In the Summer of 2020, we produced What Makes a Democracy, a Teaching with Primary Sources workshop sponsored by the Library of Congress . In the midst of a global pandemic and an unprecedented racial reckoning, with all the uncertainty and unsettledness that that meant, we still had more than 50 educators show up to…Continue Reading What Makes a Democracy?
If you were raised in California, perhaps you remember choosing a mission to learn about and subsequently constructing a model out of popsicle sticks or clay during your fourth-grade year. Today, learning about the California mission system continues to occupy a central place in fourth grade curriculum despite new understandings of the cruelty wrought against…Continue Reading Telling the truth about the California Missions During Native American Heritage Month
Three weeks from an election that many argue will determine the future of our democracy, teachers are grappling with how to adequately guide their students through the constant stream of news about efforts to imperil voting for specific groups. From felons’ voting rights being restored and subsequently limited due to penalty fines, to the closing…Continue Reading The Struggle Over Suffrage—Then and Now
One hundred and fifty (!) educators came to talk and think together June 24 in the Northern California Call to Action for History Educators. We talked about honoring Black Lives Matter and working towards a more just future. Teachers shared resources and had small group conversations and our CHSSP network compiled a list of resources….Continue Reading Black Lives Matter
What was the Bracero Program, and why is it important to recognize its importance beyond the World War II era? How did the program change over time? The Bracero Program began during WWII but it spanned 22 years (1942-1964). What are the lasting legacies of the Bracero Program for Mexican Americans, and all immigrants, in…Continue Reading Understanding and Teaching the Bracero Program
How do I effectively use primary sources to engage my diverse students in historical inquiry and thinking? How do I integrate the environment and environmental literacy into my curricula? In the summer of 2019, 22 teachers joined us in a four-day workshop, sponsored by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program and the…Continue Reading Landscapes in History: A Teaching with Primary Sources Workshop
With candidates launching their 2020 presidential campaigns, do you have a plan for teaching about elections and the electoral process? Below are a few resources to help you generate an idea or two. Secondary Check out this Elections Project developed by Chrissy MacLean and her colleagues at Watsonville High School for the 2016 elections. Watsonville High…Continue Reading Teaching Elections
The Pledge of Allegiance is a staple of the American experience. Whether it be reciting it at the beginning of the school day or at a major league baseball game, our communities engage with it. But do your students know that the Pledge includes the word “indivisible” rather than “invisible?” And more importantly, have they…Continue Reading The Pledge of Allegiance