Answers to All Your Printing Questions

If you've ever hit "Print" and watched your beautiful resource come out… well, not so beautifully, you're not alone! Whether it's a graphic organizer that prints with funky formatting or a worksheet that suddenly has images blacked out, printing problems are the last thing we want to deal with when we're trying to prep for a great lesson. I’ve been there, and so have many of you as well! Today, I'm here to help you troubleshoot some of the most common printing issues, including how to print to image, get more writing space for your students by using bigger paper, and even how to turn one page into a multi-page spread. Let’s walk through these fixes together so you can get back to teaching and stop wrestling with your printer.

When Things Print Wonky: Quick Fixes for Common Printing Issues

There’s nothing more frustrating than opening up a resource you’re excited to use, only to have it print all wonky. Maybe the formatting is off, borders are missing, or weird black boxes are showing up behind images. These are some of the most common printing problems we run into. Luckily, there are a few quick tricks that usually solve them!

Always make sure the file is downloaded and open it in the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Printing directly from a browser, a preview window, or an outdated version of Reader can lead to all kinds of unexpected printing issues, especially with PDF files. 

Once you're in Adobe, one of the best go-to solutions is selecting “Print as Image” under the advanced print settings. This simple checkbox can fix all kinds of formatting quirks, especially if things just aren’t lining up right.

Another common issue is the mysterious black boxes. They usually happen when a PDF with layered images or clip art is printed from a browser. Again, opening the file in Adobe Acrobat and printing from there usually clears it up completely.

If your pages are getting cut off or borders are disappearing, check your print settings to make sure it's set to "Fit" or "Shrink Oversized Pages". That way, your full document prints the way it was designed. You won't lose important content along the edges.

These quick adjustments can make a huge difference and help you get the clean, polished prints you expected from the start. Let’s keep going and talk about ways to get more writing space from your prints. Sometimes, our students just need room to write!

Printing Problems When Students Need More Space to Write

Have you ever looked at your student’s barely legible scribbles crammed into a tiny box and thought, “Yeah… they need more space?” I definitely have. Some activities, especially those that ask for longer responses, reflections, or paragraph writing, just aren’t meant to fit into small text boxes. This is one of those printing problems that’s easy to fix once you know how.

If you’ve run into printing issues where the default print size just doesn’t give your students enough room, the solution might be as simple as printing on larger paper. If your printer supports it, try switching from standard letter size (8.5x11) to legal size (8.5x14) or even tabloid (11x17). You’ll be surprised how much extra writing space that gives without changing the actual formatting of the resource.

Another option is to adjust the scale in your print settings. Bumping it up to 110% or 120% can give your students a little more room to write without needing a different paper size. You'll want to make sure you’re using the “Fit to Printable Area” option so nothing gets cut off.

Sometimes, it’s all about flexibility. You might even want to offer both a standard and enlarged version, depending on your students' needs. This is helpful in inclusion classrooms or when working with your students who use assistive technology or need modified materials.

Bottom line is to not let printing problems keep your students from doing their best thinking. A little extra white space can go a long way!

Tiling Tricks to Solve Big Time Printing Issues

Sometimes you need to go big! Maybe you're having your students create a collaborative poster, stretching out a graphic organizer for group work, or just giving your students plenty of space to brainstorm. That’s when tiling comes to the rescue. It’s one of my favorite ways to solve printing issues that come up when one page just isn’t enough.

Tiling basically allows you to print one single-page PDF across multiple sheets of paper. So, instead of shrinking everything to fit onto one tiny page, Adobe Acrobat lets you divide it into sections that can be printed, trimmed, and taped together like a puzzle. This is especially handy for class projects, anchor charts, or group timelines.

To start, open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and select Print. Under Page Sizing & Handling, click on Poster. That’s the magic tiling option. From there, you can adjust the tile scale to make it as large as you need and set how much overlap you want between pages. Acrobat will then break up the document and spread it out across multiple pages. This solves those frustrating printing problems where everything looks squished or unreadable.

More Sneaky Printing Problems You Can Fix Easily

Other times, it’s not the big, obvious stuff that throws us off. It’s the random glitches that pop up when we least expect them. These printing issues can be just as frustrating, especially when you're in a rush. Below are a few more that I’ve seen come up time and time again (and how to fix them fast!):

Fonts Gone Wild: When Text Prints Weird or Not at All

Ever print out a resource and find strange symbols or missing letters where your directions should be? That’s usually a font issue. It can happen if the font in the PDF isn’t embedded or your printer can’t process it correctly. The fix? Open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader and choose “Print as Image” in the advanced settings. It smooths out those weird text printing problems and keeps your pages looking exactly how you expected.

Blank Pages or Cut-Off Sections

You hit print, but only half the page comes out, or worse, it’s just blank. Don’t panic! Start by checking your print range to make sure you selected the correct pages. Then make sure you’re not accidentally printing double-sided (which can sometimes cause a hiccup). And yes, give your printer and computer a quick restart. It's a classic tech move, but it often clears up mystery printing issues like this one.

Accidental Double-Sided Printing

There’s nothing quite like handing out a worksheet only to realize your answer key is printed on the back. Oops! This common printing problem usually comes from a default setting in your printer. Always double-check that the “Print on both sides” box is unchecked before you hit print, especially if you’re printing pages that should stay separate for classroom use.

Print Like a Pro With No More Printing Issues

Let’s be real here for a minute. Prepping lessons is enough work without having to battle the printer, too. Whether you’re troubleshooting text that prints weird, trying to get more space for student responses, or figuring out how to tile that one-pager into a full collaborative display, there is a fix. Most printing issues have simple solutions once you know where to look, and now you’ve got them all in one place!

Next time you run into one of those frustrating printing problems, just come back to this post and try the tip that fits. You’ve got options that work with the resources you already have. No more guessing. No more wasting paper. Just smooth printing so you can focus on what really matters, which is your students and your teaching.

If you’ve grabbed one of my social studies resources from TPT and something isn’t printing quite right, I hope this guide helps make things easier. You can also check out the FAQ page TPT has created for another helpful tool! 

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5 Halloween Activities for the Middle School and High School History Class

Halloween in the classroom can be tricky. Pun intended! When the holiday falls on a school day, there’s no denying the buzz of excitement in the air. Instead of fighting against the distractions, I like to lean into the energy and use it to my advantage. With the right activities, our students can stay engaged and learning on Halloween. We can keep them focused without feeling like we're just trying to survive the day.

For middle and high school students, Halloween still holds its charm. They may not be dressing up for a classroom costume parade, but that doesn’t mean they’re too old to enjoy the spooky season. In fact, they’re at the perfect age to appreciate the eerie, mysterious, and even bizarre aspects of the history of Halloween. Whether it’s investigating witch trials, diving into historical superstitions, or bringing out their competitive side with review games, there are plenty of ways to make the day meaningful and fun.

I’ve found that my middle schoolers appreciate Halloween activities that let them investigate, debate, and put their curiosity to work. They’re old enough to think critically about the past but young enough to still get excited about anything that involves a little mystery, intrigue, or competition. So, instead of dismissing Halloween as just another day, I like to embrace their energy and direct it toward historical inquiry and engaging activities.

Engaging Halloween Activities for Middle School and High School

If you’re looking for ways to bring Halloween activities into your US History, World History, Civics, or Geography classes without losing valuable learning time, I’ve got you covered! Here are some of my favorite engaging activities that bring a little historical intrigue, problem-solving, and creativity into the mix while keeping our students focused and excited.

1. Transform Your Classroom With A Historical Simulation

If you've ever used simulations in your classroom, you know they bring history to life in a way that no textbook ever could. Halloween is the perfect time to introduce an immersive experience like the Salem Witch Trials Mystery.

In this activity, your students take on the role of investigators. They are analyzing clues and evidence to determine what really happened in Salem in 1692. Your students work together to piece together information, sort out facts from hysteria, and decide for themselves whether the accused were truly guilty or simply victims of mass paranoia.

What I love about this activity is that it taps into higher-order thinking skills, encouraging our students to weigh evidence, think critically, and collaborate. Plus, the detective-style setup is naturally engaging, making it feel more like a true crime investigation than a typical history lesson.

If you are short on time, no worries! Set up stations with different clues and have your students rotate through them. As they rotate, they can gather evidence in small groups. This makes it fast-paced and interactive, keeping their attention while still reinforcing historical thinking skills.

2. Make It a Review Game Day!

On Halloween, your students are already in the mood for fun. If you don't have a topic that makes a connection with the holiday, try a game day focused on review. 

Instead of struggling to hold their focus, I like to tap into the engaging power of games. Over the years, I have created a variety of interactive games that are perfect for review. You might choose a digital tower building game, board game, or even a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. These game styles that kids love are the perfect platform for adding in some review. But one of my favorites is a Jeopardy-style quiz show game that gets my students excited. In all of these games, students get so caught up in the challenge that they forget they’re reviewing!

For easy-to-use review games, check out my TPT Store. There you will find a variety of game styles for almost any unit you teach. Whether you want to reinforce concepts from earlier in the year or prepare for an upcoming test, these games will keep your students engaged while still hitting key learning objectives. Check out the quick links below to find games your students will love.

• US History to 1865
• US History 1865 to Present
• Ancient Civilizations
• World History
• US Government and Civics

3. Try some Free Halloween Trivia 

Your students are going to love Halloween in your classroom with this next activity. This digital mystery picture uses the concept of pixel art to create a Halloween themed picture.  The catch? To get the pixels to appear your students must correctly answer Halloween trivia questions. There's sure to be lots of holiday learning happening.

Try my Halloween Mystery Image Activity! This free no prep Google Sheets challenge is perfect for an easy Halloween day of engaged learning. It’s digital, self-checking, and perfect for adding a festive touch to your lesson plans. 

You can complete this activity as a class, by projecting the mystery picture to the front board. This is a great way to have a discussion while learning new things about the holiday. You can also assign this directly to students and have them complete it independently or with a partner. This is a great option in a 1:1 classroom setting or when you have access to computers or tablets.

4. Connect History to Spooky Myths and Legends

Holidays are always a great time to dive into cultural studies using the holiday as the piece that connects the cultures together. In this activity, you can blend history and Halloween by diving into myths, legends, and superstitions that have shaped different cultures. Many of the fears we associate with Halloween, like ghosts, witches, and curses, have deep historical roots.

I like to have my students research and present on a historical myth or legend. Some great topics include:

• The Lost Colony of Roanoke – Was it mass hysteria, a supernatural event, or just an unsolved mystery?
• Medieval fears of the supernatural – How did the Black Death fuel myths about witches and vampires?
• Ancient Egyptian curses – What role did tomb curses play in early archaeology?
• The real inspiration behind Dracula – How did Vlad the Impaler become the basis for Bram Stoker’s novel?

This activity allows our students to research, analyze primary sources, and even create their own spooky retellings of historical events. It's a great activity for Halloween week, or to use a joint effort with the language art teacher.

4. Use Primary Sources to Analyze Fear in History

Halloween is all about things that you wouldn't want to bump into in the night. Fear has also played a major role in shaping historical events. I like to give my students primary sources, like political cartoons, newspaper articles, or firsthand accounts, that reflect how fear has influenced history.

Some great topics include:

• The Red Scare and fear of communism
• The Cold War and nuclear paranoia
• Fear of immigrants in different historical periods
• The Salem Witch Trials as an early example of mass hysteria

Then, my students analyze how fear shaped decisions and public policies. They compare these fears to modern-day concerns. It’s an excellent way to bridge past and present, all while keeping the lesson engaging.

5. Creating Writing Tasks for Halloween Activities

For your students who love storytelling, a historical horror story assignment is the perfect way to blend creativity with historical knowledge. You can have your students choose a real historical event and reimagine it as a ghost story, a thriller, or a supernatural tale. Some ideas include:

• A ship lost in the Bermuda Triangle
• A mummy’s curse in ancient Egypt
• A haunted battlefield from the Civil War
• The mystery of Anastasia Romanov

This activity taps into historical research, critical thinking, and creative writing. It also allows your students to have fun with the eerie side of history.

Halloween Activities That Keep Students Engaged

Rather than fighting the Halloween energy, I embrace it with Halloween activities that turn the day into a learning opportunity. Whether we’re solving a mystery, playing a review game, or diving into historical fears, there are plenty of ways to make the most of this exciting day in the classroom. Give these activities a try, and watch your students stay engaged and excited, even on Halloween! 

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Primary Sources: Helping Our Students Understand Their Value

Digging into history with primary sources brings the past to life in a way that no textbook ever could. Whether it's analyzing a political cartoon, exploring old photographs, or diving into firsthand accounts, using primary source examples helps our students connect with history in a meaningful way. Over the years, I’ve written several blog posts on how to make primary sources more engaging, accessible, and relevant in the classroom. This roundup pulls together all of those ideas into one place, so you’ll have plenty of strategies and resources at your fingertips. Let’s explore how we can bring history alive with primary sources!

What Are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are firsthand accounts or original records created during the time of an event. Unlike secondary sources, which analyze or interpret historical events, primary source examples provide a direct window into the past. These can include letters, diaries, photographs, speeches, newspaper articles from the time, government documents, and even artifacts. When our students work with primary sources, they get to act as historians. They get to practice analyzing, questioning, and drawing their own conclusions based on real evidence. This not only builds critical thinking skills but also makes history feel more personal and engaging. By introducing our students to a variety of primary source examples, we help them develop a deeper understanding of historical events and perspectives.

Helping Students Analyze Primary Sources

Teaching our students to analyze primary sources is an essential skill that helps them think critically about history rather than just memorizing facts. In Helping Students Analyze Primary Sources, I break down simple strategies to guide students through the process of examining primary source examples. From asking the right questions to using graphic organizers, I share practical tips to help our students make sense of historical documents, photographs, and artifacts. The goal is to move beyond surface-level observations and encourage students to dig deeper. We want them to look at bias, context, and perspective. 

Using Letters As Primary Source Examples

There’s something powerful about reading a letter written in the past. It feels personal and full of emotion. In Primary Source Letters: Bringing History to Life, I explore how primary source letters can make history more relatable for our students. These firsthand accounts offer a closer look at historical events. It gives our students the chance to see perspectives they might not find in a textbook. I also share primary source examples of letters from different time periods and discuss strategies for helping our students analyze them. Whether it’s a letter from a soldier, a political leader, or an everyday person, this type of primary source is a fantastic way to build engagement and critical thinking in history lessons.

My Life As a Primary Source

Many of our students often think of primary sources as old, dusty documents from the past. What if they realized they could be primary source examples themselves? In My Life as a Primary Source, I share a creative way to help our students connect with history by seeing their own experiences as valuable records of the present. This activity encourages them to reflect on how diaries, letters, social media posts, and even photographs from their daily lives could one day be studied as primary sources. It’s a fun, engaging way to make history feel relevant while reinforcing the idea that primary sources aren’t just from the past. They’re being created every day!

Primary Sources Around Art

Works of art can tell powerful stories about the past. It offers visual insight into historical events, cultural movements, and personal perspectives. In Art as Primary Sources, I dive into how paintings, sculptures, and other forms of artistic expression serve as primary source examples that help our students analyze history in a new way. I share strategies for guiding students through the process of interpreting historical artwork. I explain how my students use a graphic organizer to look at symbolism, context, and the artist’s perspective. Whether it’s a wartime propaganda poster or a Renaissance masterpiece, using primary sources like art can spark meaningful discussions and deepen historical understanding.

Political Cartoons Primary Source

Political cartoons are helpful when it comes to understanding historical perspectives, social issues, and political debates. In Political Cartoons as Primary Sources, I explore how these illustrations serve as primary source examples that help our students analyze historical events in a unique and engaging way. This post breaks down the different elements of political cartoons, such as symbolism, exaggeration, and irony. Each of these elements helps our students to decode the deeper messages behind them. 

Historical Speeches As Primary Sources

Few primary sources are as powerful as a speech delivered at a pivotal moment in history. In Historical Speeches as Primary Sources, I explore how speeches give our students direct access to the words, emotions, and perspectives of historical figures. Whether it’s the Gettysburg Address, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech, or a wartime address, these primary source examples allow our students to analyze tone and historical context. This post also includes strategies for breaking down speeches by looking at audience, purpose, and persuasive techniques. These help our students develop a deeper understanding of the messages being conveyed. 

Using Photos As Primary Sources

A picture truly is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to primary sources. In Using Primary Source Photos, I explore how historical photographs serve as powerful primary source examples that allow our students to visually analyze the past. This post dives into guiding our students through photo analysis by examining details, considering the photographer’s perspective, and questioning what’s included (or left out). I also share ways to encourage our students to make inferences and connect images to historical events. Whether it’s a snapshot of a major moment in history or a glimpse into everyday life from the past, primary source photos help our students to relate to history.

Bring History to Life With Primary Sources

Exploring history through primary sources transforms learning from passive reading into active discovery. Whether our students are analyzing letters, speeches, political cartoons, or photographs, these primary source examples offer a direct connection to the past. By including different types of primary sources in our lessons, we help our students think critically, question perspectives, and engage with history in a meaningful way. If you’re looking for new ways to make history come alive, these posts are packed with strategies and ideas to get you started. The more we immerse students in authentic historical materials, the more they’ll see history as a dynamic story. A story they can explore, analyze, and even contribute to in the future!

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Making Primary Sources Personal with My Life as a Primary Source

Primary sources can feel a little intimidating for our students at first. The idea of being part of history is exciting. Figuring out how to write or analyze something that feels so "big" can be overwhelming. That’s why I love flipping the script and making it personal. One of the most powerful ways to teach this topic is by having our students see their own lives as a primary source. It’s such a meaningful way for them to realize that their stories matter and that history is being made right now, through them! Today, I’m sharing a resource I use to guide my students in writing about their lives as a primary source. It’s an engaging way to help them reflect, connect, and see the value of their personal experiences while building essential writing and critical thinking skills.

What is a Primary Source?

When I introduce the idea of a primary source to my students, I love starting with something relatable. A primary source is basically a firsthand account of an event, moment, or experience. I tell my students it's the closest thing we have to time travel! When it comes to history, this might mean letters, diaries, photographs, or even an old map. These are all pieces of evidence created by someone who was actually there. 

What makes primary sources so special is that they can give us insight into how people lived, what they thought, and how they saw the world at that time. It’s not just about the facts. It’s also about the feelings and experiences behind them. I always remind my students that, even though textbooks give us the big picture, a primary source helps make history feel real. When we flip the lens to focus on our own lives, it becomes even more meaningful!

How Are Our Personal Lives a Primary Source?

I love seeing my students’ reactions when I tell them that their lives are a primary source. At first, they’re always a little surprised. "How can I be a primary source?" they ask. That’s when I explain that, just like a diary from the past or a photograph from an important event, their stories, experiences, and perspectives are valuable records of today’s world.

I remind them that everything they write about their lives, whether it’s a journal entry, a letter, or even a social media post, captures a piece of history. These personal accounts give future generations insight into what life was like for kids their age at this moment in time. They show what’s important to them, how they see the world, and what challenges and joys they’re experiencing.

Connecting their lives to the concept of a primary source makes history more real and accessible. It makes the idea of analyzing primary sources less intimidating, and it shows them that they’re not just learning about history—they’re living it. This activity helps them reflect on their own lives and gives them a new appreciation for the voices of the past that they study in class. It’s a powerful way to make history feel personal and relevant. Grab the free "My Life as a Primary Source" graphic organizer and keep reading to find out how you can use it in your classroom.

How I Use "My Life as a Primary Source" Graphic Organizer

One of my favorite ways to guide my students in turning their lives into a primary source is with a graphic organizer that breaks everything down into approachable pieces. The "My Life as a Primary Source" organizer encourages them to reflect on their experiences in a meaningful way. Each section is designed to capture different parts of their life story.

We start with “A Day in My Life,” where I have my students describe the good, the bad, and their unique perspectives on the present. This section helps them think about what makes their experiences stand out and how their daily life reflects the times they’re living in. Then, we move on to “Then and Now,” which asks them to compare how things used to be versus how they are now. It’s a great way to get them to see how they’ve grown and how the world around them has changed.

The last section of the organizer really brings it all together. They’re asked to share what they think future generations should know about this time. I also encourage them to include a meaningful quote, song lyric, or poem excerpt that sums it all up. This encourages creativity and helps them see the power of connecting personal stories with larger cultural moments.

Using this graphic organizer makes it so much easier for our students to see their lives as a primary source. It breaks the process into manageable steps while still leaving room for reflection and creativity. Watching them realize that their stories are just as important as the ones we study in class is inspiring! There is something about writing their own primary source story that makes looking at and analyzing other primary sources easier. That's why this is always the first activity I use when teaching about primary sources. 

Additional Resources 

Once my students were introduced to primary sources using their own stories, we were ready to dive into other types of primary sources. With this introduction, they could easily see that historic letters, pictures, and drawings were just a glimpse into someone's life. "My Life as a Primary Source" is just the beginning! To help them deepen their understanding and continue exploring the concept of primary sources, dive into a variety of other types of primary sources. From speeches to artwork, there's something to learn from them all.  Here are a few additional resources to help you as you teach primary sources in your classroom.

• Using Art As Primary Sources in the History Classroom
• Using Historical Speeches As Primary Sources
• How to Use Political Cartoons As Primary Sources

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Using Art as Primary Sources in the History Classroom

Primary sources can sometimes feel a little overwhelming for our students. Diving into old documents or artifacts sounds cool, but it’s not always easy for them to make sense of it all. That’s why I love diving into them in class.  One of my favorites - art! Using art as a primary source just makes history feel more approachable and relatable. There’s something about looking at a painting or a sculpture that tells a story. Plus, it’s a fun way to help our kiddos connect with the past and spark those “aha!” moments while building their critical thinking skills. Today, I'm sharing with you a resource I use to help my students zero in on different aspects when they are analyzing art!

What are Art Primary Sources?

Art primary sources are such a powerful way to connect with history. I love introducing them to my students. These are works of art, like paintings, sculptures, or even old photographs, that were created during the time period we’re studying. What makes them so special is how they let us step into the shoes of the people who lived through those moments. Art has this incredible way of capturing emotions, ideas, and even everyday life in a way that words sometimes can’t. When I bring art primary sources into my lessons, I find that my students start asking deeper questions and noticing details they might have missed otherwise. It’s like the past comes to life right in front of them!

Why Do My Students Need to Interact With Primary Sources?

I’ve found that getting my students to interact with primary sources is one of the best ways to develop their critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of history. Primary sources let them engage directly with the past. They could do this by analyzing a painting, reading a letter, or examining an artifact. History becomes so much more than just memorizing facts. When our students work with primary sources, they’re piecing together a story, uncovering perspectives, and making connections they wouldn’t get from a textbook alone.

Art primary sources bring this to life in a dynamic way. They challenge our students to observe, question, and interpret, all while giving them a glimpse of the human side of history. Plus, interacting with primary sources helps our students build skills they’ll use far beyond the classroom. It’s amazing to watch them grow more confident as they explore the material and start making discoveries for themselves. This hands-on approach makes learning more meaningful but also so much more exciting!

Analyzing Paintings and Art as Primary Sources

I love using my Student Analysis Guide to help my students analyze primary sources, especially art from the time periods we’re studying. The graphic organizer is a fantastic guide that walks my students through all the key questions they should consider when analyzing a piece of art. It encourages them to dig deeper into the story behind the artwork. They explore details like who created it, why it was made, and what it tells us about the world at that time.

Before showing the graphic organizer, I introduce the piece of art, often selecting something I’ve found on Smarthistory. This is such an amazing resource for high-quality art from varying periods in history. I try to pick something that directly ties into the events or themes we’re studying. For example, if we’re learning about the Renaissance, I might use a painting by Botticelli or Michelangelo.

Once I’ve chosen the artwork, I display it for the class and hand out the worksheet. As a group, we take time to look closely at the piece. We discuss what immediately catches our attention and share our first impressions. Then, I have my students work through the questions on the worksheet. I encourage them to think critically about everything from the artist’s purpose to the intended audience, and even what materials or techniques were used.

I love how the questions guide them to notice the little details they might have overlooked, like the colors, symbols, or even the emotions conveyed in the piece. It’s always fascinating to see how their observations evolve as they work through each section. By the time we’re done, they’ve built a much clearer understanding of the art itself and the historical context surrounding it.

Additional Resources for Primary Sources

Analyzing art as a primary source is a beneficial learning experience for our students. It’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to exploring history. To really bring the past to life, I love using a variety of resources that dive into different types of primary sources. Let me share more resources that make studying primary sources even more engaging!

• Using Historical Speeches As Primary Sources
• How to Use Political Cartoons As Primary Sources
• Primary Source Letters in History Class
• Using Primary Source Photos

Making History Meaningful 

Incorporating primary sources, especially through art, has truly changed the way I teach history. It’s incredible to see how these resources spark curiosity and help my students build connections with the past. Whether they’re analyzing a painting or diving into other types of primary sources, they’re developing critical thinking skills and uncovering stories that make history come alive. Watching my students grow confident in their ability to question, interpret, and discover is so inspiring. If you’re looking for a way to make history more engaging and meaningful, integrating primary sources is such a game-changer!

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Using Historical Speeches as Primary Sources

One of my absolute favorite types of primary sources to explore with my students is historical speeches. There's something so powerful about reading the actual words spoken by real people from the past! It gives us an amazing opportunity to see how they expressed themselves and to truly feel the emotions they poured into their speeches. Of course, the language and length of some of these speeches can feel a bit overwhelming for our students. I’m sharing a fantastic graphic organizer to help guide your students through analyzing historical speeches in a way that makes them manageable and engaging!

How to Use Political Cartoons as Primary Sources

One of my main goals as a history teacher is to make learning as authentic and engaging as possible for my students. Let’s be honest. They aren’t interested in all the nitty-gritty details. What really captures their attention is getting a sense of what life was like in previous time periods and how people reacted to the events of the time. When my students can connect with those reactions or understand what individuals from the past felt, history becomes so much more alive than simply reading from a textbook. Today, I’m sharing how I use political cartoons as primary sources to help bring history to life in my classroom!