picture and trends of the era.
- Compare and contrast the era in time to previous eras in American history.
- Write to practice skills, including using document based questions and primary source analysis.
Unlike my other full courses, this one allows you more freedom to pick and choose what you want to do in your classes on your own schedule. And you can still use the resources in collaborative ways to make your classes more interactive and engaging. Teaching U.S. History will be easier than every before!
Have More Questions?
I am always just an email away! Email me at Michele@Micheleluckssocialstudies.com with any questions or concerns. I’d be happy to guide you to links, strategies, or resource that will help you teach easier and better in your U.S. History classroom!
And, as always, if you ever need a resource or need help with one of my resources, please let me know!
Happy Teaching!
