There are many different ways to look at the underground railroad and the importance it played in our country’s history.  Rooted in the shame of slavery, it is a shining example of how people can come together to help one another.  With Black History Month starting on February 1st, talking about the Underground Railroad with
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by Barbara Gruener, Monthly Columnist It’s Election time again, the perfect opportunity to celebrate patriotism by exercising our civic right to vote and teaching our young citizens to do the same. Maybe you’ve already made your way to the polls to take advantage of early voting. It was extra special for our family because our
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February is Black History Month and a great opportunity to teach students about everything from the Civil War to the Civil Rights’ Movement to key African-American men and women who changed the course of history.  The ideas below are geared for students in elementary and middle school as they expand their horizons and find out
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Social studies is one of the most exciting subjects to teach, but it is not one that gets a lot of focus due to the emphasis on reading and math in state mandated testing. However, that does not mean that you cannot make social studies fun and integrate it into language arts and math lessons.
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Have you ever discovered a website that you just cannot wait to share with others?  This week’s free find is Google Lit Trips.  Imagine for a moment that you are reading Robert McCloskey’s classic story Make Way for Ducklings to your class.  You read about their journey and while the students get a sense for
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Did you know that the second week of March is Bubble Gum Week?  While many schools prohibit chewing it on campus, it can be a great way to engage students in some creative lessons.  Whether you use it in stick form or bubblegum balls, it is a great teaching tool that is very inexpensive.