Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Learn Bright's Mayan Civilization contains lesson plans that introduce students to the Mayan Civilization and the events during its time in history. The lesson plans teach about the origins of the civilization, places, people, and things, beliefs, daily life, and more. You must sign up for a free account to access the lesson plans. The lessons are aligned to the Common Core Standards for ELA literacy.

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), south america (77)

The Library of Congress guide on the 13th Amendment is an invaluable resource for teachers exploring the history of slavery, emancipation, and the evolution of civil rights in the United States. This comprehensive guide provides primary source documents, historical context, and legal insights into the amendment that abolished slavery. Designed for educators, it offers easy access to speeches, legislative records, and images that bring the historical significance of the 13th Amendment to life. Whether you're teaching a civics, history, or government class, this guide equips you with the tools to foster meaningful discussions about freedom, justice, and the enduring impact of this landmark amendment.

tag(s): civil rights (221), constitution (99), emancipation proclamation (14), slavery (80)

African American Artists: Resources in the Library of Congress, serves as a comprehensive guide to the vast collections and resources on African American art and artists. It provides an introduction to significant artworks, movements, and figures, offering insights into their historical and cultural contributions. The guide is organized into sections that highlight primary sources, exhibitions, photographs, manuscripts, and reference materials available in the Library's collections. It is a valuable tool for educators, researchers, and students seeking to explore the rich legacy and impact of African American artists.

tag(s): african american (123), art history (107), black history (138), civil rights (221)

Explore this detailed guide to the history of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. It highlights the battalion's critical role in clearing a massive backlog of mail to boost troop morale and their perseverance in the face of racism, sexism, and challenging conditions. The guide offers access to primary sources, such as photographs, official records, and news articles, along with historical analysis that situates their contributions within the broader context of the war and civil rights. This resource is a valuable tool for educators, featuring side tabs with timelines, related collections, and teaching resources, making it ideal for lessons on women's history, African American history, and military history.

tag(s): black history (138), civil rights (221), women (154), womenchangemaker (39), world war 2 (163)

Mayan Masks gives a brief overview of the importance and value of masks in the Mayan civilization. It also briefly describes the different types of masks that the Mayans created. Finally, it challenges you to design your mask.

tag(s): crafts (76), mayans (32), mexico (46), south america (77)

Maya Archaeologist is a free website that shares information on the making of jewelry and music in the Mayan civilization. The site includes videos on jade and musical instruments. Additionally, it gives step-by-step directions on how to make the Mayan death mask, headdress, and whistle.

tag(s): art history (107), mayans (32), south america (77)

National Geographic Kids' Mayan Civilization Primary Resources allows students to learn about Mayan architecture, agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, mathematics, and calendar-making. The site offers a few simple activities that students can participate in. Note: You must scroll to the bottom of the page to download the primary resource PDF.

tag(s): mayans (32), south america (77)

Monah offers lessons on the First People, including the Black Kettle and the Washita River Massacre, The Sterilization of Native American Women in Oklahoma, The Tonkawa People: A Retracing of Steps from Texas to Oklahoma, Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I, Quapaw Nation Food Sovereignty, and Osage Massacres and Gender Roles. Lesson plans include an introduction, materials, learning objectives, slides, quizzes, websites, primary sources, and map activities.

tag(s): native americans (116)

Unlock the keys to history with gamified activities and escape rooms that you can personalize using Genially, reviewed here. Customizable content includes options to add audio, video, multimedia, text, and interactive images. Begin by choosing the "Use this template" link to add the thirty-two-slide template to your Genially dashboard. Add information to each slide following the information provided to guide students through four missions. Invite students to join a live presentation using their devices or work together as a class using a live presentation on your whiteboard.

tag(s): digital escapes (17), game based learning (208), gamification (86), mysteries (24)

The "Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide" from the Library of Congress provides a valuable resource for exploring the legal framework and history behind commemorative observances in the United States. It includes information on federal laws, presidential proclamations, and public laws establishing official observances such as holidays, awareness months, and significant anniversaries. The guide offers links to key legal documents, historical context, and research tips, making it an excellent tool for teachers designing lessons on civic education, American history, or government. Its accessible format helps students and educators better understand how national observances are legally and culturally recognized.

tag(s): holidays (194), jews (52), religions (113)

The History.com article 6 Civilizations That Mysteriously Collapsed examines the sudden and often unexplained declines of six ancient civilizations: the Maya, Indus Valley, Ancestral Puebloans, Cahokia, Easter Island, and Greenland's Norse settlements. The article explores contributing factors such as drought, deforestation, resource depletion, social upheaval, and climate change, providing insights into how these societies thrived before facing challenges that led to their downfall. This resource is ideal for educators teaching history, geography, or anthropology, as it encourages students to analyze the interplay between human activity and environmental factors. Teachers can use it to promote critical thinking through discussions, research projects, or comparative studies on the rise and fall of civilizations throughout history.

tag(s): india (32), mayans (32), mexico (46), native americans (116), vikings (10)

FlyOver Zone offers free 3D modeling of various world heritage sites and monuments. FlyOver Zone tours visit the Acropolis, Baalbek Reborn temple, Tenochtitlan, Basilica of Maxentius, Casino (or Villa) Aurora, and many more. You must create a free account to access the 3D reconstructions and the tour itself. Each site and/or monument will give a brief description, and some offer lesson plans.

tag(s): architecture (84), art history (107), virtual field trips (132)

The Chronicle video "The Complete History of Indigenous People Before Colonialism" explores the rich history and traditions of pre-Columbian Native American life, as narrated by Dr. Evan Adams, an Indigenous Canadian actor, playwright, and physician. It provides a three-hour video divided into chapters, making it accessible for specific topics like creation stories, ancient tools, and cultural traditions. The video features "like" timestamps for easy navigation and a synchronized transcript for immersive learning. The message "In 1492, our world was changed forever. But we did not disappear" captures the resilience and ongoing significance of Native cultures, inviting students and educators alike to delve into this history. If your district blocks YouTube, then this video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): colonial america (95), native americans (116)

Looking to make your classroom buzz with learning and discovery? The PBS LearningMedia resource "Amplifying Indigenous Experiences: Video Gallery" is perfect for engaging students in a fun, hands-on way. The 5E model guides students to explore, explain, and connect ideas as they learn. The activity features a "Gallery Walk," where students move around, share ideas, and dive into fascinating videos and stories. Plus, it includes highlights from "Unladylike 2020," showcasing trailblazing women in history.

tag(s): native americans (116), women (154), womenchangemaker (39)

The YouTube video "The Jerry Cans - Ukiuq" showcases a dynamic folk song performed in Inuktitut, the Indigenous language of the Inuit people. The music video offers a unique opportunity to explore Indigenous culture through its energetic rhythm and expressive storytelling with vibrant visuals. This engaging piece highlights the importance of preserving and celebrating indigenous languages and traditions in a modern context. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): cultures (226), native americans (116)

The website "This Photo Isn't What It Looks Like" is part of the podcast series "The Bigger Picture" from Thirteen.org, which examines the hidden stories behind iconic photos. This episode focuses on a photo of ethnographer Frances Densmore and Piegan Blackfeet tribe leader Mountain Chief. Through podcasts and storytelling, it encourages students to think critically about the meaning behind images and how they shape our understanding of history. It's a powerful resource for teaching media literacy and sparking thoughtful discussions in the classroom.

tag(s): media literacy (113), native americans (116), photography (131)

The Whose Land website offers interactive tools and lesson plans to help students learn about Indigenous territories and the history of land ownership in North America. The platform includes resources like videos, maps, and guided activities encouraging students to explore whose land they live on and the importance of Indigenous sovereignty. The lesson plans are suitable for various grade levels and promote critical thinking about historical and contemporary issues related to Indigenous peoples and land rights. These materials are designed to foster respect for Indigenous cultures and awareness of ongoing settlement efforts. It's recommended to check if YouTube is accessible on school networks if you are planning to use these resources in the classroom.

tag(s): columbus day (8), native americans (116)

The Indigenous Peoples' Day Resources webpage from the Zinn Education Project provides resources to challenge traditional narratives of Columbus Day by centering the history and resilience of Indigenous peoples. It offers lesson plans, articles, and book recommendations aimed at creating a deeper understanding of the colonial impact on Native communities and celebrating Indigenous cultures and histories. These materials are designed to help educators engage students with Indigenous peoples' historical and ongoing struggles, encouraging a more inclusive and accurate view of history. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): columbus day (8), native americans (116)

"Picaria: A Zuni Pueblo Math Game" introduces a traditional Native American strategy game from the Zuni Pueblo culture, designed for students in grades 6-8. This engaging activity combines cultural learning with critical thinking and mathematical skills. The document includes detailed instructions for playing Picaria, a game similar to tic-tac-toe, with background information on its cultural significance. Teachers can use this resource to enrich math or social studies lessons, encouraging strategic thinking, problem-solving, and an appreciation for Indigenous traditions in an interactive and meaningful way.

tag(s): native americans (116), problem solving (233)

Internet Archive is a massive digital library offering free access to millions of books, movies, music, websites, and more. Use this resource to find historical documents, classic literature, educational videos, and archived websites to support lessons in almost any subject. The "Wayback Machine" is especially useful for exploring the history of websites, while the extensive eBook and audio collections can enhance reading assignments. Internet Archive is a great tool for expanding classroom materials and encouraging independent research or exploration.

tag(s): audio books (29), digital storytelling (156), ebooks (47), literature (221), media literacy (113), movies (56)