Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Library of Congress guide on the 13th Amendment is an invaluable resource for teachers exploring the history of slavery, emancipation, and the evolution of civil rights in the United States. This comprehensive guide provides primary source documents, historical context, and legal insights into the amendment that abolished slavery. Designed for educators, it offers easy access to speeches, legislative records, and images that bring the historical significance of the 13th Amendment to life. Whether you're teaching a civics, history, or government class, this guide equips you with the tools to foster meaningful discussions about freedom, justice, and the enduring impact of this landmark amendment.

tag(s): civil rights (219), constitution (99), emancipation proclamation (14), slavery (80)

Discover these free resources for students to investigate photojournalistic images from the 1940s through the 1970s. The featured photographs were used to illustrate stories in newspapers and magazines, providing visual accounts of events shaping 20th-century history. On the right side, "For the Classroom" links directly to lesson plans, image banks, photojournalism overviews, and questions for teaching. The four lessons featured include: Extra, Extra, Write all about it!, Newsworthy Images, Debating the Bomb, and Vietnam and the Long-term Effect of War. Each lesson has a time allotted, overview, objectives, materials, steps, assessment, and extensions. The lessons are aligned with the California Visual Arts Standards and the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

tag(s): images (263), newspapers (94), writing (323)

African American Artists: Resources in the Library of Congress, serves as a comprehensive guide to the vast collections and resources on African American art and artists. It provides an introduction to significant artworks, movements, and figures, offering insights into their historical and cultural contributions. The guide is organized into sections that highlight primary sources, exhibitions, photographs, manuscripts, and reference materials available in the Library's collections. It is a valuable tool for educators, researchers, and students seeking to explore the rich legacy and impact of African American artists.

tag(s): african american (121), art history (108), black history (136), civil rights (219)

Explore this detailed guide to the history of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. It highlights the battalion's critical role in clearing a massive backlog of mail to boost troop morale and their perseverance in the face of racism, sexism, and challenging conditions. The guide offers access to primary sources, such as photographs, official records, and news articles, along with historical analysis that situates their contributions within the broader context of the war and civil rights. This resource is a valuable tool for educators, featuring side tabs with timelines, related collections, and teaching resources, making it ideal for lessons on women's history, African American history, and military history.

tag(s): black history (136), civil rights (219), women (154), womenchangemaker (39), world war 2 (163)

Facing History & Ourselves Indigenous Rights and Controversy over Hawaii's Maunakea Telescope offers a free lesson on why the Native Hawaiians opposed its construction. The lesson gives a historical context for understanding the protests against constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea. The site includes two activities, a handout, articles, and videos. The lesson itself is adaptable and can be shared on Google Classroom.

tag(s): hawaii (9), native americans (116), telescopes (11)

Explore this valuable tool for educators; it offers curated collections of primary sources, historical documents, and research materials across a wide range of subjects. These guides help teachers incorporate authentic historical artifacts, government records, and literary works into their lessons, enhancing students' critical thinking and research skills. With ready-to-use teaching resources, topic guides, and bibliographies, this site supports interdisciplinary learning and provides rich content for inquiry-based projects in history, literature, civics, and more.

tag(s): african american (121), architecture (84), black history (136), branches of government (64), civil rights (219), civil war (142), conservation (101), energy (133), engineering (137), environment (251), foreign policy (13), hispanic (46), industrialization (12), jews (52), latin (21), literature (221), middle east (50), native americans (116), nutrition (140), photography (131), politics (118), population (51), religions (113), Research (88), sports (85), statistics (120), Teacher Utilities (201), women (154), womenchangemaker (39), womens suffrage (52)

NPR (National Public Radio) is a valuable resource for educators, offering high-quality news, podcasts, and articles on current events, culture, science, and history. The site features engaging audio stories, in-depth journalism, and educational content that can enhance classroom discussions and critical thinking skills. Teachers can use NPR's stories to connect lessons to real-world events, introduce students to diverse perspectives, and encourage media literacy. Additionally, NPR's student-friendly resources, such as NPR Ed and Student Podcast Challenge, provide interactive and project-based learning opportunities.

tag(s): civil rights (219), cultures (226), journalism (74), news (226), podcasts (118), scientists (71), space (220)

Google Arts and Culture combines the magic of AI with Google Maps to create an audio tour of cultural landmarks worldwide. After launching the experiment, you can click any pin on the map to begin the tour or select from options that include landmarks, nature, archaeology, and cultural institutions. After choosing a pin, the map opens in street view, and the AI-generated audio commentary begins. Use the arrow to move the panoramic image around, take a snapshot, generate a new commentary, or choose the blue button to record a question and receive an audio response.

tag(s): archeology (30), artificial intelligence (188), deserts (17), forests (31), landmarks (21), maps (224), museums (52), virtual field trips (132)

The History.com article 6 Civilizations That Mysteriously Collapsed examines the sudden and often unexplained declines of six ancient civilizations: the Maya, Indus Valley, Ancestral Puebloans, Cahokia, Easter Island, and Greenland's Norse settlements. The article explores contributing factors such as drought, deforestation, resource depletion, social upheaval, and climate change, providing insights into how these societies thrived before facing challenges that led to their downfall. This resource is ideal for educators teaching history, geography, or anthropology, as it encourages students to analyze the interplay between human activity and environmental factors. Teachers can use it to promote critical thinking through discussions, research projects, or comparative studies on the rise and fall of civilizations throughout history.

tag(s): india (32), mayans (32), mexico (46), native americans (116), vikings (10)

The Chronicle video "The Complete History of Indigenous People Before Colonialism" explores the rich history and traditions of pre-Columbian Native American life, as narrated by Dr. Evan Adams, an Indigenous Canadian actor, playwright, and physician. It provides a three-hour video divided into chapters, making it accessible for specific topics like creation stories, ancient tools, and cultural traditions. The video features "like" timestamps for easy navigation and a synchronized transcript for immersive learning. The message "In 1492, our world was changed forever. But we did not disappear" captures the resilience and ongoing significance of Native cultures, inviting students and educators alike to delve into this history. If your district blocks YouTube, then this video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): colonial america (95), native americans (116)

Looking to make your classroom buzz with learning and discovery? The PBS LearningMedia resource "Amplifying Indigenous Experiences: Video Gallery" is perfect for engaging students in a fun, hands-on way. The 5E model guides students to explore, explain, and connect ideas as they learn. The activity features a "Gallery Walk," where students move around, share ideas, and dive into fascinating videos and stories. Plus, it includes highlights from "Unladylike 2020," showcasing trailblazing women in history.

tag(s): native americans (116), women (154), womenchangemaker (39)

The YouTube video "The Jerry Cans - Ukiuq" showcases a dynamic folk song performed in Inuktitut, the Indigenous language of the Inuit people. The music video offers a unique opportunity to explore Indigenous culture through its energetic rhythm and expressive storytelling with vibrant visuals. This engaging piece highlights the importance of preserving and celebrating indigenous languages and traditions in a modern context. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): cultures (226), native americans (116)

The website "This Photo Isn't What It Looks Like" is part of the podcast series "The Bigger Picture" from Thirteen.org, which examines the hidden stories behind iconic photos. This episode focuses on a photo of ethnographer Frances Densmore and Piegan Blackfeet tribe leader Mountain Chief. Through podcasts and storytelling, it encourages students to think critically about the meaning behind images and how they shape our understanding of history. It's a powerful resource for teaching media literacy and sparking thoughtful discussions in the classroom.

tag(s): media literacy (113), native americans (116), photography (131)

The Whose Land website offers interactive tools and lesson plans to help students learn about Indigenous territories and the history of land ownership in North America. The platform includes resources like videos, maps, and guided activities encouraging students to explore whose land they live on and the importance of Indigenous sovereignty. The lesson plans are suitable for various grade levels and promote critical thinking about historical and contemporary issues related to Indigenous peoples and land rights. These materials are designed to foster respect for Indigenous cultures and awareness of ongoing settlement efforts. It's recommended to check if YouTube is accessible on school networks if you are planning to use these resources in the classroom.

tag(s): columbus day (8), native americans (116)

The Indigenous Peoples' Day Resources webpage from the Zinn Education Project provides resources to challenge traditional narratives of Columbus Day by centering the history and resilience of Indigenous peoples. It offers lesson plans, articles, and book recommendations aimed at creating a deeper understanding of the colonial impact on Native communities and celebrating Indigenous cultures and histories. These materials are designed to help educators engage students with Indigenous peoples' historical and ongoing struggles, encouraging a more inclusive and accurate view of history. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): columbus day (8), native americans (116)

"Picaria: A Zuni Pueblo Math Game" introduces a traditional Native American strategy game from the Zuni Pueblo culture, designed for students in grades 6-8. This engaging activity combines cultural learning with critical thinking and mathematical skills. The document includes detailed instructions for playing Picaria, a game similar to tic-tac-toe, with background information on its cultural significance. Teachers can use this resource to enrich math or social studies lessons, encouraging strategic thinking, problem-solving, and an appreciation for Indigenous traditions in an interactive and meaningful way.

tag(s): native americans (116), problem solving (233)

ExpeditionsPro is a platform designed to help educators and leaders create and manage virtual and in-person field trips. The website provides tools to plan immersive experiences to enhance student learning and engagement, whether in local environments or through global connections. Teachers can use the platform to customize itineraries, track trip details, and even incorporate augmented reality or virtual reality elements for a modern, interactive approach to exploration. ExpeditionsPro emphasizes making educational trips accessible and organized, offering opportunities to bring the world into the classroom or take learning beyond its walls.

tag(s): augmented reality (9), virtual field trips (132)

From Election Results to Inauguration: Teaching the 2024 Transition of Power allows students to navigate the significance of the 2024 election, the responsibilities involved in the peaceful transfer of power, and the impact this has on our country's future. On the site, you can access inauguration performers and author's messages, ideas on how to teach the inauguration, what happens in the 78 days between Election Day and Inauguration Day, and learning to speak across political divides. You must create an account to access the lesson plans.

tag(s): inauguration (10), presidents (136)

The Virtual Field Trip- I Do Solemnly Swear: The U.S. Presidential Inauguration is a free website highlighting President Joseph Biden's inauguration process and Vice President Kamala Harris (from January 2021). The site highlights what it is like at the Presidential Inauguration, why we had an inauguration, why it happened on January 20th, why is the inauguration held at the Capital, and what it is like to move into the White House. Each lesson contains a PDF file you can download, but you must create an account to access the lesson plans. A 22-minute video from Discovery Streaming is posted on the website. Although this inauguration is not the most recent, students can still view the activities to learn more about the inauguration process.

tag(s): inauguration (10), presidents (136)

The iCivics video Constitution Explained: Votes for Women provides a concise and engaging overview of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. The video explains the history of the women's suffrage movement, the challenges activists faced, and the constitutional changes that led to this milestone, and is designed for students. It also emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and voting rights, encouraging viewers to reflect on the significance of equality in democratic processes. This resource is ideal for classrooms exploring the U.S. Constitution and women's rights in history. The video is also available in Spanish.

tag(s): constitution (99), women (154), womens suffrage (52)