Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook
Purchase
Description
"Williams' passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways is precisely what we need. This book challenges educators to think outside the box."
—Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University
"This is not your typical social studies methods book. Williams' highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."
—Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education
Turn your students into history detectives with these innovative teaching strategies!
Written by a history educator, this exciting guide provides a unique approach that makes it easy for middle and high school teachers to engage students' critical thinking in history and social studies.
Using a "CSI approach" to history, the author's six powerful strategies tap into students' natural curiosity and investigative instincts. Students become detectives of the past as they ghost-hunt in their neighborhoods, solve historical crime scenes, prepare arguments for famous court cases, and more. Each ready-to-use technique:
- Demonstrates how students can use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries
- Includes sample lessons and case studies for Grades 5–12
- Aligns with national standards, making the book useful for both teachers and curriculum developers
- Features review questions, reflections, and Web and print resources in every chapter for further reading
Incorporate these strategies into your classroom and watch as students discover just how thrilling and spine-chilling history can be!
Contents
Foreword by James Percoco
Foreword by James Percoco
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Author
Introduction: History Education: A Matter of Life or Death?
- 1. Haunted History: Revealing the Hidden Past
- Discovering Haunted History
- What Is Haunted History?
- Constructing HOST Files
- How to Begin
- HOST File Numbers and Clues
- Haunted History as Assessment Pieces
- A Sampling of HOST Files
- HOST FILE #1851-1852-1887
- HOST FILE #07111804
- HOST FILE #1644-1718-1987
- Haunted History Priority File: "13 Ghosts"
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 2. The CSI Approach: Making Students Detectives
- What Is the CSI Approach?
- Cold Case #1906
- Constructing Cold Cases
- How to Begin
- Cold Case #1676
- The Difference Between Haunted History and CSI
- Cold Case #1923
- HOST FILE #821923
- A Sampling of Cold Cases
- Cold Case #1867-1934
- Cold Case #2000
- Cold Case #9131857
- Cold Case #1868
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 3. Historical Fingerprinting: Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
- Learning to Think Like a Historian
- What Is Historical Fingerprinting
- Island
- Core
- Crossover
- Bifurcation
- Summary
- Constructing a Historical Fingerprinting Kit
- A Sampling of Historical Fingerprinting at Work
- Fingerprinting the Declaration of Independence
- Women's Rights
- Women's Rights
- Alaskan Statehood
- Dred Scott Decision
- Engaging the Declaration
- Fingerprinting the Preamble to the United States Constitution
- Fingerprinting Political Cartoons
- Getting "Nasty"
- Recognizing Reality
- Dusting Secondary Sources
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 4. The Intersection: Reconstructing Historical Accidents
- What Is the Intersection?
- The Intersection as Accident Reconstruction
- The Intersection and Teaching Core Democratic Values Through History
- Setting Up the Intersection
- A Sampling of Historical Intersections
- PFDA: A Progressive Era Intersection
- Lincoln and Fremont at the Intersection
- The Emancipation Proclamation in the Intersection
- Eisenhower and Warren at the Intersection
- Gun Control in the Intersection
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- 5. Meet SCOTUS: Engaging Students in the Drama of Court Cases
- What Is SCOTUS?
- Encouraging Critical Thinking
- Introducing SCOTUS
- Using SCOTUS
- Historical Figures on Trial
- The Scales of Justice: Weighing the Evidence
- "I Object!" Setting the Rules for Mock Trials
- A Sampling of Court Cases
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 6. ESP + C: Providing a Student Mental Organizer and Writing Strategy
- What Is ESP+C?
- The Three Types of Historical ESP
- ESP+C as a Mental Organizer
- Using ESP+C
- A Sampling of ESP+C
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the national Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the National Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
Conclusion
- References
- Further Reading
Index
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova
Description
"Williams' passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways is precisely what we need. This book challenges educators to think outside the box."
—Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University
"This is not your typical social studies methods book. Williams' highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."
—Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education
Turn your students into history detectives with these innovative teaching strategies!
Written by a history educator, this exciting guide provides a unique approach that makes it easy for middle and high school teachers to engage students' critical thinking in history and social studies.
Using a "CSI approach" to history, the author's six powerful strategies tap into students' natural curiosity and investigative instincts. Students become detectives of the past as they ghost-hunt in their neighborhoods, solve historical crime scenes, prepare arguments for famous court cases, and more. Each ready-to-use technique:
- Demonstrates how students can use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries
- Includes sample lessons and case studies for Grades 5–12
- Aligns with national standards, making the book useful for both teachers and curriculum developers
- Features review questions, reflections, and Web and print resources in every chapter for further reading
Incorporate these strategies into your classroom and watch as students discover just how thrilling and spine-chilling history can be!
Contents
Foreword by James Percoco
Foreword by James Percoco
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Author
Introduction: History Education: A Matter of Life or Death?
- 1. Haunted History: Revealing the Hidden Past
- Discovering Haunted History
- What Is Haunted History?
- Constructing HOST Files
- How to Begin
- HOST File Numbers and Clues
- Haunted History as Assessment Pieces
- A Sampling of HOST Files
- HOST FILE #1851-1852-1887
- HOST FILE #07111804
- HOST FILE #1644-1718-1987
- Haunted History Priority File: "13 Ghosts"
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 2. The CSI Approach: Making Students Detectives
- What Is the CSI Approach?
- Cold Case #1906
- Constructing Cold Cases
- How to Begin
- Cold Case #1676
- The Difference Between Haunted History and CSI
- Cold Case #1923
- HOST FILE #821923
- A Sampling of Cold Cases
- Cold Case #1867-1934
- Cold Case #2000
- Cold Case #9131857
- Cold Case #1868
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 3. Historical Fingerprinting: Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
- Learning to Think Like a Historian
- What Is Historical Fingerprinting
- Island
- Core
- Crossover
- Bifurcation
- Summary
- Constructing a Historical Fingerprinting Kit
- A Sampling of Historical Fingerprinting at Work
- Fingerprinting the Declaration of Independence
- Women's Rights
- Women's Rights
- Alaskan Statehood
- Dred Scott Decision
- Engaging the Declaration
- Fingerprinting the Preamble to the United States Constitution
- Fingerprinting Political Cartoons
- Getting "Nasty"
- Recognizing Reality
- Dusting Secondary Sources
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 4. The Intersection: Reconstructing Historical Accidents
- What Is the Intersection?
- The Intersection as Accident Reconstruction
- The Intersection and Teaching Core Democratic Values Through History
- Setting Up the Intersection
- A Sampling of Historical Intersections
- PFDA: A Progressive Era Intersection
- Lincoln and Fremont at the Intersection
- The Emancipation Proclamation in the Intersection
- Eisenhower and Warren at the Intersection
- Gun Control in the Intersection
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- 5. Meet SCOTUS: Engaging Students in the Drama of Court Cases
- What Is SCOTUS?
- Encouraging Critical Thinking
- Introducing SCOTUS
- Using SCOTUS
- Historical Figures on Trial
- The Scales of Justice: Weighing the Evidence
- "I Object!" Setting the Rules for Mock Trials
- A Sampling of Court Cases
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 6. ESP + C: Providing a Student Mental Organizer and Writing Strategy
- What Is ESP+C?
- The Three Types of Historical ESP
- ESP+C as a Mental Organizer
- Using ESP+C
- A Sampling of ESP+C
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the national Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the National Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
Conclusion
- References
- Further Reading
Index
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova
Reviews
Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook
Six Investigative Strategies, Grades 5-12
November 2008 | 160 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/02/2026 | 9781412966214 | $37.95 |
| Hardcover | 27/02/2023 | 9781412966207 | $79.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/02/2026 | 9781452296036 | $35.00 |
"Williams' passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways is precisely what we need. This book challenges educators to think outside the box."
—Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University
"This is not your typical social studies methods book. Williams' highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."
—Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education
Turn your students into history detectives with these innovative teaching strategies!
Written by a history educator, this exciting guide provides a unique approach that makes it easy for middle and high school teachers to engage students' critical thinking in history and social studies.
Using a "CSI approach" to history, the author's six powerful strategies tap into students' natural curiosity and investigative instincts. Students become detectives of the past as they ghost-hunt in their neighborhoods, solve historical crime scenes, prepare arguments for famous court cases, and more. Each ready-to-use technique:
- Demonstrates how students can use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries
- Includes sample lessons and case studies for Grades 5–12
- Aligns with national standards, making the book useful for both teachers and curriculum developers
- Features review questions, reflections, and Web and print resources in every chapter for further reading
Incorporate these strategies into your classroom and watch as students discover just how thrilling and spine-chilling history can be!
Table Of Contents:
- Foreword by James Percoco
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Introduction: History Education: A Matter of Life or Death?
- 1. Haunted History: Revealing the Hidden Past
- Discovering Haunted History
- What Is Haunted History?
- Constructing HOST Files
- How to Begin
- HOST File Numbers and Clues
- Haunted History as Assessment Pieces
- A Sampling of HOST Files
- HOST FILE #1851-1852-1887
- HOST FILE #07111804
- HOST FILE #1644-1718-1987
- Haunted History Priority File: "13 Ghosts"
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 2. The CSI Approach: Making Students Detectives
- What Is the CSI Approach?
- Cold Case #1906
- Constructing Cold Cases
- How to Begin
- Cold Case #1676
- The Difference Between Haunted History and CSI
- Cold Case #1923
- HOST FILE #821923
- A Sampling of Cold Cases
- Cold Case #1867-1934
- Cold Case #2000
- Cold Case #9131857
- Cold Case #1868
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 3. Historical Fingerprinting: Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
- Learning to Think Like a Historian
- What Is Historical Fingerprinting
- Island
- Core
- Crossover
- Bifurcation
- Summary
- Constructing a Historical Fingerprinting Kit
- A Sampling of Historical Fingerprinting at Work
- Fingerprinting the Declaration of Independence
- Women's Rights
- Women's Rights
- Alaskan Statehood
- Dred Scott Decision
- Engaging the Declaration
- Fingerprinting the Preamble to the United States Constitution
- Fingerprinting Political Cartoons
- Getting "Nasty"
- Recognizing Reality
- Dusting Secondary Sources
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 4. The Intersection: Reconstructing Historical Accidents
- What Is the Intersection?
- The Intersection as Accident Reconstruction
- The Intersection and Teaching Core Democratic Values Through History
- Setting Up the Intersection
- A Sampling of Historical Intersections
- PFDA: A Progressive Era Intersection
- Lincoln and Fremont at the Intersection
- The Emancipation Proclamation in the Intersection
- Eisenhower and Warren at the Intersection
- Gun Control in the Intersection
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- 5. Meet SCOTUS: Engaging Students in the Drama of Court Cases
- What Is SCOTUS?
- Encouraging Critical Thinking
- Introducing SCOTUS
- Using SCOTUS
- Historical Figures on Trial
- The Scales of Justice: Weighing the Evidence
- "I Object!" Setting the Rules for Mock Trials
- A Sampling of Court Cases
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- 6. ESP + C: Providing a Student Mental Organizer and Writing Strategy
- What Is ESP+C?
- The Three Types of Historical ESP
- ESP+C as a Mental Organizer
- Using ESP+C
- A Sampling of ESP+C
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the national Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Analyzing King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail
- Recognizing Washington's Contributions
- Understanding Historical Terms
- Correlating With the National Social Studies Standards
- Using ESP+C With the KWL Strategy
- Questions for Review and Reflection
- References
- Resources and Further Reading
- On the Web
- Conclusion
- References
- Further Reading
- Index
- Murray v. the State of Maryland
- Buchanan v. Warley
- The Case of Francis Terranova