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Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook
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Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook
Six Investigative Strategies, Grades 5-12

Foreword by James Percoco



November 2008 | 160 pages | Corwin

"Williams' passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways is precisely what we need. This book challenges educators to think outside the box."
—Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University

"This is not your typical social studies methods book. Williams' highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."
—Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education

Turn your students into history detectives with these innovative teaching strategies!

Written by a history educator, this exciting guide provides a unique approach that makes it easy for middle and high school teachers to engage students' critical thinking in history and social studies.

Using a "CSI approach" to history, the author's six powerful strategies tap into students' natural curiosity and investigative instincts. Students become detectives of the past as they ghost-hunt in their neighborhoods, solve historical crime scenes, prepare arguments for famous court cases, and more. Each ready-to-use technique:

  • Demonstrates how students can use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries
  • Includes sample lessons and case studies for Grades 5–12
  • Aligns with national standards, making the book useful for both teachers and curriculum developers
  • Features review questions, reflections, and Web and print resources in every chapter for further reading

Incorporate these strategies into your classroom and watch as students discover just how thrilling and spine-chilling history can be!


 
Foreword by James Percoco
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction: History Education: A Matter of Life or Death?
 
1. Haunted History: Revealing the Hidden Past
Discovering Haunted History

 
What Is Haunted History?

 
Constructing HOST Files

 
A Sampling of HOST Files

 
Questions for Review and Reflection

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
On the Web

 
 
2. The CSI Approach: Making Students Detectives
What Is the CSI Approach?

 
Constructing Cold Cases

 
A Sampling of Cold Cases

 
Questions for Review and Reflection

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
On the Web

 
 
3. Historical Fingerprinting: Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
Learning to Think Like a Historian

 
What Is Historical Fingerprinting

 
Constructing a Historical Fingerprinting Kit

 
A Sampling of Historical Fingerprinting at Work

 
Fingerprinting the Declaration of Independence

 
Fingerprinting the Preamble to the United States Constitution

 
Fingerprinting Political Cartoons

 
Dusting Secondary Sources

 
Questions for Review and Reflection

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
On the Web

 
 
4. The Intersection: Reconstructing Historical Accidents
What Is the Intersection?

 
Setting Up the Intersection

 
A Sampling of Historical Intersections

 
Questions for Review and Reflection

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
 
5. Meet SCOTUS: Engaging Students in the Drama of Court Cases
What Is SCOTUS?

 
Using SCOTUS

 
A Sampling of Court Cases

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
On the Web

 
 
6. ESP + C: Providing a Student Mental Organizer and Writing Strategy
What Is ESP+C?

 
Using ESP+C

 
A Sampling of ESP+C

 
Questions for Review and Reflection

 
References

 
Resources and Further Reading

 
On the Web

 
 
Conclusion
References

 
Further Reading

 
 
Index

"No longer is history something to be ingested and regurgitated on a test, but rather something that absorbs the intellectual imagination of the learner. That is a rare quality in good teaching. The author has done a marvelous job of bridging what are otherwise conflicting paradigms."

Lynn E. Nielsen, Professor of Education
University of Northern Iowa

"This book offers experienced social studies teachers endless ideas and inspiration to revitalize their classrooms so that students look forward to learning social studies, especially learning experiences placed in their own communities."

Nancy P. Gallavan, Professor
University of Central Arkansas

"An excellent guide for making history a compelling subject to students through the use of sleuthing and crime analysis metaphors and techniques. Any teacher using the models outlined in the book will find his or her classes more exciting for all involved.”

Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr., Professor
University of Miami

"Williams presents engaging and unique strategies from his broad range of experience. The connections between historical events and the polemics and mysteries of crime scenes make history learning a thrill."

Brett Piersma, Social Studies Teacher
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District, CA

"This is not your typical social studies methods book by any means. Williams's highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."

Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education

"Williams's passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways and with clever devices to engage their students is precisely what we need. This informative and well-designed book challenges educators to think outside of the box."

Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University

"Great teachers are national treasures, and Yohuru Williams is one of them. In this book he shares ideas and teaching methods. He also includes some terrific historic vignettes."

Joy Hakim, Author

"Williams is one of the most knowledgeable and exciting history education presenters in the nation. Finally, teachers will have the opportunity to read, digest, and implement these fantastic teaching methods into their lessons."

Kevin T. Brady, President
American Institute for History Education

Although this is not the subject area that I will be teaching I liked the activities that could be adapted to any historical study.

Mrs Susan Buckman
Education, Dundee University
November 18, 2010
Key features
  • Full of ready-to-use, innovative teaching strategies for social studies and history teachers in middle and secondary schools.
  • Engages students in "doing" history, and using primary sources to solve historical mysteries.
  • Strategies are aligned with the National and California SS Standards, as well as the National History Standards, making the book a useful resource for consultants and curriculum developers as well as classroom teachers.
  • Each chapter contains questions for review, and annotated listings of web and print resources for further reading.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Praise

Foreword


For instructors

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