Author: integratedsocialstudies
-
History Behind Beowulf
To this day, there is nothing less satisfying in school than when an English teacher gets the history wrong during the introduction to a new piece of literature. Small mistakes are forgivable. Commonly held beliefs, less so. Plus, teachers too often skip the fun stuff of the fashion. How can students imagine the story if…
-
Queens of Africa: A TpT Bundle
As more educators add the stories of Black women to their social studies curriculum, I noticed a complete lack of historical women. There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning about modern Black women but I wanted to create resources that highlighted the stories of historical women that helped shaped the history of Africa. I think…
-
Free Elementary History Resources in my TpT Store
The free samples in my TpT store for elementary aged students are all free samples of larger resources. I do like to include however, enough of a resource that you can get one lesson out of it. Sometimes teachers just need a quick, easy lesson that is free to help them fill some time. There…
-
Games for World History: A Pacing Guide
I’ve got a bunch of games for world history class and if you like more than one of them, you may be asking, “when will I have time?” Here are my suggestions for some of my games in my TpT store. Teaching with Monopoly This is the game I would start with. I would introduce…
-
Dear Returning Teachers: A Pep Talk
Since March 2020, you’ve had a rough time. Learning how to teach with little to no resources, conquering technology issues, and trying to maintain your own household has taken a toll. Hopefully, this past summer you took some much needed time off because this school year will present you will even more challenges. New challenges.…
-
Back to the Classroom: Review those History Skills
Most schools are returning to in-person teaching this fall. Students however, have been out of the classroom for a long time and will definitely need refreshers on the history skills. I know you’ve got a lot to do. I know that history teachers have one of the toughest jobs because they have SO MUCH content…
-
Minimalistic Classrooms
Given the lingering infection rates of covid-19, this year is the perfect year to go minimalistic. When I was in the classroom, I didn’t bring much into my classroom, preferring to embrace blank wall space and directing student attention where I wanted it. Why have a minimal classroom? Cleanliness Less in your classroom means there…
-
History Writing Rubrics
When I was in school, there was nothing more annoying than history writing rubrics that focused on grammar rather than history. If the teacher was so concerned about the grammar then how exactly did I earn a history grade? I’m not saying that grammar isn’t important. But in history class, history teachers need to be…
-
Taking a Summer Break
My blog will be on a summer break. See you in August. If you are a teacher, TAKE OFF THE SUMMER! Be sure to make PLENTY of time for yourself and your family. You deserve it. Enjoy. ***************************** Follow me: If you liked this then maybe you’d also like:
-
Old School but Not Outdated: No Screen Time Resources
I’m not anti-technology in the classroom but I do believe that great learning can happen with no technology. There are some old-school teaching methods that still work well because great teaching methods are timeless. Whether you are striving for less screen time or want to get back to some basic paper resources, here is what…
-
Asian Women’s History Short Reads
Ensuring that women are included in history curriculum can sometimes be a daunting task because most of us didn’t have women included in our own historical studies. Especially if you teach world or Asian history then another thing educators have to think about is the inclusion of Asian women and in this country, finding sources…
-
PA Symbols for Google Classroom™
Pennsylvania is a fantastic place to call home and I am so happy that students are required to learn about their home. Stop skipping these important social studies lessons and show your state pride with this awesome Google Classroom™ resource. This resource is only available for Google Classroom™ because I really wanted to showcase pictures…
-
Quick Last Minute High School History Resources for the End-of-the-Year
Testing is over. You’ve already turned in your textbook (or you never had one to begin with). Your students are burned out and need a change. Your brain is DONE with the school year. Whatever the reason, I’ve got some ideas for some quick, last-minute history lessons that will work well at the end of…
-
Quick Last Minute Elementary Social Studies Resources for the End-of-the-Year
Social studies is the ignored subject by elementary school teachers due to the fact that most states do not test social studies. Stop using that as your excuse to skip the lessons because they are important and students need these lessons for future years. Here are some quick and easy social studies lessons for your…
-
Tru’ng Sisters Short Read
Until it became my mission to discovery women to add to Asian curriculum I had never heard of the Tru’ng Sisters. Their story was one of my favorites that I found. The Tru’ng Sisters are historical icons in Vietnam. Their bravely fought the invading Han Chinese, keeping them out of Vietnam for a short time.…
-
Top 25 Inventions and Discoveries: A Google Classroom™ Resource
Get your students thinking, reasoning, analyzing, and comprehending some of world history’s most important concepts. Now your students have an opportunity to think about the development of the human story in history in relation to the most important inventions and discoveries. How monumental was the discovery of fire? Was it more important or significant than…
-
Pennsylvania Founding Fathers
Despite being part of the Pennsylvania social studies standards, I highly doubt most Pennsylvanians could name a PA founding father other than Benjamin Franklin. If that describes you AND you are a PA teacher who is supposed to be teaching about the founding fathers, have no fear. I have the perfect resource for you. Select…
-
Build-a-cartouche: An Ancient Egypt Add-on Activity
Cartouches are cool. They are mysterious, make fun decoding activities, and are a great way to add an activity to an Ancient Egypt unit. Regardless of the grade level you teach, your students will have a great time building their own cartouche. The cartouche is the circle-like shape that surrounds a name written in hieroglyphics.…
-
World History Activities: A TpT Bundle
Google Classroom™ is an opportunity to try new activities in world history. Challenge your students with three unique world history activities, some with writing prompts. Top 25 Inventions and Discoveries: This is a great activity to get students to compare and contrast very simple concepts in world history as well as review the progression of…
-
Japanese Women’s History Short Reads
It shouldn’t be a surprise anymore that history leaves women out of the conversation. The problem is only worse for American students when they study world or Asian history because the already women-deprived curriculum leaves them out almost entirely. Japanese history in world history, for American students, does just that. The only mention of women…
-
Empress Wu Short Read
Empress Wu is the only woman to sit on the throne in all of Chinese history yet American history classes ignore her. Oh, they mention her. How can they not? By examining several American world history textbooks however she never gets more than a paragraph and the tone in which they discuss her is one…
-
Agrippina the Younger: A New Take
Agrippina the Younger will never, ever have a different narrative. Contemporary historians hated her guts and every historian after believed her to be a truly horrid human being because of the writings of the contemporary historians. The best she can hope for is what I am going to write about her and unfortunately, my readership…
-
Queen Seondeok Short Read
Queen Seondeok was Queen regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. She is also ignored in Asian history classes and world history classes (at least here in the US) and that needs to be corrected. Queen Seondeok lived from c. 595-610 – 647 and ruled Silla for 15 years. She is remembered…
-
History Concepts: Basketball Tournament Style
Celebrate spring basketball tournament season with a history tournament of your own.
-
St. Patrick’s Day: An Elementary Social Studies Lesson
St. Patrick’s Day is a fun way to spend a day in elementary classrooms but too many resources I’ve seen don’t dive into the history of the symbols of the day. Yes, shamrocks are popular but why? Yes, you wear green on this day but why? This TpT resource highlights the historical information behind some…
-
Pennsylvania Essential Social Studies Resources
Of all the Pennsylvania social studies standards, I know that teachers tend to skip the PA specific requirements. Whether its because the teacher honestly doesn’t know what to include or they don’t know the history well enough to build a meaningful lesson, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve created a three PA specific resources that are…
-
Chinese Women’s History Short Reads
I don’t want to contribute to the deletion of women from history and that is certainly true when teaching Asian history. Unfortunately, for many reasons, the American resources that schools often use, whether it is for Asian history or world history, never include more than one woman, Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule China.…
-
Inventors Week: Which Women Do We Include?
A small list of women inventors to add to your inventors week curriculum.
-
Addressing a Letter: A Google Classroom™ Resource
This resource came to be when I had a chance to flip through my son’s second grade social studies textbook. I thought it would be fun to build this lesson for him and I love how it turned out. First, this resource was built entirely for Google Classroom™ which means it is completely prep free.…
-
World History Couples Matching Game on Google Classroom™
Celebrating all of the little holidays stops when students get to high school but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t enjoy a themed lesson. You can still engage in meaningful learning and high-level thinking skills when you take a day off to celebrate Valentine’s Day. History is full of famous couples who actually represent something more…
-
Taking a winter break
2020 has been quite a year. As the year draws to a close I hope you and your family lots of safety. For teachers reading this or even homeschooling parents, keep pushing. I am sure you are doing a good job. Have a happy holiday season.
-
Historical Thinking Skills: Primary and Secondary Sources
Seemingly this is an easy lesson – most people can give you examples of primary and secondary sources after all. However, when you actually have to conduct historical research or analyze historical documents which document is primary and secondary can get confusing. Students tend to think if it is old then it is a primary…
-
History Skill Builders
History is so much more than memorizing names and dates so stop teaching it that way. Focus on historical thinking skills to make your students successful in the study of history. What are the historical thinking skills? Yes, history does have its own thinking skills yet history curriculums ignore them when they create resources for…
-
Four Plants for Classrooms with Little to No Light
Seven Plants for Classrooms with Little to No Light
-
Shop Small TpT Stores
Welcome to the third annual Shop Small TpT Store blog! I hope you find something you like and will support a small TpT shop this holiday season. Here was my criteria for selection: Must be a small shop (fewer than 3,000 followers) Resource must have a cover For middle and high school only I have…
-
Geography Descriptive Writing
How would you describe a tree? Firstly, what kind of a tree? Where in the world is this tree because any description is going to rely on the location and type of tree. The point is, expand your descriptive writing activities to include some geography to switch up the adjectives you use. Inspired by my…
-
Books About Women in History: Volume 2
The more we read about women in history the more we will realize that women were purposefully erased from history rather than not taking part. Here are more books about real women in history. None of these links are affiliate links. 1.Persepolis What I love about this book is I identified with the teenage angst…
-
Whole School Presidential Election Activity
In my small elementary school the teachers decided to have every student vote for who they wanted to win the presidential election in 1992. Students were given an image to color based on who the person/party they were voting for and students cast their votes. Each teacher then added their class votes to a large…
-
Pennsylvania Geography for Grades 1 – 3
Pennsylvania is a great state to live. The natural beauty is stunning and should be celebrated with our students. Don’t skip PA geography anymore! This TpT resource aligns with PA geography standards in grades 1 – 3 and can be completed in one sitting or spaced out for several days. There are several pages of…
-
Student Gardens in History Class: The Potato
Many students, especially those in urban or suburban schools have never experienced growing a plant. Yes, history classes can provide that experience and you can connect it to learning standards. Win-win in my opinion. The Potato This starchy carbohydrate has helped many people survive but is also linked to the death of untold more. Originating…
-
Build Your Students Writing Stamina
Learn about how I integrated free-write, typically an English class exercise, into my world history classes.
-
Three Fun Games for Teaching Economics
Learn about three fun games to play while learning about economics in the classroom.
-
Google Classroom™ History Resources
Now that the US is in the midst of a pandemic schools are turning to digital learning and TpT authors are catching up. I joined the ranks of thousands of teacher-authors who updated resources to work in Google Classroom™. Hopefully you can find something that works in your history classroom. Click the image to see…
-
Updated Resources to use with Google Classroom™
I’ve been updating some of my resources to work as an interactive resources in Google Classroom™
-
Medieval History Coloring Pages with Short Reads
Learn about my fun medieval history coloring pages for any grade level.
-
Fiction for Teachers Summer Reading: Volume 2
Teachers definitely need a summer reading list this year. Here are some new books to consider.
-
History Needs More Women: Ways to Encourage Girls to Study History
We need to teach more about women in order to get more women to become historians.
-
Medieval History Fun in Elementary Classrooms
Fun and easy crafts to enhance your medieval European history lessons in elementary schools.
Integrated Social Studies 