The April 5, 2021 #sschat—a moderated Twitter chat using the #sschat hashtag—was chock full of innovative ideas to teach social studies skills from educators across the country. Here is how the group defines itself on the #sschat website. #sschat is more than a hashtag, it’s an open group of dedicated network of educators and enthusiasts who aim to improve their personal, and our collective, teaching of social studies subject matter. We aim to help social studies teachers by helping to … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Event Happenings
May 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This graphic organizer can be used to analyze images that capture an event. The Who, What, Where, When, Why and How are good guides for framing and understanding an aspect of an event and to help with identifying areas for further research. Download the worksheet More primary source analysis strategies Analyzing Primary Sources: Close Observation & Purposeful Questions Analyzing Primary Sources: Close Reading Markup Strategies Analyzing Primary Sources: Image Sequencing … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Middle School (6-8) Image Analysis Choice Board
May 7, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This choice board is targeted to students in grades 6-8 They may use images found in the home; in newspapers, magazines or books; on television (if there is a pause feature); or online to complete the activities and may write or record (audio or video) their responses. If students have online access, below are several links to a variety of image sets. You may allow them to browse and choose images or you may curate your own set for them to use. Subject primary sources Conservation & … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Later Elementary (3-5) Image Analysis Choice Board
May 4, 2020 by 1 Comment
This choice board is targeted to students in grades 3-5. They may use images found in the home; in newspapers, magazines or books; on television (if there is a pause feature); or online to complete the activities and may write or record (audio or video) their responses. If students have online access, below are several links to a variety of image sets. You may allow them to browse and choose images or you may curate your own set for them to use. Children image sets Children Children … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Early Elementary (K-2) Image Analysis Choice Board
April 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This choice board is targeted to K-2 students. They may use images found in the home; in newspapers, magazines or books; on television (if there is a pause feature); or online to complete the activities and may write or record (audio or video) their responses. If students have online access, below are several links to a variety of image sets. You may allow them to browse and choose images or you may curate your own set for them to use. Children image sets Children Children & … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Bonus Veterans
November 10, 2019 by 1 Comment
Carefully study the details of the Bonus Veterans photograph above. Brainstorm a list of questions you would need answered in order to write an article about this image. Share your questions with an elbow partner, then investigate this primary source image set to see what questions you were able to answer. Write a brief summary of what you learned. Work in groups to review the Washington, D.C. Evening Star coverage of the "Bonus Army" (see links below). Read the headlines and first couple of … [Read more...]
Integrating Tech: Post-It App & Primary Source Analysis
October 21, 2019 by 1 Comment
In a TPS Network resource album available to the public, elementary teacher librarian and former teacher in residence at the Library of Congress, Tom Bober (@CaptainLibrary), outlines how his students analyzed an historical newspaper article using the See Think Wonder strategy that layered in the Post-it® app for iPad to help organize students' thinking. The analysis activity was followed up by a reading of A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women's Rights. Resources … [Read more...]
Learning from the Source: Gettysburg Address Game On
November 12, 2018 by 1 Comment
This lesson may be completed in whole or in part, depending on the needs of your students and the time that you have. FOCUS QUESTION In what ways is equality a proposition, or belief, worth fighting for? LESSON OVERVIEW Students will consider whether equality is important to our democracy as they develop a deep understanding of the literary and historical value of the Gettysburg Address through a game-based close reading of the text. LESSON OBJECTIVES Analyze primary sources … [Read more...]
Integrating Technology: Making Myriopticons
May 24, 2018 by 1 Comment
OK, so this post isn't about digital technology but it does present an idea for combining history with a maker lab of sorts that incorporates math, engineering and art. Let's take a look at a blog post from In Custodia Legis, which features, “A Historical Panorama of the Rebellion” myriopticon, a toy manufactured by Milton Bradley around 1865. "The myriopticon was an educational device targeted at prepubescent boys that consists of a box containing a painted scroll and two scroll tubes. A key … [Read more...]
Timely Connections: Fake News & Civic Reasoning
November 17, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Practicing primary source analysis helps students develop historical thinking skills that also happen to be very important civic literacy skills. In an article from the Fall 2017 issue of American Educator, Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) provides assessments of online civic reasoning and tips for going beyond identifying news as "fake" or "real" to understanding where information comes from and who is behind it. Social studies consultant and History Tech blogger Glenn Wiebe provides … [Read more...]
Congress abolished the slave trade in Washington D.C., as part of the Compromise of 1850. Check out our 
Elisah Graves Otis sold his first elevator. Check out our 