History Education Articles for Teachers

Dates, names, numbers, and places are the facts that young historians are often required to memorize in their various history courses. Therefore, that is generally how and what teachers teach. However, what if there was a more interesting, intriguing, and captivating way to teach these same fact...

At its very core, history is the telling of stories—stories of people, societies, cultures, events, disasters, creations, and endings. People, by nature, enjoy both listening to and telling stories, so what better way to teach history than through the narratives, accounts, and anecdotes of the ve...

The soldier wore his uniform with obvious pride—the brass buttons gleaming, the creases in his pants sharp. The barrel of his rifle had been polished until it glowed softly. However, these weren’t the first details I noticed about him. No, the first thing I noticed was that his face was still sof...

When Rosa Parks chose to remain in her seat on that Montgomery bus in 1955, she had no idea that her decision would change history. When she refused to move to accommodate a white passenger, she didn’t have a long-term goal in mind, nor was she particularly angry. Parks said, “I don’t remember fe...

One of the most important things to do when teaching your class about the Holocaust is to make it personal. The people who lived and died during the Holocaust were mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children. While learners may think of the Holocaust as something that happened a long time ago an...

While it is a very important part of United States history, the women’s rights movement is not always given the emphasis it should. It is possible for high school students to graduate without knowing much about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, or Mary Ann McClintock, and they may have never...

Each October, the world celebrates individuals who embody Gandhi’s plea for humanity to “be the change you want to see in the world.” Even though Gandhi himself never won the award, the Committee did not award the prize the year that he died. The reason they cited for no prize winner was that, “t...

The history of Native American Heritage Month is an interesting topic that learners can research, discuss, and consider in a deep and meaningful way. Due to the November observance of Native American Heritage Month, and the role Native Americans played in the first Thanksgiving, it is also a...

Do you remember the first time you experienced something first-hand that you'd only previously read or heard about in school? If so, you'll likely recall the energy it evoked inside of you. I can clearly remember seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. I was 12 years old, and had previou...

Can you imagine the tension, the expectancy, as the world waited to hear the verdicts in the Nuremberg Trials? Globally, the trials had people clamoring for the newspapers, eager beyond words to read the long-awaited sentencing of twenty-two prominent Nazi leaders. It had taken eleven long months...

Having a world free from war, and focused on peace, is an objective that we all desire. However, it’s important for kids to understand that this goal is not easily achieved. In honor of International Peace Day on September 21st, you can have your class discuss the concept of peace and identify th...

There are strong, amazing women in America who find a way to stand out by using whatever skills they have. Spend some time learning about some of the lesser-known female heroes.  Libby Riddles In 1985, Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod—a 1,049-mile sled dog race across...

You've seen it—the brightening in every kid's eyes when you tell them that the artifact you've been holding in front of the class is going to be passed around. It's even better if you've been handling it, explaining it, giving it the care any historical relic deserves. There's just something abou...

As a high school social studies facilitator (at one of those schools that makes an intentional language choice against the title “teacher”…not a terrible choice and I’ll explain why I think so), I often found myself looking down a rabbit hole of granularity. Can you join me in this? Does it reall...

Margaret Thatcher was a leader who stirred up strong emotions. While many people loved her, many also intensely disliked her. However, even her strongest detractors agree that she changed England’s economic and political scene with her bold policies when she served as Prime Minister from 1979-199...