Pedagogy
@PhDRachel
Teaching Manifest Destiny with the Oregon Trail Game
This mini lecture, game, and writing assignment uses the Oregon Trail to teach students about Manifest Destiny and western expansion. We start by talking about Marcus and Narcissa Whitman whose group was the first to include Anglo women and wagons ... (Link)
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Teaching Sojourner Truth's Most Famous Speech
Sojourner Truth was born enslaved in a Dutch community in New York state c.1797 as Isabella Baumfree. She escaped with her infant daughter in 1826. She sued her owner to get her son & was the 1st Black woman to win such a case, which was part of northe... (Link)
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Teaching Secession with Primary Documents
We begin class by going over the 1860 electoral college map, pointing out that Lincoln would have won the electoral college even if he had run against a single candidate instead of three. And as the race was largely Lincoln vs. Douglas in the north and... (Link)
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Prioritizing Historical Events -The Comatose Uncle Exercise
This is a great first or second day assignment that I use in my modern U.S. history survey, which runs from Reconstruction to the present. It helps students understand that more was going on in the periods we are discussing than we could possibly cover... (Link)
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Independence Day Break up Activity
We've all heard that the Declaration was like a breakup letter from the colonies to Great Britain. But what makes a good break up letter? What audiences did the founders have in mind when they wrote theirs? This activity helps students think about the ... (Link)
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Intro to Primary Sources -Boston Massacre Activity
After explaining what primary and secondary sources are, I show students how to read and follow these sources. This means keeping an open mind and allowing the evidence in front of you to guide your conclusions. I give students the following instruct...
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Presidential Campaign Promises
When teaching the 2nd half U.S. history survey, we come all the way to the present. This can prove troubling for students as we cover the good, the bad, and the ugly of politicians they either admire or disdain. To try to help students evaluate presid... (Link)
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