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Originally posted on August 3, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

I have big news. The History Blueprint team is going to design a 7th-grade unit called “Sites of Encounter in the Medieval World,” which will be supported by an Our Shared Past grant from the Social Science Research Council and the British Council. 

Here’s what we have proposed: 

Originally posted on July 19, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

Originally posted on July 10, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

“This was a truly amazing unit. I felt that the kids really learned how to think like historians. Even the lowest readers could make connections.” 

“My students were never bored.”

“The single most valuable thing about this unit is that everything was available.”

These statements come from teachers who piloted the History Blueprint Civil War unit in their 8th-grade classrooms this spring. 

Originally posted on June 5, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

It turns out the next Blueprint unit we’ll be developing will be on the Cold War. I’m sorry that we won’t be able to do more on the Reformation at this time, but I hope to return to it in the near future. In the meantime, there is a huge need for a comprehensive History Blueprint unit on the 10th-grade Cold War standard.

Originally posted on May 9, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

Originally posted on April 26, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

Originally posted on April 11, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

Previously I’ve written about my support for the Common Core Reading and Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, as I urged my fellow history teachers to embrace the Common Core as a way to enhance their teaching of history and their students’ learning. Today I’m addressing administrators about preparing my fellow history teachers for the Common Core standards. 

Originally posted on March 30, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Reformation involves its causes. The typical narrative is that people grew angry with the Church for its wealth and abuses, especially its taxes and the sale of indulgences. Martin Luther criticized those abuses and came up with new beliefs. and that caused the Reformation. The pope became angry because Luther questioned his authority over the Church and beliefs.

Originally posted on March 24, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

38 8th-grade teachers are now piloting the History Blueprint Civil War unit in their classrooms. These teachers are very enthusiastic about the unit so far. I wish I could show you the pictures they have sent me of their students at work! But I do not have parental permission, so that has to remain in your imagination.

Originally posted on March 24, 2012 by Shennan Hutton

38 8th-grade teachers are now piloting the History Blueprint Civil War unit in their classrooms. These teachers are very enthusiastic about the unit so far. I wish I could show you the pictures they have sent me of their students at work! But I do not have parental permission, so that has to remain in your imagination.