Social Studies Toolbox

I have created many resources for my students over the years, but this is one I’m especially proud of. Several months ago, I began compiling bell-ringer activities I’ve used in my classroom that build historical thinking skills. I brought them together in a single slide deck, with most incorporating primary sources. These activities often become the highlight of our class period. While they start as quick warm-ups, our discussions frequently extend well beyond a few minutes and I consider that time well spent. Middle school students may forget many of the facts they learn, but the skills they develop through activities like these last far longer. As a Social Studies teacher, one of my central goals is to give students tools they can use in other classes and in their daily lives. The ability to analyze, question, and think critically about sources is one of those essential skills. Primary source analysis is part of my daily classroom routine. If you are looking for quality sources, I ...

Recently I stumbled upon the podcast, The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. In two days, I listened to all of the episodes on my morning commute! Seriously-- this is a fantastic podcast that I think most high school students (and many middle school students) would love! The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass is a six-part series based on the friendship and activism of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. Episodes range in length from 21 minutes to 26 minutes in length. I share episode #3 with my students. Episode #3 : Reconstruction: 1867 and 1869. Episode description: In the years after the Civil War, Frederick and Susan fight to make the United States a country for all – where everyone can vote. What gets in the way of this dream? Will their friendship survive betrayal?) While students listen, rather than take notes or complete a fill-in-the-blank notes sheet, I had my students complete a hexagonal thinking activity usin...