Textbooks can strike terror in a student, especially if the teacher has students read aloud and then says after the lesson, “Answer the questions at the end of the chapter.” Argh! Last week, when Lisa and I were teaching a sixth grade history lesson, I asked the students, “If you hate history, please share your reasons.” Many said, “We memorize,” “We learn the same thing every year,” “We memorize,” and on and on and on. Time to spice up your lessons!
Colonial Williamsburg sends out a monthly Teacher Gazette newsletter via email that focuses on primary sources, shares lesson plans, and other pertinent helps to get your students out of the Social Studies Hum Drum.
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For example, this month’s newsletter covers “Tight Lacing: Taking Great Pains with Fashion,” by Susan Pryor; Primary Source of the Month:
“Tight Lacing, or Fashion before Ease” ; and Teaching Strategy:
“Extreme Fashion” in the 1700s
If you are interested in signing up, click here: Go
Also, if you wish to have a wealth of resources to explore, don’t forget to go to the Teacher’s Resources page on the CW website. There you will find:
–>podcasts
–>videos
–>recordings of songs, music, and other multimedia
–>lesson plans
–>virtual maps and interactives
and much more
Tags: Colonial Williamsburg, history, primary sources, resources, Social Studies
