Geography Introduction Activities to Start Your Course Strong
Geography is a great introduction to any social studies course. It is often the first unit I teach because the skills are not only extremely important, but they also provide a foundation for every other topic you will cover throughout the year. Learning about different parts of the world and how geography impacts society and […]
Bringing Philosophy to Life: Engaging Age of Reason Activities
The Enlightenment can be one of the toughest units to teach. How do you make eighteenth-century political theory and philosophy interesting to teenagers? If the unit relies entirely on lectures, it is easy to lose students quickly. While direct instruction absolutely has its place, most teachers know that students engage more deeply when lessons include […]
Teaching Map Skills with Classroom-Ready Resources
Understanding maps and developing strong geographic awareness are essential social studies skills. We have found that teaching map skills helps learners go far beyond simply identifying places on a map; it allows them to explore how geography shapes culture, trade, conflict, and history. When students understand where events happened and why location matters, social studies […]
Why Repetition in the Classroom Leads to Deeper Learning
Repetition in the classroom isn’t about doing the same thing over and over without purpose. When activities are thoughtfully reused, students gain confidence, sharpen skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the content. Here’s why repeated classroom activities are such a powerful tool for learning. 1. Reinforcement of Concepts When students encounter familiar material multiple […]
Resources for Teaching Medieval Europe
Medieval Europe is one of those iconic time periods that instantly captures students’ attention. For this reason, teaching medieval Europe is always a highlight for me. From knights and castles to serfs and the Crusades, this era offers endless learning opportunities. In this post, we’re sharing two of our favorite resources for teaching Medieval Europe. […]
Using CNN in the Classroom
We all know teaching current events is important for many reasons. For most of our classes, we are teaching about the past; however, learning about what is going on in the world today is crucial. This gives students context, and usually piques their interest. These are the things that are impacting them right now. Today, […]
Engaging Activities for Teaching the Medieval World
Teaching students about the medieval world is one of my favorite subjects to teach. The Medieval times feel so different from the world we live in today, and it’s fascinating to see students imagine what life might have been like centuries ago. It’s also fun when they notice the surprising similarities that still exist! This […]
Engaging Resources for Teaching Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome is one of the most well-known civilizations in history, and for good reason. The Romans were far ahead of their time in many ways. They laid the foundation for much of what still shapes our world today. I love teaching Ancient Rome because it allows us to draw meaningful parallels to other societies […]
Teaching World Religions
World religions are such an essential aspect of a civilization’s development. They allow individuals to identify a sense of self and feel proud of their background. However, students need explicit teaching about each world religion. They need to understand the basics, beliefs, and cultural behaviors. Thankfully, when teaching world religions, the World Religions Unit and […]
Vocab in the Classroom
While all classes have individual curriculums, one commonality is vocabulary. No matter the subject, students learn new vocabulary words each day. This includes academic terms and content-specific terms. So, it is easy to see why they may feel overwhelmed with how many words there are to learn. Luckily, there are great tips and tricks to […]
Maps
Are you always trying to find new ways to help students read maps? I know I am! Honestly, it is challenging to teach mapping skills. There is a lot to learn, and it is hard for students to visualize such a large area within one paper. This is why it is crucial to make lessons […]
Beyond Borders: Spatial Thinking and Problem-Solving with Maps
Do you ever find it crazy to think about how many of the jobs students will eventually have are not even created yet? Students will hold so many roles and positions that we don’t know about today. However, our students are still learning like many of us did. So, teachers are working hard to get […]
The Power of Repetition: Why Teachers Should Embrace Repeated Activities in the Classroom
As a teacher, you pride yourself on finding or creating your own fun & engaging activities for your students. So why not incorporate repeated classroom activities into your lesson planning? After all, I’m sure it took a lot longer to plan and prep for those projects than your students realized! While introducing fresh material is […]
Google Earth in the Classroom
I was hooked the first time I spun the world on its axis. Fascinated, I quickly zoomed into my house in Encinitas, California. I could see my kids’ trampoline in the backyard! Then, I flew to the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. I was able to actually view the gladiatorial battleground in the center! I flew […]