Library of Congress Teachers

Starting today, you can search for classroom materials from the Library of Congress using state academic content standards. Of course, I has to test it out. I searched Ohio, grade 10, social studies, and found some great primary source sets and lesson plans for Industrialization.

Give it a try: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/.

Great Webinar

I finally got on after having to look up my password, because I haven't used the blog in a while (Sorry Kristina!!). The first webinar was great! I mentioned the PBS series "New York" - the web companion to the series can be found here - and a nice inexpensive tip to getting a hold of it is to visit your local library. I know the Clark County library has a copy.

BCHE Webinar this Thursday!!!

Hey Back to History members,

In anticipation of our first webinar here is information about another webinar this week. This will give you a sample of what you can expect with your BCHE memberships this year. Check it out - especially if you teach about Native Americans.

The first Buckeye Council for History Education webinar begins Thursday, November 18!

American Indians in the 20th Century
Thursday, November 18, 2010
6:00PM – 8:30PM

Dr. Daniel Cobb
Associate Professor
Department of American Studies
Convener, American Indian Studies
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Webinar schedule:
6:00PM-7:30PM: Content Session
7:30-8:00PM: Primary source activity
8:00PM-8:30PM: Classroom Applications

This first webinar in the series is FREE!

To register, please click here.

The rest of the webinars in the series will be FREE for BCHE members and $20 for non-members. If you would like to become a member of BCHE please click here.

All participants will receive a CD with primary sources from the Ohio Historical Society related to the webinar topic.

Never participated in a webinar before? It's easy! All you need is a computer and internet connection.

Looking for Historic American Newspapers?

Check out Chronicling America, a site that allows you to search and view newspaper pages from 1860-1922 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Happy hunting.

Veterans Day

I just finished listening to "Coming Home: A History of War Veterans" on BackStory. Through interviews with historians and veterans from various conflicts, the episode focuses on the experiences of soldiers through three centuries of American history. There is also a list of resources from census records to soldier letters available for classroom use.

Please share your thoughts on how you commemorate Veterans Day with your students.

Call for Lesson Plans

The Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) is looking for contributors to a new series of lesson plans for secondary teachers. Topics for lesson plans include The Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812: Another War for Independence?, Slavery and Civil War Diplomacy, The Marshall Plan, and FDR and Great Britain in the 1930s.

To be considered as a contributing editor for one or more of the topics, please submit a one paragraph summary of how you would approach the topic and a brief C.V. to SHAFR. For more information and submittal details, visit http://www.shafr.org/teaching/secondary-education/.

took pre-test

I took the pre-test and had about 18 minutes left in the 50 minute time period allotted.

Back to History is back!

For 2010/2011 Back to History will be offering on-line courses (webinars) with curriculum based on academic content standards for grades 9-12. Webinars are interactive sessions that will feature engaging content-focused presentations from Ohio State's history faculty, primary source presentations with a project curator, and a guided discussion of taking content and primary sources into the classroom.

Please apply by September 17, 2010. Preference will be given to applicants teaching high school; however, any social studies teacher is welcome to apply. Applications, webinar dates, and additional information can be found here.

What would Woody say?

Find out by listening to an interview with University of Richmond historian Woody Holton, who discusses Abigail Adams and the role of women in the creation of the American republic. Guest host Ed Lentz speaks to Professor Holton on the June 16, 2010 All Sides with Ann Fisher on WOSU radio.

The Massachusetts Historical Society's Adams Family Papers contains over 1,100 digitized letters written between John and Abigail Adams beginning in 1762.

Civil War Book Recommendations

Anthony Gibbs mentioned yesterday following his presentation "Fighting for Freedom: The Story of the United States Colored Troops" (USCT) that he uses Blood, Tears and Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War by James Bissland and The Negro in the Civil War by Benjamin Quarles for his research. Check them out. Also, Justin mentioned This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust during his presentation on traveling trunks.