U.S. History

Best Read Aloud Books to Celebrate Black History

There are so many wonderful books to celebrate African American history. In my classroom, I love filling my shelves with all different...

How to Talk to Your Students About Hurricane Ian

If you were in the path of a horrible storm, my thoughts and sympathies are with you. This week, our community finds itself rebuilding...

American Revolution Activities Timeline for 5th Grade

A timeline of major causes and key events will help your students connect to the historical events surrounding the American Revolutionary...

Exploring the Thirteen Colonies: Engaging Social Studies Lesson Plans for Students

When I moved to 5th grade and started teaching American history, I had to scramble to find interesting and engaging lesson on the...

Exploring Continents and Oceans: Fun Map Activities for Kids

My students love map activities. There is a buzz of excitement when I pull down the very old, faded, oversized board map. When they look...

"Pioneer Activities for Elementary Students: 6 Engaging Activities for Teaching Pioneers and Westward Expansion"

No matter where you are on the Social Studies teaching spectrum - from "I love Social Studies and could teach it all day long" to "Please...

How to Teach the Significance of Juneteenth in the Classroom

What is Juneteenth? For the longest time, I did not know what Juneteenth was. No idea. I didn't learn about it in school. I never went to...

"Engaging Classroom Activities: Teaching Students about Ellis Island"

Teaching about Ellis Island Ellis Island is an icon of American history. It tells stories of hope, adventure, and new beginnings. There...

"How to Make Teaching the American Revolution Engaging and Educational: 3 Tips for Educators"

Teaching the American Revolution can be a lot of fun. Kids love learning about history, especially when there's a power struggle between...