Honoring the Origins of Memorial Day: Teaching the Authentic History

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Do you know the history of Memorial Day? This blog post will share with you the origins of this day that date all the way back to 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, and how a freedwoman started the celebration. It was originally known as Decoration Day, and it became known as Memorial Day.

Teaching About Passover

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Passover, also known as Pesach, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The holiday is celebrated for eight days and begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which falls in March or April. Passover is a time of remembrance and renewal, and […]

6 Black History Month Resources for Middle School

In recent years, schools and educators have begun looking at their history books and curriculum to find places where Black history has been left out and ignored altogether. There is a much needed emphasis on teaching Black history all year round, especially the history beyond enslavement and the Civil Rights movement! While we know Black […]

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Your Class!

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Celebrating lunar new year in your class! Lunar New Year is a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate the start of a new year. This holiday is celebrated by many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. It is also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. Elementary school teachers […]

5 Free History Class Activities for December

The end of the year is always hectic inside and outside of the classroom! You are trying to prepare for the holidays, while also preparing grades for the end of the semester, wrapping up projects, hosting parent-teacher conferences, and much more. I know this time of year, you could use a bit of ease and […]

Teaching the History of Thanksgiving in America

In recent years, it became clear that authentic history was not always taught in schools. The history we grew up learning was often false and missed many key details. As Thanksgiving approaches, the conversation about the history of Thanksgiving in America comes back around – and for good reason. Teaching authentic history is essential. Understanding […]

5 Tips for Back to School in a Middle School History Classroom

Back to school is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, then you probably feel a mix of emotions – excitement, nervousness, and not quite ready for that 5 am alarm. The first couple days can be a little awkward with students, so I planned several back to school activities to help us […]

Earth Day History

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As the weather warms up, students want to spend every minute outside. However, no one can blame them after being stuck inside during the cold winter. Before heading out, remind students to shut off all lights to help reduce energy waste. Once out, remind students that running around is great, but there are also valuable […]