New & Noteworthy

Back to School: Developing a Climate of Engagement

Michael Yell, 7th grade teacher and past-president of the National Council for the Social Studies, shares his engaging first-day-of-school strategies that help set the tone for the rest of the school year.

Learn more!

Elementary

Advice for Beachgoers

Heading to the beach before the end of summer? You are continuing a tradition first made popular in the last half of the 19th century. Before you go, take our quiz to see if you could give the proper advice to late 19th century beachgoers. Dive in!

Middle

Denmark Vesey

If mentioned at all, many textbooks portray former slave Denmark Vesey as a heroic figure who met a tragic end after planning what would have been the largest slave insurrection in the U.S. But what do historians and primary source materials have to say? Read more.

High

How to Organize a U.S. Survey Course

Thinking about how to frame your U.S. history course? Check out our roundtable discussion where fellow educators share their methods such as using guiding questions, creating narratives, and looking at American history as “an enduring debate.” Learn more.

Primary Sources

Tech for Teachers

Comic Books in the History Classroom

As Green Lantern, Captain America, and X-Men play in theaters, did you know that comic books gained in popularity as a form of escapism during the Great Depression? Or that comics have tackled social issues such as discrimination? Rwany Sibaja has ideas for bringing comic books into your classroom. Read more.

Introducing Students to Interactive Whiteboards

In this latest Ask a Digital Historian, we look at the question: What are some quick student engagement activities that a teacher can use for allowing students to interact with a smartboard? Joe Jelen offers some simple strategies that have worked successfully for him. Learn more.