Browse best practices

Alternatives to the famous person report

In Rethinking Reports, page 3.1

This "rethinking reports" series of articles provides alternative research assignments that challenge students to think critically about historical actors.

By David Walbert and Melissa Thibault.

Bring history to life with a Living History Day!

In Rethinking Reports, page 3.4

A Living History Day turns students into teachers and challenges them to think historically.

Format: article

By Melissa Thibault.

CareerStart lessons: Grade six

This collection of lessons aligns the sixth grade curriculum in math, science, English language arts, and social studies with potential career opportunities.

Format: (multiple pages)

Connecting with community through oral history

In Oral history in the classroom, page 5

Through interviews and photographs, Harnett County students learn about their community's agricultural past.

Format: article

By Jean Sweeney Shawver.

Intrigue of the Past

Lesson plans and essays for teachers and students explore North Carolina's past before European contact. Designed for grades four through eight, the web edition of this book covers fundamental concepts, processes, and issues of archaeology, and describes the peoples and cultures of the Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian periods.

Format: book (multiple pages)

The not-so-famous person report

In Rethinking Reports, page 3.2

Instead of teaching the history of the famous, use research in primary sources to teach students that the past and present were made by people like them.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Reading biographies and autobiographies

In Rethinking Reports, page 3.3

How good is that biography your students are reading? Here's how to make sure they get the most out of their reading and research.

Format: article

By Melissa Thibault.

Rethinking Reports

Creative research-based assignments provide alternatives to the President Report, Animal Report, and Famous Person Report that ask students to think about old topics in new ways, work collaboratively, and develop products that support a variety of learning styles.

Format: series (multiple pages)

Resources on the web

EDSITEment - All Subject Categories

This site provides links to lesson plans in the subject areas of Art & Culture, Foreign Languages, History & Social Studies and Literature & Language Arts. Each broad category is broken into numerous subcategories pertaining to the general subject. For... (Learn more)

Format: website

Provided by: National Edowment for the Humanities

NEH Summer Seminars and Institutes: School Teachers

This site provides information on awards to full-time teachers and home-schooling parents to attend institutes and seminars on a variety historical and literary topics. Award amounts vary depending on the length of the program. (Learn more)

Format: website/general

North Carolina Center for South Asia Studies

An interinstitutional research center which provides community outreach to K-12 schools in the area of South Asian studies. (Learn more)

Format: website/general

Provided by: Duke University

Triangle Institute for Security Studies - Speaker's Bureau Program

A consortium of UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University which promotes communication, education, and research in the field of international security. They provide speakers to high school and middle school classes to help students... (Learn more)

Format: website/general

Provided by: Triangle Institute for Security Services