For educators and students engaging in racial equity and social justice

Our features and content offerings support CRP. Collaborate Boards and Polls invite students to express themselves to their teachers and peers, elevating student voice and fostering connections. Our Racial Justice collection features free lessons that aid in antiracist teaching with rich historical content and social and emotional skill-building to ensure safe and productive discussions.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free to access standards-aligned resources from this blog post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

What resources do we have for you?

Our Racial Equity & Social Justice collection contains 100+ free lessons, activities, and videos to support antiracist teaching and learning from the Nearpod team and our trusted partners like Teaching Tolerance, iCivics, Common Sense Education, and Flocabulary.

In the folder, you’ll find lessons on:

Biographies on the lives and contributions of Black Americans

Media-based activities to build critical thinking and reflection skills

American history & civics topics to give context for today

SEL skills to help students engage in compassionate and productive conversations

Professional development workshops to empower teachers in this challenging work

5 Teaching tips and resources for racial equity and social justice

Teachers are dealing with a lot (as if they weren’t already!). And now, while many schools are prioritizing racial equity in education, there isn’t a designated time in the day to teach it. Here are some implementation guidelines that foster a safe learning environment, no matter your schedule.

1. Establish classroom norms and common vocabulary

For learning to occur, students must feel respected, included, and connected. To establish a welcoming environment, set norms with your students. These will help you approach sensitive and difficult topics together. Examples of norms might include: “First we seek to understand, and then to be understood,” and “We are learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Encourage student participation by using a Collaborate Board to crowdsource and vote on classroom norms. You can also use Nearpod’s Developing Empathy, Following Classroom Rules, and Building Class and School Community lessons to establish guidelines and build skills for engaging in discussions. 

A shared language is also important. Develop a common vocabulary and add to it over time. This might mean defining words like “accountability,” “allyship,” and “equity,” as well as acronyms like POC and BIPOC. Add a Matching Pairs activity to provide an opportunity for students to practice and review key vocabulary before engaging in class discussion.

2. Tie racial justice to core subject areas

Racial justice affects all of us. Below are some tips for incorporating racial equity topics and themes into your instruction across academic subjects.

English Langauge Arts (ELA)

As you read fiction and nonfiction, ask students to consider whose story is being told and whose is silenced. What is the historical context for the work, and how does that context play a role in the text? Who is the intended audience for the story, and how does that shape the telling of it? Center texts and voices from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Integrate Black authors into classroom instruction with Nearpod’s lessons on Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Lessons on James Weldon Johnson and Rosa Parks provide opportunities for students to practice reading comprehension skills while learning about Black historical figures.

Social Studies

In studying any event or period in history, consider whose perspective is being centered. Are there any racial or ethnic groups that are left out of the story? Use one of our Flocabulary Topic Spark lessons, like Katherine Johnson, to feature diverse perspectives, hidden figures, and leaders and activists in the ongoing fight for racial justice. Use iCivics lessons to help your students understand how political and social systems function and change, which is a key context for learning about Civil Rights struggles.

Science

Teach students about the contributions of Black inventors and scientists. Use our lesson on George Washington Carver as a starting point. Consider the ways in which science and technology have sometimes supported racism, such as the false belief that race is a real genetic difference among humans or facial recognition technology that tends to misidentify people of color. Then, discuss how advances in science, technology, and engineering can help when advancing racial equity. For example, in what ways have cell phones with video capabilities helped advance social causes? What new inventions can students imagine that would help further this progress? 

Math

As your students explore data and statistics, discuss the real-world applications that pertain to racial equity. What data exists or would be needed to quantify the problems that stem from racial inequality today? How can they analyze this data to better understand a situation, and how can they use mathematics to help represent these issues? Use our STEM by the Numbers lesson to analyze racial representation in STEM fields through the lens of data analysis. You can also bring your students’ lived experiences into the classroom. Look to the local news for charts, graphs, and other data and ask students to answer questions based on them.

Elementary

Elementary students are not too young to learn about topics like race, diversity, and respect. Research shows that when parents and teachers avoid these topics, children come to their own conclusions based on the world around them, which often promotes racist ideas in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. We have lessons specifically designed for elementary students, like Discovering My Identity and Different Types of Families, that use vocabulary and examples that are relevant and appropriate but do not oversimplify the central concepts. 

3. Use multimedia for culturally relevant teaching

We process new information by relating it to our own experiences and interests. By including diverse perspectives, cultures, and narratives in your instruction, you help ensure all students have access to the connections needed to process information effectively and meaningfully. You can use Nearpod’s multimedia, such as virtual reality, video, and web content, to integrate culturally relevant content into your classroom instruction.  

“Culture, it turns out, is the way that every brain makes sense of the world.”

Zaretta Hammond in Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain

In Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain, Hammond describes three levels of culture: surface culture, shallow culture, and deep culture. Surface culture is observable and includes elements of culture, such as food, art, and holidays. Using Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trips, you can transport students anywhere around the world to explore surface culture hands-on.

However, it is also important to discuss what aspects of culture are not visible in a VR image. Specifically, analyze whether the media includes shallow culture, which is unspoken rules, like types of non-verbal communication. Does the media include deep culture, which are the assumptions that control our worldview, including ethics and spirituality? To integrate deeper levels of culture, consider using primary source media, like video interviews and podcasts, and including SEL topics, like perspective-taking and appreciating diversity. We recommend exploring our Perspective Analysis lessons. These quick activities are centered around one piece of media designed to build critical thinking and reflection skills.

4. Build community with collaborative activities 

If you have dedicated time each week for homeroom, study hall, or advisory, you can integrate racial equity and social justice discussions and continue the conversation all year. Using Nearpod’s interactive features, you can provide all students with the opportunity to voice their thoughts and discuss difficult topics productively. Encourage participation by hiding student names and share out student responses to keep the conversation going outside of devices. Get creative and design activities that meet your classroom needs.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out the examples below!

Use a poll for a quick temperature check of the room.

Launch a Collaborate Board for students to make their thinking visible.

Share out student responses from a Draw It to promote further discussion.

Add a Time to Climb into your lesson to bring the class together in a gamified learning experience.

Some prep work for teachers

Many teachers will be having difficult conversations about race, racism, and bias for the first time, right alongside their students. And it’s not going to be easy. Many resources are available at the intersection of race, culture, and education. Here are a few tools for self-learning from Nearpod and organizations, authors, and educators we trust as experts in the field. 

Nearpod and Flocabulary

• Access Flocabulary’s Racial Equity & Justice Education Resource Guide, where you’ll find more than 40 lessons and helpful implementation tips to support you in bringing racial equity and social justice themes into your instruction.

Additional teaching resources

• Reflect on your identity with this exercise from Teaching Tolerance and understand your identity and the identity of your students as the lens through which learning takes place. Consider the racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds that make up your classroom. Teaching Tolerance is a great resource for educators, and we recommend exploring the website. 

• Read Zaretta Hammond’s book Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain, an accessible dive into the science of how the brain learns best and how educators can support their students’ achievement.

• Read Chris Emdin’s book For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too. Dr. Emdin is known for passionate, thoughtful presentations about his research areas, so check out recordings of his speaking engagements, too! 

• Watch the Teach Your Heart Out Town Hall — A Conversation on Racial Justice for an honest discussion among educators on their own experiences of racism in the classroom and concrete examples of how educators can work together to combat racism in their day-to-day work. 

• Use social media to connect with and learn from your peers. Follow the #EduColor hashtag, used to facilitate “intersectional discussions of race and education.”

Let’s learn from one another!

What have you learned on your antiracist teaching journey? What are you eager to learn more about? We want to hear from you. Do you have a new implementation suggestion or a different perspective to share about one of our recommendations? Please contact us at contentalert@nearpod.com and let us know! It’s important that we have dialogues to grow, consider new perspectives, and take action in support of racial equity and teaching social justice so we can ensure the best for students. We also encourage you to engage with peers on these important topics.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free to access standards-aligned resources from this blog post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post 5 Teaching tips and resources for racial equity & social justice appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

While these topics are teaching and influencing our generations to come, the conversations and lesson plans surrounding Black history education should be seamlessly integrated into our regular curriculum and highlighted all year long. There is no need to wait for a designated month to educate our youth on powerful African American figures because they are not just Black heroes; they’re American heroes.

Interactive activities and lessons for Black History Month

Nearpod has free lessons that spotlight Black heroes and historical figures. They’re perfect to use to celebrate Black History Month or year-round. Check out our hundreds of free lessons, and read on for more resources and how to use them!

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free to access standards-aligned Black History Month resources from this blog post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Teaching Black History Month activities in February & year-round

While Black history should be integrated throughout the curriculum all year long, it is beneficial to use the month of February to emphasize Black history. We have a dedicated month to acknowledge it. Let’s use this month to build connections and dig deeper into historical events and significant people.

With each of the following points, Nearpod offers a wide variety of classroom resources to help you teach Black history in the most effective, engaging, and unique ways.

1. Teach about important historical figures

Black history is American history and should be taught as that. This history is not limited to the abolition of Slavery or the Civil Rights Movement – there is so much more. We should be teaching students about Black activists, musicians, scientists, and doctors who have shaped the course of history. For example, students should know about Katherine Johnson, a trailblazing NASA mathematician. Johnson was an African American woman who played a vital part in calculating orbital mechanics to launch the success of the first and subsequent U.S. spaceflight.

Here are some lessons we recommend checking out:

• Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, & 9-12: In this Social Studies VR lesson, students will explore the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact that his life had on the world.

• Grades 5-12: In this 25-30 minute Nearpod featuring Flocabulary Topic Spark, students are introduced to Katherine Johnson through a hip-hop video and Nearpod’s signature interactive features. This lesson features the Flocabulary video Katherine Johnson & the Human Computers.

• Grades 6-8: In this ELA VR lesson, students will read Langston Hughes’ poem Dreams and explore how context can enrich the meaning of a poem.

• Grades 6-12: In this 25-30 minute Nearpod featuring Flocabulary Topic Spark, students are introduced to John Lewis through a hip-hop video and Nearpod’s signature interactive features. This lesson features the Flocabulary video John Lewis & Nonviolent Action.

• Grades 6-Higher Ed: In this current events lesson, students learn about Supreme Court confirmations and the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. (Sensitive)

2. Have meaningful conversations and discussions

In any lesson, it is important to sometimes avoid lectures or passage reading and provide students the chance to discuss related topics. This is especially important when we want to honor often underrepresented history when teaching Black history in school. Share stories that make room for student discussion, elevating all students’ voices. You can use Nearpod features like Collaborate Board to create a safe and open space for students to discuss. Take it a step further by reading our Racial Justice Resource Guide, which shares implementation strategies to build community and a safe space for students to discuss these topics.

3. Make connections to the present day

In order to make history resonate with students, there needs to be a valiant effort to make it relevant. Using history to learn, grow, and change perspective. We can make connections with great Black leaders and provide them with an outlet to explore historical challenges as they pertain to us today. Explore our Perspective Analysis Lessons to deepen students’ critical thinking skills by unpacking their own perspectives presented in text and other media.

4. Infuse social and emotional learning

Aside from educating our students about Black history, events, and people – what about molding culturally empathetic students through social and emotional learning (SEL) skills? As teachers, we know that our responsibilities span far beyond academics. We are shaping future generations. With that, we can teach empathy, compassion, tolerance, and respect. What better way to teach these characteristics than through historical events and perspectives using Black History Month classroom activities?

Here are some lessons we recommend checking out:

• Grades K-5: In this 25-30 minute Nearpod featuring Flocabulary Topic Spark, students are introduced to race through a hip-hop video and Nearpod’s signature interactive features. This lesson features the Flocabulary video “What is Race?”

• Grades 3-5: In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students learn about empathy and identify ways to be more understanding toward others. Students explore how empathy can help them connect with other people and create a better community.

• Grades 3-5: Listening is more than just hearing! In this Just a Minute Nearpod video, students learn about active listening. A host explains what active listening looks like, and students consider the steps they can take to show speakers they are listening.

• Grades 3-5: In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students consider identity and culture in stories and evaluate the diversity in characters in a book. Students consider ways to get their school to use books that represent a diversity in characters.

• Grades 9-12: In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students read an article by Clarence Page discussing the changing demographics of the United States. They consider actions they can take to promote respect and strive for equality for all people living in the U.S.

5. Participate in Flocabulary’s rap contest

Amplify student voice with Flocabulary’s Black History Month Student Rap Contest! Flocabulary’s high-quality video-based lessons captivate students and create an impactful and memorable learning experience by harnessing the power of hip-hop music, visual art, storytelling, humor, drama, and poetry. In honor of Black History Month, they have an annual contest where students submit a rap about an unrecognized or famous Black historical figure, and the winner will have their work turned into a Flocabulary video! If you’re looking for a unique project or assignment to have your class complete, consider entering students in this contest.

Teachers can submit on behalf of students and don’t need a Flocabulary account to enter. The contest opens on February 1st, and submissions close on February 29th. Click below to learn more!

Start teaching Black history with Nearpod

As we enter February, highlight Black History Month activities. Use the resources provided, and have those conversations. My challenge for you is as February blows by, like any other month, continue the discussions, topics, and lessons. Don’t stop because it’s March 1st. We can bridge the gap between academics and humanity, and that will create a generation of great change.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free to access standards-aligned resources from this blog post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Katie Micallef

Katie is a Personalized Learning Leader in Volusia County Schools. She helps teachers incorporate educational technology into their curriculum. She believes that students deserve an instructional practice that resonates with their daily lives, and that includes the utilization of technology. She is on a mission to promote the endless benefits that edtech can have on 21st century instructional practices.

The post Teaching Black History Month activities in February & year-round appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are documented evidence of our past, serving as clues from our history. These types of sources and artifacts include items such as letters, diaries, and newspaper articles that provide firsthand accounts of events or periods in time. Primary sources showcase diverse perspectives across the ages, helping to illustrate the human experience. Primary source analysis helps us broaden what we consider history by understanding past contributions and providing additional context. Students, researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts have long relied on primary sources to round out a more comprehensive understanding of what happened in the past.

What is the value of teaching with primary source analysis?

To be agents of change in the classroom, we must foster a culture that encourages our students to stay well informed and continually engage in questioning and reflection to develop their critical thinking abilities. Primary sources represent diverse and often marginalized voices that tend to be forgotten. Such sources are representations of ourselves and others. They challenge our own point of view and encourage us all to grapple with contrary viewpoints. They represent the complexities and dynamic nature of our societies and cultures, and many claim that interpreting primary sources supports a fair and equitable democracy. History primary source analysis can reflect roots and values, changes in ideology, and shifts in common culture.

Examples of primary source analysis in history instruction

Nowadays, it is easier than ever to access primary sources and analyze such assets and artifacts. No longer are we limited by geography or even the fragility of documents. As educators, we can help our students understand the value of primary sources to help them cross-reference their research when learning about the past. Students today can engage in examples of primary sources by practicing how to sift through digital archives when they are looking for a variety of resources.

Examples of primary sources include:

• Photographs
• Newspaper articles
• Books
• Letters
• Survey data
• Census
• Diaries
• Songs
• Interviews
• Oral histories
• Treaties
• Household items
• Speeches
• Posters
• Cartoons
• TV shows
• Radio broadcasts
• Brochures
• Reports
• Court documents
• Polls
• Memories
• Auto biographies
• Sound recordings
• Video recordings

Nearpod Social Studies Curriculum

Nearpod offers a supplemental social studies curriculum teachers use in conjunction with their current programming for a more immersive social studies experience. Social studies teachers use Nearpod as a tool for students to analyze primary sources across a wide range of lessons covering 18 subjects. Each lesson applies dynamic media features to primary sources, enabling students to explore and evaluate perspectives in a hands-on manner. Through a hands-on, guided inquiry model, students annotate primary sources using Nearpod’s Draw It feature and gather real-world content through virtual reality with VR Field Trips – all while benefiting from collaborative discussions around lessons created by Nearpod, iCivics, and the Smithsonian. Plus, Nearpod Social Studies can qualify for Federal Title I and IV funds to support social studies initiatives.

New to Nearpod? Get started with a free Nearpod account to witness the impact Nearpod can make with your students. If you’re an administrator looking to further support social studies teachers, schedule a call with us to explore Nearpod Social Studies.

3 Essential strategies for teaching history with a primary source analysis tool

1. Site the difference

One of the first skills for students to learn is how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources. Working with primary sources provides firsthand accounts via original thinking or reporting. Secondary sources, on the other hand, provide second-hand information or accounts. Often, they are summaries of sorts. Tertiary sources are what students often interact with the most – these are textbooks or encyclopedias, which are a summary of primary and secondary sources or a curation of accounts. Helping students determine and identify whether a source is primary, secondary, or tertiary is key to their evaluating the credibility and validity of a source. It may sound simple, but your educators should have students constantly asking themselves: Does this author have first-hand knowledge of this subject or event?

The Nearpod Social Studies program includes lessons to support this strategy. For example, in Nearpod’s Ancient Rome lesson, students learn about the key figures, innovations, and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. It explores primary sources, such as historical sites from a first-person point of view through an immersive VR experience, and has students complete activities, such as map annotations, Draw It assessments, and more.

2. Be a detective

From an early age, we need to teach our students how to read and consume information through a critical lens. They need to be detectives and form habits of mind to always ask a lot of questions about a source, beginning with who wrote or created it and for what purpose. Allow history to be brought to life in a “show, don’t tell” manner by revealing nuances, quirks, and personalities of the past. Effective readers and researchers need to piece the puzzle of the past together and go beyond the textbook to form their own conclusions. One strategy to share with teachers is “Zoom” (not the video conferencing tool). “Zoom” is a concept from the Library Congress where a teacher can reveal a historical photograph – a primary source – bit by bit, asking students to use deductive reasoning and inference skills to make educated guesses as to what they are seeing. Often, their guesses are quite different from the reality, which will encourage them to reflect on their own biases and assumptions in considering others’ perspectives and experiences. Students will be encouraged to read, write, and think – a trifecta!

You can find primary sources through the Library of Congress, Google Scholar, Google Books, Google News Archive, the Archival Research Catalog (ARC), and research libraries within universities and historical societies.

For example, in The Roaring Twenties lesson, students listen to jazz music, view architecture, read poems, and learn about sports during the 1920s, allowing them to explore the period firsthand. Additional resources include Nearpod’s Egyptian artwork activity, where students view a piece of Egyptian art and use the Drag & Drop activity to draw conclusions. These lessons not only make history come alive but also cultivate critical thinking and investigative skills, enabling students to unravel the past and connect with historical events on a deeper level.

3. Take an inquiry-based approach

Another strategy for educators is to try the SOAPSTone Technique. To encourage deeper and more comprehensive knowledge, students should look at a source’s Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone. Newer variations of SOAPSTone include an “E” for “Evidence”: SOAPSETone. This acronym encourages higher-order thinking skills as students take an inquiry-based approach to better understanding the circumstances of who, what, when, where, why, and how. Once students begin to ask these questions as part of their primary source analysis, they can then work to interpret multiple primary sources in order to look for answers to a particular research question or topic.

Nearpod’s Why do we need maps? lesson utilizes original maps and thought-provoking questions to actively engage students in critical thinking and exploration, fostering a deeper understanding of the topic through inquiry-based learning. Using historic evidence and this approach encourages students to ask questions, analyze historical maps, and take an active role in their own education.

Start using Nearpod for teaching history

Our students today need to build critical thinking skills when it comes to learning about our past and thinking about our future. Primary source analysis tools supports their understanding of complex topics by giving them direct evidence to interpret. They can analyze points of view, evaluate context and bias, and develop their own opinions and arguments. Primary sources not only reflect thoughts, they also reflect language and stories that can help students make personal connections and form unique perspectives. This will help students internalize what has happened in the past and take ownership of what can happen in the future. We need to help our educators and students engage with history in order to be inspired by history, so that history does not “just” repeat itself.

New to Nearpod? Get started with a free Nearpod account to witness the impact Nearpod can make with your students. If you’re an administrator looking to further support social studies teachers, schedule a call with us to explore Nearpod Social Studies.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post Curriculum tools for teaching history with primary source analysis appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons and activities mentioned in this article. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

How to stay nonpartisan when teaching about election

Teaching about elections in a nonpartisan manner is essential to maintain an unbiased learning environment. Create a learning environment where students can explore the democratic process without feeling pressured to adopt a particular political stance, ultimately empowering them to become informed and engaged citizens. Here are key tips to consider:

• Stay neutral: Focus on facilitating learning, not influencing political beliefs.
• Factual information: Provide accurate, objective data on elections, candidates, and issues.
• Balance views: Present diverse perspectives to encourage critical thinking.
• Avoid bias: Recognize and set aside personal biases during teaching.
• Use reliable sources: Rely on credible sources and teach students to do the same.
• Respect opinions: Create a respectful space for students to express their views.
• Encourage critical thinking: Foster independent analysis and evidence-based conclusions.
• Establish rules: Set classroom guidelines for respectful discussions.
• Monitor discussions: Ensure discussions remain on-topic and respectful.
• Professional development: Continuously learn best practices for nonpartisan civics education.

Additionally, it’s important to utilize materials and content that are free from political bias to help maintain a fair and objective learning environment. Nearpod has nonpartisan lessons and activities for K-12 that educators can use to teach about the voting process and current events. Keep reading to explore these resources and how you can use them in the civics classroom.

Election lessons and activities to teach about the voting process

1. Build background knowledge with iCivics

The lessons you know and love from iCivics are transformed by Nearpod into an interactive experience for students. Teach about the election process, understand the power of the president, and engage students to become active participants in our constitutional democracy. Check out our comprehensive library of social studies lessons, featuring iCivics’ election-focused games.

Just to highlight a few, here are some election day lessons you can use:

• Electoral Process (Grades 6-8): In this lesson, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. presidential election process, delving into the intricacies of primaries, national conventions, and candidate strategies over the course of a year.
• Campaign Cash: Teaching with infographics (Grades 6-12): In this lesson, students explore the intricacies of campaign finance through information gathering and engaging activities, enhancing their comprehension of this crucial aspect of the political process.
• Cast Your Vote (Grades 6-12): In this game lesson, students engage in an interactive learning experience, playing a game that immerses them in the electoral process, equipping them with essential vocabulary and fostering critical thinking as they reflect on the stages of an election season.

2. Unlocking the past: Lessons on U.S. Voting History

Explore the rich history of voting and elections in the United States with your students. These interactive lessons are designed to inspire and educate students about the pivotal figures and historic moments that have shaped voting rights in the nation. By using engaging content from Nearpod, teachers can effectively convey the significance of past struggles and triumphs, fostering a deeper appreciation for the democratic process among their students.

Just to highlight a few, here are some election day activities and lessons educators can use:

• Knocking on Doors: Ida B. Wells (Grades 6-12): In this video lesson from the Smithsonian Institution, students gain insight into the historical contributions of Ida B. Wells and the Alpha Suffrage Club, who played a pivotal role in advancing the cause of Black women’s suffrage in early 20th-century Chicago.
• Women’s Suffrage (Grades 6-12): In this iCivics lesson, students explore the women’s suffrage movement by examining two distinct approaches and tactics to secure voting rights, fostering a deeper understanding of historical advocacy for gender equality.
• Felony Voting (Grades 9-12): In this ‘The Box’ mini-lesson, students engage with a video on felony voting, critically analyzing it to discern the emphasized perspectives and those that may be underrepresented, fostering media literacy and discussions on criminal justice and voting rights.

3. Deciphering democracy: Lessons on the U.S. government and electoral process

Navigate the complexities of the U.S. government and electoral system with ease. These interactive lessons, videos, and educational games will help students grasp the fundamentals of how the U.S. government operates and how elections function. With Nearpod’s engaging content, educators can empower their students with a clear understanding of the American political system, enhancing their civic knowledge and readiness for active participation in the democratic process.

Just to highlight a few, here are some election process lessons educators can use:

• Political Parties (Grades 6-8): In this one-minute video lesson, students explore the concept of political parties, learn about the historical origins of Democrats and Republicans, and engage in discussions on the pros and cons of these political groups.
• Congressional Elections (Grades 6-12): In this Crash Course video lesson, students delve into the significance of congressional elections, providing an engaging resource for classroom discussions on the electoral process and its role in shaping government.
• Redistricting & Gerrymandering (Grades 6-Higher Ed): In this current events lesson, students gain insight into the significance of the U.S. Census, the concept of redistricting, and the potential impacts of gerrymandering.

4. Stay up-to-date with current events lessons

Did you know that Nearpod creates timely current events lessons on newsworthy topics? With so many important milestones, it can be hard to keep students informed. Check out our collection of current events lessons, which synthesize major events through engaging media and rigorous activities on a regular basis.

Use the Midterm Elections (Grades 6-12) lesson to teach about the process of midterm elections and how they can impact the balance of power in the United States.

5. Inspire ownership in the next generation of voters with Vote by Design

Maybe you’re confident in your students’ knowledge of the electoral process but struggling to ignite excitement. Look no further! Vote by Design is a non-partisan learning experience designed to promote civic engagement and agency among all voters. Their interactive mini-lessons for grades 9-12 use a design-thinking and student-centered approach to help next-gen voters determine which leadership qualities are most important to them and why.

Use these module lessons in your civics classroom:

• What is the Job of the President? (Module 1): This lesson is designed to encourage civic engagement and facilitate a personal understanding of the U.S. President’s role and the key considerations when choosing a candidate to vote for.
• What Do We Value in a President? (Module 2): In this lesson, students will assess the historical experiences, leadership qualities, and personal attributes that contribute to effective presidential leadership.
• Identifying Bias When Evaluating Candidates (Module 3): In this lesson, students use active and critical listening skills during presidential debates, enhancing their ability to make informed judgments about candidates and their policies.

6. Bring the election into any lesson across all subjects

The election is relevant across all subjects, not just civics. Consider framing lessons around the elections to help students connect classroom learning to the real world and foster a well-rounded education that prepares them to be informed, engaged, and responsible citizens.

Here are some ideas educators can use: 

• Math: Have students calculate electoral college votes. The president will need 270 votes to win. What are the different paths to get there? You could also look at the math that determines the electoral votes your state has. 
• English Language Arts (ELA): Have students write argumentative essays about topics central to this year’s election. Have them research the sides of the issue and construct their own argument based on facts.
• Science: Have students research candidates’ stances on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, or conservation. Have them write argumentative essays about these topics that are relevant to the current election.

7. Help students process their emotions after the elections

Give students the space, tools, and platform to process their feelings after election day. Allow them to practice self-awareness by identifying and expressing different emotions. These Nearpod social and emotional learning activities (SEL) activities are designed to help students recognize different feelings and emotions with direct instruction and modeling, frequent checks for understanding, authentic group practice, and reflection exercises. Students will also learn to develop self-management by managing stress and controlling impulses through mindfulness.

Start using election day resources

We hope you find these resources helpful for election day. Get started using them today!

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons and activities mentioned in this article. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Adam Franklin

Adam is a Learning Experience Designer at Nearpod. He previously taught High School History teacher in Houston, Texas where he also served as the Social Studies Department Chair. Adam is currently in charge of the quality control of Nearpod’s learning experiences. He is also the manager of the Digital Citizenship and Literacy program.

The post Election lessons and activities to teach about the voting process appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Research shows students who are given a choice in their instruction are more motivated, self-confident, high achieving, and find the learning process to be more meaningful and engaging. Creating the space for students to learn and elevate AAPI voices and stories is important in the fight for racial justice.

Nearpod received hundreds of well-researched submissions from students in grades K-12, and we’re excited to announce that this year’s contest winner is…

Sadie, 11th grade, from Livingston, New Jersey!

AAPI historical figure: Anna May Wong

As our contest winner, Sadie will work with Nearpod’s Content team to transform her script into a “Just A Minute” Nearpod Original video.

Sadie’s winning script about Anna May Wong

“Born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles in 1905, Anna May Wong is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood. She acted in over 60 films in her career but is most known for her role in 1932’s Shanghai Express opposite Marlene Dietrich. In 1951, Wong became the first Asian American to star in a US television show, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong. And in 1960, she was the first Asian American woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wong was also a fashion and style icon known for her flapper style that incorporated traditional Chinese designs.

Though Wong gained significant popularity in the US and internationally, she still faced discrimination and xenophobia in Hollywood. Throughout her career, she was mostly cast only in supporting roles, many of which played on Asian stereotypes. She had trouble getting lead roles due to anti-miscegenation laws, which prohibited interracial couples from appearing on screen. Despite the racism and discrimination she faced, Anna May Wong carved out a long and successful career and remains a role model for many Asian American actors.

Where do you see the legacy of Anna May Wong today?”

Stay tuned to see Sadie’s script come to life with an Interactive Video about the first Chinese American film star.

Explore past winning entries

If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, here are a few places to look:

• Learn about Nearpod’s 2022 student winner: Savannah!
• Teach the Just a Minute video from 2022’s winning script on Kalpana Chawla
• View the script-writing lesson video and AAPI Nearpod lessons linked on the contest page

Thank you to everyone that submitted an entry. The learning should not stop when Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ends. These themes and topics can enrich cross-curricular learning all year round. That’s why we’ve updated the contest page so you can access the script-writing lesson at any time.

To stay involved in the Nearpod community, please join our Educator Facebook Group and our certification program.

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post Student contest winner: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023 appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

In June, we celebrate Pride Month. The month was chosen to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. While Stonewall was not the beginning of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, the event is often considered a tipping point that helped raise awareness and galvanize people and groups to the cause. 

Pride Month and LGBTQ+ History Month are great opportunities to bring LGTBQ+ topics into your classroom and to help increase representation in the curriculum. Below, we’ve curated resources you can use to celebrate LGBTQ+ history in the classroom during Pride Month and all year long.

Pride Month and LGBTQ+ history resources for teachers

Nearpod has curated free resources to help teachers celebrate Pride Month and LGBTQ+ history in the classroom.

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

LGBTQ+ and Pride history lessons

All of these Nearpod lessons can be found in our Pride Month lesson folder. We recommend teachers preview these resources, as some of the topics covered may be emotional or sensitive for some students.

• Different Types of Families (Grades K-2): In this lesson adapted from Learning for Justice, students explore how families all over the world have similarities and differences. They discover how diversity can help their communities and ways to celebrate diversity.

• Pronouns and Gender Identity (Grades 4-12): People use pronouns to identify themselves to others. This Nearpod Original Video provides an overview of gender identity and gender-neutral pronouns. Students will consider why it is important to recognize people’s personal pronouns.

• My Aunties: Father Figures (Grades 9-12): In this Windows & Mirrors mini-lesson, students watch a StoryCorps video about Stefan Lynch, who was raised by gay parents in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic. Students consider how Lynch’s story can serve as a window, a mirror, or both for them. (Sensitive content)

• Marsha P. Johnson lessons (Grades 9-12): This Flocabulary video and the corresponding Nearpod mini-lesson introduce students to the life and activism of gay and trans rights activist Marsha P. Johnson. Students learn about Johnson’s childhood, her life in New York City, and her involvement in the gay rights movement of the 1960s and ’70s. They explore her legacy and the lack of recognition she received while she was still alive. In the accompanying Windows & Mirrors mini-lesson on Nearpod, students will watch the video and explore how Johnson’s story serves as a window, a mirror, or both.

• James Baldwin lessons (Grades 9-12): This Flocabulary video and the corresponding Nearpod mini-lesson introduce students to the life and work of American writer James Baldwin. Students explore Baldwin’s frank discussions of racism and discrimination in the United States and abroad and learn how Baldwin’s refusal to pigeonhole his writing, national identity, and sexual orientation made him a true iconoclast. In the accompanying Windows & Mirrors mini-lesson on Nearpod, students can watch the video and consider how Baldwin’s story serves as a window, a mirror, or both.  

• Stonewall Riots (Grades 9-12): In this video from History, students learn how the Stonewall Inn Uprising sparked the beginning of the gay rights movement in America. They also learn how the LGBTQ community came together to protest exploitation and police harassment.  

• The history of the word “gay” (Grades 9-12): In this video from Origin of Everything, students learn about the history of the word “gay,” including the evolving meaning of the word “gay” and how it entered the mainstream vocabulary.  

• An Unsung Hero of the Civil Rights Movement (Grades 9-12): In this video from TED-Ed, students learn about the life of Bayard Rustin, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, a gay rights activist, and one of Martin Luther King’s closest advisors.

LGBTQ+ resources for teachers

Looking for more? Below, we’ve included additional teacher-recommended resources to celebrate Pride and honor LGBTQ identities in the classroom. Be sure to preview these materials to be sure they meet the needs of your learners, and some of the topics may be emotional or sensitive for some students.  

• Learning for Justice’s Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Students: On this page, you’ll find a range of valuable resources for creating a more inclusive classroom for LGBTQ students and for all students. The free Teacher Resources contains an LGBTQ library of books and films, a list of historical figures, a glossary of terms, and a school checklist. 

• Queer Icons FREE Bulletin Board Set from Visionary Classroom Decor and The Superhero Teacher: The free bullet board setup comes with portraits of queer icons. Each has a QR code, which students can scan to read biographies. 

• Lindz Amer’s LGBTQ+ resources on Teachers Pay Teachers: Lindz is a GLAAD Rising Star and host of the series Queer Kid Stuff. On this page, you’ll find resources for educators, including a social justice songbook, LGBTQ+ vocab posters, and more.

Start teaching with Nearpod

The learning doesn’t end in June! You can use any of these resources at any point in the school year. And remember, a more inclusive classroom benefits all learners, creating more room for empathy and understanding and helping all students feel engaged, valued, and heard. 

Happy Pride Month!

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post Teacher resources for LGBTQ+ and Pride history lessons appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free below to access these virtual reality social studies resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons.

Make social studies lessons more relatable. Use #VR! Click To Tweet

3 Ways to Use Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trips for Social Studies

Virtual reality field trips expand horizons beyond the classroom. You can take students anywhere in the world right from their desks to create interactive social studies experiences. Here are 3 engaging ways to use VR in social studies this year!

1. Understand legacies through locations

Another great use of VR is to bring historical figures to life in your classroom. We often read to students about the accomplishments of these famous people, but that can be very teacher-centered and one-sided. It’s a much more powerful experience when students can move beyond the text and literally walk in the shoes of notable humans. Through exploring these locations, students can use their observations to think critically and discover their impact rather than simply read about it.

For example, the VR lessons on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. each provide a deeper look into who he was as a person. Sure, you can view his speech online and read about his life, but why not instead immerse yourself in the locations that shaped who he became? By visiting the actual site of his “I Have a Dream” speech or exploring Morehouse College, where he spent his teenage years, students can see the things that helped create his legacy.

Examples of social studies virtual field trips:

• Abraham Lincoln: In this Nearpod virtual reality lesson, students investigate the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, including the Gettysburg Address and the Homestead Act of 1862. Students take virtual field trips and create a poster to share what they learned.
• Rosa Parks: In this Nearpod VR lesson, students investigate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks, including her work as a Civil Rights activist and serving as a secretary in the NAACP. Students take virtual field trips and create a poster to share what they learned.
• Cesar Chavez: In this Nearpod VR lesson, students investigate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, including the founding of the National Farmworkers Association. Students take virtual field trips and create a poster to share what they learned.
• Nelson Mandela: In this Nearpod VR lesson, students investigate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, including co-founding the “Spear of the Nation” and the South African presidency. Students take virtual field trips and create a poster to share what they learned.
• Exploring Ancient Empires: In this VR lesson, students learn about the world’s great empires as they explore the ancient ruins of Egypt, Greece, China, and the Inca Empire via virtual reality and make predictions about values and daily life at the time.

2. Explore diverse cultures

As large and diverse as our country is, many students have limited experience outside of their hometown. VR can be used as a quick lesson hook to activate background knowledge before diving deeper into the content. VR integrates seamlessly into the Nearpod platform, so you can take a quick field trip to a location and then jump right back into your core lesson without missing a beat. Explore famous landmarks across all 7 continents. Journey through nature in our country’s national parks. Travel to key sites from world events like the French Revolution and World War II. There are countless field trips available already. It’s easy to find social studies virtual field trips that support your lesson goals!

3. History from a first-person perspective

Many of the events covered in history books have occurred in places students have never seen and probably won’t visit in the near future. Social studies virtual field trips are a great way to transport students to these sites! They can then connect what they see to the events they read about. Nearpod’s Social Studies Program leverages VR experiences to support deeper thinking about the events that shaped our country. Virtual field trips like these not only show students where those events occurred but also explore what it might have felt like actually to be there. This new personal, possibly emotional, connection to these events will give students an entirely new take on history and a deeper understanding of how these events impacted lives.

The Nearpod Social Studies Program is a K-12 supplemental curricular program that works with you to create immersive social studies experiences that make students a part of every instructional moment. Get 2,500+ standards-aligned interactive lessons, videos, and activities exclusive to the program to help you make every lesson memorable, bring social studies to life, and give students more ways to learn. This program is available as an add-on for school or district licenses.

Start using social studies virtual field trips with Nearpod

With so many places to visit and endless opportunities to integrate Virtual Reality into your Social Studies content, what are you waiting for? Start exploring the world with your students today! 

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free below to access these virtual reality resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons.

Kali Guinn

Kali is a tech-savvy elementary teacher whose passion for all things STEM fuels her innovation in the classroom and inspires other teachers to begin their own #edtech adventures.

elementarygeek.com

The post 3 Ways to Use Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trips for Social Studies appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Every year, the month of May is officially designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month. May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad by a large Chinese workforce on May 10, 1869.

3 Classroom activities to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

As racist anti-Asian attacks continue to rise across the US, it is more important than ever to recognize the diverse history of Asians in America and amplify Asian American identities, culture, and achievements.

Nearpod has curated free resources to help teachers celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in the classroom.

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

1. Enter students in the Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Contest

Learning about and elevating Asian voices and stories is an important step in the fight for racial justice—and research suggests that when students guide their own learning, they become more engaged, create more connections between their schoolwork and the real world, and develop critical-thinking skills that help them succeed in school and beyond. Nearpod’s Asian/Pacific American Heritage Contest offers an opportunity to empower students to create their own mini-curriculum.

Students can research any American of Asian or Pacific Island descent who has made an important contribution to history or culture, then write a 150- to 250-word informational script about that person’s life and achievements. One winning script will be turned into a Nearpod Original Video! Find more information, including an announcement video and contest packet with official rules.

Inspire students to enter by introducing them to our 2021 winner: Phoebe Lee. Phoebe and her script were featured in a Nearpod Original Just a Minute video, and she was also invited to attend the filming session virtually. She used her voice to honor Asian American civil rights activist in this lesson about Yuri Kochiyama. She chose Kochiyama as her figure because she wanted to teach others about her courage and inspiring activism. Click here to see all student winners.

2. Introduce diverse viewpoints with Perspective Analysis lessons

In the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, it is crucial for students to deepen their critical-thinking skills. Nearpod’s 50+ Perspective Analysis lessons provide opportunities for students to examine their own perspectives, as well as analyze perspectives presented in text, videos, and other media.

In one lesson, students read Ha Jin’s poem “All You Have is a Country,” in which the speaker describes his one-sided longing for China, the country he left behind. After reading, students consider whether the poem is a “mirror,” reflecting some of their own life experience back at them, or a “window,” introducing them to a new experience or perspective.

In another lesson, students watch a video about why the word “Asian” is now preferred to “Oriental.” They map out which ideas and perspectives are centered in the video, which are given only a quick mention, and which are left out entirely. Then they think about why those perspectives were included or ignored. 

Other Perspective Analysis lessons talk about the Chinese Exclusion Act and civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama. You can also create your own version of this lesson structure, selecting the texts, videos, or other media that best fit your classroom needs.

3. Browse all of Nearpod’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month lessons

We’ve curated a collection of 20+ premade lessons to help you honor AAPI Heritage Month in your classroom. Teach students about important events in Asian American history, like Japanese internment during World War II and the annexation of Hawaii as the 50th state. Celebrate the lives and achievements of Mabel Lee, Fred Korematsu, and other historical figures. Or take a mini field trip to Guam or Hawaii with Nearpod’s Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trip lessons.

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Nearpod

We’re so excited to see you use these activities in your classroom! Although May is AAPI Heritage Month, it’s important to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander figures, heritage, and culture year-round. Use these lessons and activities to celebrate in May and during any other time of the school year. And don’t forget to enter Nearpod’s AAPI Heritage Contest!

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

Katie Choi

Katie Choi is a senior curriculum manager at Nearpod.

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The Nearpod Social Studies Program is a K-12 supplemental curricular program that works with you to create immersive social studies experiences that make students a part of every instructional moment.

Nearpod elevates traditional classroom presentations into interactive experiences that take students to the next level in their learning with formative assessments, dynamic media, and real-time student insights. Teachers control the presentation on their devices or allow students to work at their own pace for individual or group work. In addition to creating your content, the Nearpod Library includes thousands of premade K-12 lessons, activities, and videos developed by their team of experts and brands like iCivics, BBC Worldwide, and World101.

How can I make interactive social studies lessons?

We’ve curated an Interactive Social Studies Lessons Guide for Grades K-8 so you can spend less time searching for resources and more time doing what you love: teaching. With ready-to-launch lessons, activities, and videos, these guides can help you remediate key skills, reteach concepts, and even prep for testing time.

Download lesson guide

5 Tips for teaching social studies using interactive lessons

1. Use an engaging hook

The attention of school-aged children and adolescents is short. Teachers compete with video games, social media, and everything else for students’ attention. That is why teachers are trained to begin each lesson with something that will hook their learners. This is called the launch, do now, or anticipatory set for those who have been around a while (thank you, Madeline Hunter).

Nearpod has amazing tools at the beginning of your lesson to hook today’s learners. Here is a couple:

• Polls are an easy way to get students to interact with the lesson. Asking students for their opinions leads to a great dialogue. 
• Collaborate Board allows students to respond and see other responses to a prompt. Nearpod has options like post-its or bulletin boards and allows teachers to review student responses before being shown to the students.

In the classroom, a teacher may poll the students to rate their opinion about a topic such as taxes to hook their learners into a class discussion before jumping into an economic or civic lesson. Or, use the Collaborate Board to ask students what they know about taxes to engage them. Either way, using Nearpod to catch the interest of your students will help them as they dive deeper into the material when teaching social studies.

2. Use dynamic media to engage students

After you’ve generated excitement about the lesson, students need to build knowledge about the topic.. This is important because, eventually, students need to apply their new information in formative and/or summative assessments. When today’s generation, and previous ones, want to learn something new, what do they do? Yeah, they go to the internet. Nearpod has a multitude of ways to share information from the web. To keep the engagement a top priority in the lesson, students need resources that allow them to explore. Nearpod 3D is a great way to get students thinking about a particular topic. Students can actually observe and manipulate 3D images of temples from Mesoamerica or buildings such as the Sydney Opera House or Taj Mahal.

If a video is what you are looking for, Nearpod has you covered. With Nearpod’s Interactive Video tool, teachers can embed formative assessment questions into any video to take it from passive to active. Create your own video, upload your favorites, or use one of Nearpod’s thousands of K-12 standards-aligned videos from trusted educational publishers. BBC Video also has a collection to select from that includes everything from Athens and Democracy to Immigration, as well as Flocabulary Videos, which are videos about topics with hip-hop-style lyrics. And if you are looking for just audio or text, Nearpod has an Audio tool and PDF Viewer. With all these attractive options for students to explore and build their knowledge, the excitement around your lessons will continue to build!

3. Check for understanding with virtual reality lessons

Even as teaching transforms into a more facilitating role, students will still need some lecture-style lessons to clear up misconceptions and clarify the content for some learners. Nearpod allows the teacher to control the information on the student devices for a more personal presentation. This is great and seamless for virtual learning as well as the classroom.

Nearpod gives teachers the power to engage during the presentation with tools like Nearpod Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trips, PhET Simulation, and Sway. Nearpod has a virtual reality presentation collection that transports students out of the classroom and into social studies. Imagine the power of a lesson that ‘time-travels’ back to the Boston Tea Party when learning about the causes of the American Revolution. Now that is transformative learning!

The best part is teachers do informal assessments via tools like Fill in the Blanks, Quiz, or Draw It. These tools allow checks for understanding before students move on to independent activities. Accountability ensures engagement even during teacher lectures.

4. Practice and apply using formative assessment tools

Students are becoming proficient in new topics and need practice and application. Nearpod has various ways to allow students to practice their new knowledge and skills through interactive activities and formative assessments. Draw It is a great tool to have students complete graphic organizers and diagrams to practice. The presenter that is teaching social studies can share student examples with the class anonymously or with student names attached. Matching Pairs and Memory Tests, Quizzes, and Fill in the Blank tools also fit well in this part of the lesson.

Students can then apply their learning using Open-Ended Questions or a student favorite, Flip. Flip, which works alongside Nearpod, is a tool that allows students to create videos to authenticate learning. Often, these videos become remixes of videos that students watch on their own. Think about how-to videos, top-ten lists, or even mock news reports. Students have so much fun creating news programs with top stories, weather, and sports about the different African nations during a geography unit. Whatever the goal, your students will be engaged during the learning process and able to share their learning in original ways.

5. Turbocharge engagement with gamified learning

Even though your Nearpod presentation has allowed for multiple assessments during the lesson, one more tool must be shared. Of course, Quiz, Fill in the Blank, Memory Tests, and other tools can assess students at the end of the lesson. Time to Climb is an educational game where students compete using different characters to climb to the top. A review of the causes of the American Civil War will be an experience the students immerse themselves in if it is gamified in Time to Climb. As the facilitator, cheer on the students, do some play-by-play, and give rewards to the winners and participants! Music, sound, and competition will fuel engagement as the lesson ends.

Star teaching social studies with Nearpod’s interactive tools

Nearpod is the best educational technology tool because its myriad interactive tools increase student engagement throughout the lesson. Whether you use UbD, hyperdocs, the 5 E’s, or even a traditional format like Madeline Hunter’s, Nearpod has the tools and lessons that will have your students excited to learn in your classroom.

The Nearpod Social Studies Program is a K-12 supplemental curricular program that works with you to create immersive social studies experiences that make students a part of every instructional moment. Get 2,500+ standards-aligned interactive lessons, videos, and activities exclusive to the program to help you make every lesson memorable, bring social studies to life, and give students more ways to learn. This program is available as an add-on for school or district licenses.

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free here to access these lessons!

Arthur Vambaketes

Arthur Vambaketes has been teaching in Computer Science and Social Studies in the St. Louis area for over 10 years, and loves modeling lifelong learning with his kiddos. Using technology to allow students to acquire knowledge, practice skills, and make digital media to share with others, students go from media consumers to media creators!

The post 5 Tips for teaching social studies using interactive lessons appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Women’s History Month in March is dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the vital contributions of women in United States history and society. Some of the most important moments in history can be attributed to famous women in history in ways we don’t often consider. From the first successful space flight to the first flight over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans- women make history, and in March, we honor women in history. It is important to teach about women’s history in the classroom year-round to ensure everyone has a full understanding of the ways in which our world is better when we all have an opportunity to allow our gifts to shine.

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

How to use Nearpod to teach Women’s History Month

Collaborative Nearpod activities help teachers encourage civic and civil conversations and cover a range of topics that openly discuss women in STEM, social studies, the arts, and literature. When discussing the U.S. Government, be sure to include Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth and their fight for the right to vote. When DNA comes up in Science class, reference Rosalind Franklin, who was the first person to capture an X-ray of DNA successfully. Liven up math discussions by emphasizing Marjorie Lee Browne’s mission to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM by boosting their confidence in their ability to do mathematics.

However you teach, there is a Nearpod lesson to support your exploration of women in History. This blog post will walk through how to use free resources from Nearpod to teach students about women’s history in any classroom setting, for any subject, at any time of the school year. Let us help you incorporate famous women in history into your curriculum year-round with these resources!

Famous women in history: 4 Ways to teach Women’s History Month

1. Be inclusive of different perspectives in women’s history

When you approach a historical occurrence in your classroom, support students in recognizing that history is often written by “he,” who holds the pen. There is always more than one side to any story. In fact, “she” was there as well! Women have always been pivotal in our society, it’s important we understand the role they played, examine the struggles they endured and celebrate the accomplishments they made. Tie in historical narratives and artifacts that exhibit the women who were present as well.

Women’s History Month free lessons that incorporate multiple perspectives:

Inspirational and interactive lessons highlighting the contributions of women from the past and present, like the Malala Yousafzai and Student Activism lesson.

Teach about famous women in American history using Interactive Video lessons, such as Ida B. Wells.

Interactive social studies lessons to provide context on women’s rights in American and world history, such as Participate: Gender Equality.

Teach about notable women authors in literature using Interactive Video lessons, such as Crash Course: Jane Eyre.

2. Create a classroom culture of encouragement by highlighting women in STEM

It is important that you create a classroom culture that encourages girls to explore various types of careers, including those that are not traditionally associated with women. Women’s History Month is not just about commemorating the past but also about creating a future where girls can be whatever they want to be and have examples to help them along the way. Famous women in history have been trailblazing for ages- from Lozen, a gifted warrior who was a shield to the Apache people, to Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, who is known as the “First Lady of Physics.”

Lessons that boost confidence and expose students to the endless possibilities that exist:

Examine why women and some races are underrepresented in STEM fields and explore how to be inclusive in career fields with this Learning for Justice lesson.

Explore notable women in STEM, such as the Interactive Video lesson about Marie Curie.

Biographies on the lives and contributions of under-recognized women in American history, such as the engaging lesson about Katherine Johnson in partnership with Flocabulary.

Teach about current events, such as the First All-Woman Spacewalk and 3D Sculptures at the Smithsonian lessons.

3. Inspire students with engaging hip-hop video lessons about famous women in history

As emerging global citizens, it is important to create opportunities for students to grow empathy and understanding with content that reflects their identities and cultures and introduces them to new perspectives. Flocabulary offers relevant, engaging, standards-aligned hip-hop videos and instructional activities that connect academic content to the five pillars of literacy. One of my favorite ways to incorporate Flocabulary is to include a Flocab video as an interactive activity in my Nearpod lesson. Students can also use the Lyric Lab feature to demonstrate mastery in creative ways. Hip-hop is the voice of the youth. Use Flocabulary to help students combine something they love with an opportunity to learn and grow. Flocabulary includes a ton of videos that highlight the contributions of women in history.

Check out these Flocabulary videos on amazing women in history and marginalized groups:

4. Prioritize teaching social and emotional skills and representation of gender

Use Nearpod’s interactive activities to help students practice social and emotional learning skills. Have them share how they feel about the women in history they are learning about.

Here are some ideas you can use:

• Use a Poll activity to ask multiple-choice questions without a right answer to check for understanding. Take a class vote or highlight student opinions.
• Use an Interactive Video and allow the predetermined checks for understanding to be used as discussion prompts for classroom conversations.
• Do a Time to Climb activity, an educational game, with students that will level up the competition and engagement in the classroom while assessing their understanding.
• Use a Collaborate Board, a discussion board for collaborative learning, to empower student voice and choice in the classroom.

Start teaching with these Women’s History Month activities

We’re so excited to see you use these lessons and activities to engage your students in women’s history. Remember, Nearpod is an opportunity to leverage engagement and interaction and prioritize students’ social and emotional learning needs when discussing women in history. Happy Women’s History Month!

New to Nearpod? Sign up for free to access standards-aligned activities and create interactive lessons!

Quinae Jackson and Marcela Labrador

My name is Quinae Jackson, I am in my 10th year in education. I am the East Coast Brand Ambassador for Nearpod. I’m passionate about sharing ways for teachers to maximize instructional technology and facilitate learning environments that promote discourse, and collaboration.

My name is Marcela Labrador, I am a former teacher and professional development specialist. I am currently the West Coast Brand Ambassador for Nearpod. I am passionate about educational equity, social justice, and using technology with fidelity for educational purposes. 

The post Famous women in history: 4 Ways to teach Women’s History Month appeared first on Nearpod Blog.