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Teaching History Creatively!

Average Rating4.61
(based on 11 reviews)

I am on my 26th year of teaching. I am so excited to share my creative student centered experiences with others! I love to rock out the classroom! I have taught everything from Geography, Free Enterprise, English, History and Athletic Coaching. I'm devoted to Teaching Like A Pirate: Bold, Daring, Risk Taking and adventurous! My teaching style is all about building relationships with my students. Students will do anything for you if they know you care about them.

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I am on my 26th year of teaching. I am so excited to share my creative student centered experiences with others! I love to rock out the classroom! I have taught everything from Geography, Free Enterprise, English, History and Athletic Coaching. I'm devoted to Teaching Like A Pirate: Bold, Daring, Risk Taking and adventurous! My teaching style is all about building relationships with my students. Students will do anything for you if they know you care about them.
Civil War Pick a Project
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Civil War Pick a Project

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Give students choice. This project instruction sheet gives step by step directions for students to choose the level they want to complete. Step 1: Choose and circle one action word Step 2: Choose and circle three interest topics Step 3: Choose and circle one product
Learning Morse Code
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Learning Morse Code

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This cute little activity makes learning and practicing Morse Code a simple and fun activity. Will easily supplement your own unit. Great for learning stations/centers. Students will decipher a part of John Adams letter to Abigail to conclude this learning activity.
Fair or Foul Reconstruction
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Fair or Foul Reconstruction

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With this engaging baseball themed worksheet students will process the following Reconstruction laws: 1. 13, 14,15th Amendments 2. Poll Taxes 3. Literacy Tests 4. Black Codes 5. Jim Crow Laws 6. Poll Taxes This goes great with the Brain Pop Reconstruction video. However, it could also accompany your lecture, power point or another video that covers the same content.
President James K. Polk in 60 Seconds
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President James K. Polk in 60 Seconds

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James Polk | 60-Second Presidents PBS Video Collection TIME SAVER! Fun, energetic, and entertaining video. You will be surprised about how much information can be packed into this 60 second video. James Polk accomplished a lot more in one term than many presidents accomplish in two. Find out how he delivered on his promise of westward expansion. Includes: 1. Teacher Answer Key 2. Student worksheet with 10 questions (all on 1 piece of paper)
Abraham Lincoln in  2 1/2 Minutes
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Abraham Lincoln in 2 1/2 Minutes

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Time Saver! Description: Honest Abe—what a nickname. Abraham Lincoln was the president who led the country through the Civil War and abolished slavery. And he rocked that black top hat. Let's all give him a pat on the back. This short, fun, entertaining video by Shmoop covers how Abe overcame his depression to become President. This fill in the blank worksheet will keep student accountable but will not take too much time to complete.
George Washington SketchNotes
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George Washington SketchNotes

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Take notes creatively using this SketchNote template. This was created for Disney The American Presidents George Washington Video. The link is included on the worksheet. Quick way to introduce Washington. Students enjoy taking notes with a combination of drawing and writing. Disney presidents videos are highly engaging. What are SketchNotes? SketchNotes are rich visual notes created from a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-drawn typography, shapes, and visual elements like arrows, boxes, and lines. As educators recognize the importance of student learning styles and the differences between linear and non-linear thinking, a “SketchNote revolution ” is emerging. Gone are the days of teachers scolding students for drawing in the back of the classroom—now experts know that doodlers gain a 29 percent increase in information retention. Students can stop and pause the video or the teacher can lead, pausing at the moments that are prompted by the SketchNotes. Print and Play....easy and engaging!
James Monroe in 60 Seconds
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James Monroe in 60 Seconds

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Video Description: With the War of 1812 in the rearview, America ushered in the Era of Good Feelings with James Monroe's presidency. Let's take a look at what he did to make these good times so sunny. Could it have anything to do with the Sunshine State? TIME SAVER! This video worksheet covers the required content quickly but thoroughly. Worksheet has 8 questions and a TEACHER KEY.
Thomas Jefferson in 60 Seconds
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Thomas Jefferson in 60 Seconds

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Video Description: Thomas Jefferson influenced the landscape of America, both politically and geographically. Discover more about the third president of the U.S. and why he?s such a big deal. After all, you don't get your face printed on the two-dollar bill for nothing! TIME SAVER! This video worksheet covers the required content quickly but thoroughly. Worksheet has 10 questions and a TEACHER KEY.
James Madison in 60 Seconds
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James Madison in 60 Seconds

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Video Description: James Madison's legacy includes political triumphs such as introducing the Bill of Rights. It also includes failures such as the War of 1812 and Washington D.C. getting burned to the ground. Find out more about the roller coaster ride that was Madison's presidency. TIME SAVER! This video worksheet covers the required content quickly but thoroughly. Worksheet has 8 questions and a TEACHER KEY.
John Adams in 60 Seconds
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John Adams in 60 Seconds

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Video Description: John Adams had his hands full when he took over the presidency from George Washington. Find out how he dealt with the feuding political parties and attacks on U.S. merchants from France and Britain. Being the leader of a young nation isn?t as easy as you might think. TIME SAVER! This video worksheet covers the required content quickly but thoroughly. Worksheet has 8 questions and a TEACHER KEY.
Four land Acts ....Processed in HAIKU
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Four land Acts ....Processed in HAIKU

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Teachers Looking for a MAJOR shortcut and FAST way to teach Land Acts while still making the content clear can use this creative worksheet. After each section students will process the content learned by creating a short Haiku poem. Directions for the poem are also on the worksheet. Land Acts included: 1. Dawes Act of 1887 2. The Homestead Act 3. The Morrill Act 4. The Pacific Railroad Act Suggested uses: Warm ups, Exit tickets, formative assessment, creative writing
George Washington in 60 Seconds
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George Washington in 60 Seconds

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Video Description: As far as Presidents go, none set more precedents than George Washington. From his leadership of the Continental Army, to his bold commitment to founding a strong nation, take a quick look back at the legacy of our very first leader. If you think you know everything about GW, think again! TIME SAVER! This video worksheet covers the required content quickly but thoroughly. Worksheet has 8 questions and a TEACHER KEY.
President John Tyler in 60 Seconds
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President John Tyler in 60 Seconds

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John Tyler| 60-Second Presidents PBS Video Collection TIME SAVER! Fun, energetic, and entertaining video. You will be surprised about how much information can be packed into this 60 second video. When President Harrison passed away, John Tyler found himself in the Presidency. See how he made the most of his promotion, from his annexation of Texas to his veto of the national bank. Includes: 1. Teacher Answer Key 2. Student worksheet with 10 questions (all on 1 piece of paper)
Relay Summary
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Relay Summary

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Get One-Give One or Move On is a strategy is a strategy to help students brainstorm key ideas on a topic/reading to activate prior knowledge and build background knowledge, OR to help students to summarize and synthesize key concepts in reading. This is FUN, ACTIVE, and great for your kinesthetic learners.
7 Principles of the Constitution So You Can Understand Them
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7 Principles of the Constitution So You Can Understand Them

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In this activity, each Principle of the Constitution is broken down into simple and easy to understand terminology. Students create their own drawing of the terms after reading an illustration prompt or idea. Finally, a sample picture for each term acts as an idea generator to help inspire student art work.
Apartheid Summary
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Apartheid Summary

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This “Quick Hitter” GOOGLE DOC worksheet teaches Apartheid using abbreviated reading material as a TIME SAVER. This is a great INTRODUCTION or as a station activity to add to your material. Fantastic for a sub day. Students will answer eight questions and finish up with an EXIT TICKET. Topics Include: What was apartheid? How did it start? Living Under Apartheid African National Congress (ANC) Nelson Mandela Soweto Uprising International Pressure Ending Apartheid
Andrew Jackson by Schmoop
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Andrew Jackson by Schmoop

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION If you have not watched and used Shmoop videos for your history class, now is your chance. Shmoop creates hilarious and sarcastic videos to teach many subjects. Video Description: Believe it or not, the Battle of Orleans wasn't the time Drew Brees and the Saints finally won their Super Bowl. It was an actual battle, with an actual general at the helm—Andrew Jackson. He was a military hero and more… and he threw very few interceptions to boot. This worksheet is perfect for: 1. Learning Stations 2. Flipped Classroom 3. In class independent work 4. Fits perfectly into what you already do in the classroom.
Andrew Jackson Critical Thinking Exercise
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Andrew Jackson Critical Thinking Exercise

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What are Metaphors & Analogies? Metaphors and analogies are comparisons between unlike things that have some particular things in common. Why should we use them in class? Good teachers use metaphors and analogies to make new and unfamiliar concepts more meaningful to students by connecting what they already know to what they are learning. 1. Good readers know how to use analogies and metaphors to get at the meaning of a passage. 2. When students create their own analogies for new concepts, the analogy can provide a way to assess their understanding of the new concepts. 3. Metaphors and analogies add "sparkle" to student writing. These Andrew Metaphors are a great critical thinking exercise to help assess understanding of this topic. Kids love these!
American Revolution Sports Movie Connections
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American Revolution Sports Movie Connections

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The American Revolution is every sports movie ever. Students will consider that the the American Revolution( OR ANY WAR)to be lot like a classic sports movie. The plots are essentially identical. All sports movies start out with a group of less-than-stellar athletes. Then SUDDENLY- there is a wonderful music montage where they train to some really upbeat music and a stunning matter of 2-3 minutes become the best team ever! Then by the end of the movie they’ve won the state championship! Wow! Spectacular! Listed in this activity are different “sports movie” scenes and characters. It is your job to relate those scenes and characters to actual events and people of the American Revolution. SUPER FUN! Students LOVE This!
Dawes, Homestead and Morrill Acts Illustrated
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Dawes, Homestead and Morrill Acts Illustrated

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TIMER SAVER for covering these three Reconstruction Acts. This assignment comes with 3 video links that illustrate how to create easy to remember icons for each one of these acts. YOU WILL LOVE THE CUTE MEMORY TECHNIQUES! Students remember best after sketching images of their learning. The definitions of each act are on the worksheet. Students can work independently or you can watch the videos to teach yourself how to illustrate this lesson while your students follow you. Finally, students critically think by putting all three acts on the triple venn diagram to compare and contrast each act.