Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

A Different Asian American Timeline covers almost 600 years of history, from the early Atlantic slave trade of the 15th century to the rise of the modern nation states, and features events that affected people across racial boundaries. This website focuses not on the events related to people who arrived in the United States from Asia, but on why Asians arrived in America and their relationship to the global conditions affecting people across racial and national boundaries. The timeline is broken into the following sections: 1441-1860, 1861-1898, 1989-1939, 1939-1980, and 1980- present. The site also includes an Introduction, America Empire v. Democracy, and how to use the timeline.

tag(s): timelines (57)

The Jewish American Heritage Month website is a valuable resource for educators looking to integrate Jewish American history and culture into their curriculum. It provides access to primary sources, lesson plans, videos, and exhibits from institutions like the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian. Teachers can use these materials to explore Jewish contributions to American society, discuss historical events, and engage students in activities that promote cultural understanding. The site also includes virtual exhibits and suggested readings, making it a versatile tool for classroom learning.

tag(s): cultures (211), jews (50), religions (112)

The MexicoLore website's "Ancient Maya Music" section provides valuable resources for teachers exploring the role of music in Maya civilization. It covers the types of instruments used, their cultural and religious significance, and how music was integrated into ceremonies and daily life. The content is well-researched and includes images, expert insights, and interactive elements to engage students. This resource is ideal for supplementing lessons on the Maya, helping students connect with their traditions through the universal language of music.

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), musical instruments (54)

This PBS LearningMedia resource introduces students to the Mayan writing system, one of the most advanced in the ancient world. Through an engaging video and supporting materials, students will explore how the Maya used glyphs to record history, communicate ideas, and document daily life. The lesson includes discussion questions and activities encouraging students to analyze and create their own glyphs. Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this resource brings history and language to life through interactive learning!
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tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46)

The website hosted by the Library of Congress provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which addresses citizenship rights, equal protection under the law, and the limits of state power. The resource introduces the 14th Amendment's historical context, its drafting during Reconstruction, and its lasting impact on civil rights. It features side tabs that organize key content, including primary sources, historical timeline details, educational analysis, and related legal cases, making it a valuable tool for teaching and learning about this pivotal Amendment in U.S. history. This site is an excellent resource for educators seeking reliable, well-organized content to support constitutional law and civil rights lessons.

tag(s): civil rights (217), constitution (99), states (125)

"What Life Was Like As An Incan" is a twelve-minute YouTube video highlighting the ancient Incas. The video highlights surgery, food, travel, astronomy, architecture, babites, marriage, and mummification.

tag(s): south america (77)

The Discover Peru website's page on Andean and Inca music offers an accessible introduction to the musical traditions of the Inca civilization. It explains that the Inca primarily utilized wind and percussion instruments, such as panpipes (zamponas), flutes (quenas), and drums (tinya and wankara), in their music. These instruments played a significant role in various aspects of Inca society, including religious ceremonies, agricultural festivals, and daily life. The site also notes that string instruments were introduced later by the Spanish.
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tag(s): musical instruments (54), south america (77)

Discover an interactive digital lesson that explores how the Inka Empire engineered a 25,000-mile road network across challenging Andean terrain without the use of wheels or metal tools. The lesson incorporates maps, videos, historical illustrations, and inquiry-based activities to examine Inka innovations in transportation, agriculture, and water management. It also highlights how Indigenous communities continue to use and preserve these technologies today.

tag(s): inquiry (30), south america (77)

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website features "Children of the Sun," a creation story from the Inca tradition. This illustrated, child-friendly resource shares how the Inca believed the first people were sent by the sun god to bring order and knowledge to the world. Presented as part of the "Inka Road" exhibit, the story emphasizes cultural values such as leadership, unity, and connection to nature.

tag(s): south america (77), stories and storytelling (61)

Share the podcast episode "The Inca Empire: Everything You Wanted To Know." This one-hour program, available on Apple Podcasts, explores everyday life in the Inca civilization. It answers questions such as what daily routines looked like, how the Inca used knotted cords (quipu) to count and record information, and why stones held deep spiritual significance in their culture.

tag(s): podcasts (114), south america (77)

Explore the Inca civilization's sophisticated use of quipu--a system of knotted cords--for recording information. These cords, made from cotton or camelid fiber, utilized a base-ten system to represent numbers, effectively functioning as a three-dimensional, tactile spreadsheet. The article highlights how quipu served as a powerful administrative tool, enabling the Incas to manage their vast empire without a written language.
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tag(s): communication (130), south america (77)

The Holocaust Museum Houston's Educators page provides a comprehensive collection of resources tailored for teachers at both elementary and secondary levels. It offers specialized lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities to enhance Holocaust education. These materials are designed to support educators in delivering accurate and engaging content about the Holocaust, fostering critical thinking and empathy among students. Additionally, the museum provides contact information and avenues for further assistance, ensuring educators can access the support they need. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): critical thinking (136), ebooks (46), empathy (36), holocaust (43), immigrants (44), immigration (79), jews (50), professional development (392), religions (112)

Britt Hawthorne's blog post on Jewish American Heritage Month activities provides teachers with engaging ways to celebrate Jewish contributions to U.S. history in the classroom. The site includes book recommendations, discussion prompts, hands-on crafts, and interactive activities suitable for elementary and middle school students. Educators can use these resources to foster inclusivity, cultural appreciation, and meaningful conversations about Jewish identity and history. The activities are adaptable across subjects and promote critical thinking, making them a valuable addition to classroom celebrations during Jewish American Heritage Month.

tag(s): blogs (67), crafts (74), cross cultural understanding (176), cultures (211), identity (34), immigrants (44), immigration (79), jews (50), religions (112)

The PBS lesson plan "Who Are You?" is designed for grades 8-10 and focuses on exploring individual identity and its intersection with broader historical events. Aligned with history, social studies, humanities, and language arts subjects, the lesson encourages students to reflect on their identities and understand how various factors shape them. Through activities like journal entries and class discussions, students examine the complexities of identity formation and its relevance in historical contexts.

tag(s): cultures (211), identity (34), immigrants (44), immigration (79), jews (50), religions (112)

The PBS article "Jews & The Arts: 10 Innovators" introduces students to ten influential Jewish-American artists who have significantly impacted various creative fields. The resource provides brief biographies of figures such as lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, feminist artist Judy Chicago, and graphic designer Milton Glaser, highlighting their contributions to music, visual arts, and design. This compilation serves as a valuable tool for educators aiming to explore Jewish Americans' diverse cultural and artistic contributions in their curriculum.

tag(s): artists (88), composers (18), cultures (211), famous people (25), immigrants (44), jews (50), religions (112)

Inca Empire for Kids: Myths, Legends, and Stories highlights how studying myths, legends, and stories tells the story of the civilization. Featured are links to the Incan creation myth video, the llama legend, the myth of Mano Capac, the myth of the Rod of Gold, and more.
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tag(s): myths and legends (41)

View this in-depth look at how the Inca civilization thrived through practical innovation. The site explores topics such as the role of llamas in daily life, strategies used to unite newly conquered tribes, the purpose and design of Incan roads, and how messengers navigated the empire. The site also covers the empire's defense systems, the way Incan architecture blended with the landscape, and how they communicated without a written language. Rich in content, the site includes photos, videos, and maps to enhance student understanding.

tag(s): architecture (84), south america (77)

Ghosts of Machu Picchu is a free site that explores careers related to Machu Picchu. The site offers a video on the Ghost of Machu Picchu, an interview on the Incas' ice mummies, a profile of a climate expert, and a lesson on ice mummies. The lesson is divided into grades 5-8 and 9-12, with an extension activity on falling on the leaning tower.

tag(s): climate (85), south america (77)

This blog post highlights how the Inca Empire used advanced standards and technology, like the khipu for record-keeping and a vast road network, to manage their civilization. It shows how measurement, organization, and engineering helped the Incas thrive without a written language. This resource is great for middle and high school lessons on Indigenous innovation and infrastructure.

tag(s): south america (77)

Road to Machu Picchu--Peru in 4K is a four-minute video with no audio. It features live images of Machu Picchu and other areas of Peru, including the Amazon Rainforest, and ends in Panama. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): cultures (211), south america (77)