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Editor’s Notebook

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Events in History Do Not Happen in Isolation: Studying a Letter Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1815

By Lee Ann Potter

After the British torched the Capitol and its library in 1814, Congress purchased Thomas Jefferson’s renowned book collection. The featured letter by Jefferson, written at the conclusion of the transfer, can serve as an introduction to the global context of the War of 1812.

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Supreme Court Term Review: Same–Sex Marriage, Healthcare, and Redistricting.

By Catherine E. Hawke

The recent Supreme Court term was marked by historic rulings, and the upcoming term also promises to address many contentious cases.

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Student Protest, Historical Thinking and Anti-Historians: Some Context on the Jeffco APUSH Debate

By Fritz Fischer

The recent uproar over a Colorado school board’s efforts to infuse the AP U.S. History framework with ideologically motivated revisions highlights the importance of keeping inquiry as the focus of the history classroom.

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Voting Rights Act of 1965: In Whose Interest?

By Jane Bolgatz and Ryan Crowley

In this lesson, students consider important factors that converged to help civil rights activists win a decades-long struggle for voting rights.

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The 1915 U.S. Invasion of Haiti: Examining a Treaty of Occupation

By Jennifer Bauduy

A close look at the U.S.-Haiti treaty signed 100 years ago can launch an engaging lesson on U.S. involvement in Haiti and the commercial interests that fueled American interventions throughout Latin America.

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Dead Bodies and Live Minds: How Investigating a Real Murder Can Inspire Curiosity in the High School Classroom

By Seán Arthurs

Real-life mysteries can involve students in rigorous problem solving, promote engagement, and provide students with a deep understanding of the criminal justice system.

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Just Google It?: Supporting Historical Reasoning and Engagement during Online Research

By Ashley N. Woodson

Three important strategies help students evaluate sources they encounter online and encourage active and evidence-based reconstruction of the past.

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Using Classroom Discussions: Great Risks Yield Great Rewards

By Brian C. Gibbs

A discussion activity centered on a topic of interest to students helped teach seventh graders the rules of civic dialogue while engaging students with a range of academic abilities.

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Take the Journey: Historic Place-Based Service Learning Projects

By James A. Percoco

Place-based service-learning projects connect young people with the past in ways that can range from producing mini movies of a historic site to planting a tree geo-tagged with a Civil War soldier’s life story.

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Challenges and Opportunities for Discussion of Controversial Issues in Racially Pluralistic Schools

By Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg and Peter Levine

Providing students with opportunities for discussing contentious topics in the classroom can help bridge the civic opportunity and knowledge gap.

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Teaching about International Issues and Foreign Policy with the Internet

By C. Frederick Risinger

These outstanding websites include lesson plans and resources for teaching about major global issues.