Let’s Teach History: Tips and Ideas for Teaching

In this episode, I’ll show you a way to quickly plan out your entire US History course.  I’ll also discuss a few ways to get caught up if you are behind, and we’ll discuss why it’s not the end of the world if you don’t cover all of the content in the book.   Show Notes and Resources: How I Organized My Units Random Acts of Kindness:  True Stories of America’s Civil War – Book on Amazon  

In this episode, I’ll give you tons of free resources to help you teach the Battle of Britain.  Get a discussion starter, video recommendations, assignment ideas, and more! Discussion Starter Free World War II Worksheet/Summary on TPT (scroll down to page 5 and 6) Battle of Britain PowerPoint (skip to slide 23 for the B of B stuff) Good Summary Video Adolf Hitler: Battle of Britain – Biography.com Video (2:11) Winston Churchill – Video on History Channel (5:11) Animated Summary of the Blitz – Video on History Channel (1 min.) Interviews with Battle of Britain Veterans – Video (3:44) Air Raid Siren Sound Effect on iTunes Battle of Britain Assignments Part of Churchill’s Battle of Britain Speech – Audio only Text of End of Churchill’s Battle of Britain Speech Interactive Infographic (scroll down past the picture of the plane and give it a second to load) RAF Infographic Photo:  MH65477 from Imperial War Museum Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I discuss the importance of documenting student behavior and give you an easy way to do so.  Stay tuned for interesting facts at the end! Student Behavior Record with Checkboxes Student Behavior Record Blank Parent Communication Log Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I’ll tell you how to use a fun facts quiz in your classroom to grab your students’ attention.  I’ll also give you some awesome (and little-known) facts about Thomas Edison. My New Product on TPT – Create a Twitter Page for a Historical Figure:  Template and 46 Assignments Thomas Edison Fun Facts Free PowerPoint (See link below to purchase the full version with pictures and interesting facts.) Full Thomas Edison Fun Facts Quiz and Powerpoint on TPT “Ford and Edison’s Excellent Camping Adventures” – Cool article from History.com Picture Source: Library of Congress, Public Domain Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0  

In this episode, I discuss what you should put on your board so that students, administrators, and others know what is going on in your classroom.  Stay tuned for interesting facts at the end! What is an essential question? Teddy Roosevelt as a young man – Fierce! Recording of Teddy Roosevelt – Library of Congress   Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I’ll discuss a fun activity to help students relate to Native American culture, as well as some great video resources. Show Notes and Resources: The Buffalo and Native Americans – History Channel Video (2 min.) American Buffalo – History Channel Video (3 min.) Native American Symbols Native American Symbol Activity and Reflection Several Original Recordings of Native American Songs from 1895 – Library of Congress Links to iTunes Songs to Play During Activity:  1, 2, 3, 4  Sitting Bull and the Lakota’s Last Stand – PBS American Experience Video (5:56)   Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0 Photo:  Chief Plenty Coups and seven Crow prisoners under guard at Crow agency. Montana, 1887 – Public Domain, Library of Congress

In this episode, I’ll discuss the importance of having a plan beyond what your school provides in case you ever have to deal with an active shooter.  Stay tuned at the end for an update. ***Update:  I am sad to report that Jacob Hall passed away on October 10, 2016. Alice Training Active Shooter School Self-Assessment Alice Individual Training Jacob Hall GoFundMe Page   My Recommended Spiritual Resources for Those Who are Seeking are Listed Below: One of my favorite videos on life’s purpose – Francis Chan How can I have a personal relationship with God? – Chip Ingram What is salvation?  

In this episode, I’ll talk about the importance of getting up and moving around your classroom.  Stay tuned for interesting facts at the end! Show Notes and Resources: Video Clips on Death in the Civil War Picture of Traveller’s Stable at Washington and Lee University   Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC […] The post LTH 009 – Proximity appeared first on Let's Teach History.

In this episode, I’ll discuss a fun, quick activity to help your students understand casualty rates of the Civil War. Show Notes and Resources: Will You Survive – Numbers Will You Survive Powerpoint Civil War Medical Info and Worksheet Source:  Civil War By the Numbers Source:  Civil War Casualties   Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0 Photo:  A painting of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia fighting the U.S. Army at Spotsylvania in 1864.  Library of Congress, Public Domain.

In this episode, we’ll look at how to use a box full of fun props in your classroom.  I’ll also tell you which props are helpful to have and where to get props for little or no money. Show Notes and Resources: Prop Box Basics   Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, we’ll look at activities and other resources to help you teach your students about the Mexican-American War.  Don’t forget to check the show notes below for free notes and assignments to use in your classroom. Show Notes and Resources: Bell-ringers and Exit Ticket Guided Notes and Answer Key Mexican-American War PowerPoint Mexican-American War – PBS Video (2:29) President Polk 60-Second President – Youtube Video (1:00) Texas: Mexican-American War – Brittanica Kids Video (2:55) “Did You Know” News Segment About Santa Anna’s Leg – Youtube Video (4:56) Recruitment Poster, Newspaper Article, and Journal Entry Assignments Primary Source Worksheet – James K. Polk Primary Source Worksheet – Joshua Giddings Map of US in 1840 Map of US in 1850 Map of Texas Border Dispute   Photo Resaca de la Palma, Public Domain Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I’ll discuss free resources to help you teach the Tariff of 1828 and the Nullification Crisis. Show Notes and Resources: Discussion Starters Guided Notes Gilder Lehrman Powerpoint on the Nullification Crisis Andrew Jackson 60 Second Presidents – PBS Video on Youtube (1 min.) Jackson Nullification – History Channel Video on Youtube (1 min. 37 seconds) Mr. O’s Andrew Jackson and the Nullification Crisis – Youtube Video (4 min. 33 seconds) Writing Prompt & Propaganda Poster Assignment Group Activity from Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (Print out or download SC Exposition and Protest, Excerpt from Andrew Jackson’s Nullification Proclamation, Excerpt from Daniel Webster’s Reply to Hayne, and Nullification Readings Worksheet) — For some reason, when I tried to use a direct link to the lesson plan, a pop-up window came up and asked me to create an account, but when I went through Google it didn’t.  So, if you come across the pop-up, try Googling it to get access without encountering the pop-up. Exit Ticket Next Day Review What is a Freewrite? Slide Fort Hill Tour Information     Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0  

In this episode, I’ll discuss how to teach about John Adams and the important events of his presidency.  You’ll get resources to help you cover the XYZ Affair, the Quasi-War with France, and the Alien and Sedition Acts.  Be sure and check out the show notes for all of the resources I mention! Show Notes and Resources: Bell Ringer, Attention-Getter, and Exit Ticket Important Terms/Concepts to Cover Outline Summary of John Adams Life and Presidency John Adams Powerpoint Political Career of John Adams – History Channel Video (5 min.) John Adams 60 Second Presidents – PBS Video on Youtube (1 min.) Biography of Abigail Adams – Biography.com Video (3 min.) Protest Sign, Political Ad, and Tour Guide Speech Assignment Worksheets:  Looking at XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts from Both Sides (scroll down to page 8) Worksheet:  Graphic Review of XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts (use as review the next day) XYZ Affair Parody Song/Video to Wham’s Careless Whisper   Photo Official Presidential Portrait of John Adams, Public Domain Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I discuss over 20 resources that will help you teach about the causes of the American Revolution! Show Notes and Resources: Bell Ringer, Brainstorm, and Exit Ticket Important Terms to Cover Guided Notes and Answer Key American Revolution PowerPoint Colonists Protest British Taxes – History Channel Video (4 min.) Sons of Liberty – History Channel Video (2 min.) Sons of Liberty and Boston Tea Party – History Channel Video 9 (2 min.) US History Released End of Course Test  US History Released End of Course Test Answer Key (scroll to page 5) Propaganda Poster Assignment Examples of Propaganda Posters Stamp Act Blog Post Assignment Stamp Act Activity – How to Source and Contextualize a Historical Document Create a Front Page of Boston Newspaper Assignment (scroll to last page) Road to Revolution Bingo Review Game American Revolution Jeopardy Game (for end of unit review) Causes of the American Revolution Parody of Kesha’s Die Young Huntington Trouble in Boston Lesson Plan (reader’s theater, analyze political cartoon, poems, etc.) American Revolution Review ActivBoard Flipchart Immediate Causes of American Revolution Test (use as quiz or review)   Photo The Bloody Massacre, Public Domain Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this episode, I’ll give you activities to help you start, enhance, and wrap-up a lesson on the Jamestown colony. Show Notes and Resources: Bell Ringers & Exit Ticket Article on Roanoke What is a Freewrite Slides Important Terms Jamestown Powerpoint Jamestown Powerpoint (Problems & Solutions) Jamestown Founded in 1607 – History Channel Video (5 min.) Pocahontas – History Channel Video (3 min.) America, The Story of Us:  Life in Jamestown – History Channel Video on YouTube (3 min.) America, The Story of Us DVD Discovery Education (ask your media specialist if your school has a free code) 10 Jamestown Assignments and Activities 9 Bacon’s Rebellion Assignments Packing a Trunk for Jamestown Activity Jamestown Parody Song of Shut Up and Dance Exit Tickets – Zip file Photo STC 22790, Houghton Library, Harvard University, Public Domain Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0

In this first episode of Let’s Teach History, I’ll explain what to expect, who I am, and what a typical day in my classroom looked like. Show Notes and Resources: Caravel Curriculum – My Teachers Pay Teachers store Interest Inventory – pdf Today in History book (I think I mistakenly called it This Day in History) Quick Prezi on Cloze Notes Exit Tickets – Zip file   Photo by Denise Mattox CC BY-ND 2.0 Intro music clip of “I Dunno” by Grapes CC BY-ND 3.0