To hear the experiences of those who lived through insane things; that is what history is all about. This video is not a straight informational video…it is a biographical one. A survivor of the Bataan Death March describes his experience, and it is sure to get your students’ attention. That being said, because it is not informational from start to finish, preface it with the basic details of what the march was.
This is a really interesting video that explains what President Bush and his staff were thinking when they found out the World Trade Center towers were attacked. It includes clips of that famous shot when someone leans down and whispers into Bush’s ear, and you can see him trying to process it and at the same time remain calm in front of others. These kinds of first-hand accounts make things so much more real to students!
There are a myriad of videos out there about the Vietnam War. Many are great, but they are SO long. Most students do well with a video under five minutes. Here’s a roundup of some helpful videos I use to teach the Vietnam War.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (3:41)
Vietcong Guerilla (3:08)
The Most Dangerous Job in the Vietnam War (1:00)
Why New Soldiers Didn’t Survive Vietnam (0:51)
Tet Offensive (3:47 – This video is part of a History Channel page on the Vietnam War. You may need to scroll down to find the video. It’s worth the scroll!)
What was Significant About the 1968 Tet Offensive? (3:43)
It’s getting close to the end of the year. I don’t know about you, but I could use some comic relief! This made me laugh. As teachers, we typically know more about a time period than the average person, but would that really be enough in this situation? Enjoy!
Everyone knows that Vietnam veterans had a much different experience coming home than World War II veterans. To be honest, our country let the Vietnam vets down. Still, it’s hard to explain to students why Vietnam veterans had such a hard time coming home. These three Youtube videos, in my mind, give the most simple and understandable explanation as to why the Vietnam veterans seemed to have a harder time getting over the trauma of war than others.
How WWII and Vietnam Veterans Were Treated Differently
The Difference Between a World War II Vet and a Vietnam Vet
I came across these two videos this week while prepping for a lesson on World War II. I had never seen some of this footage before.
The first video is about Hitler’s battle with Parkinson’s disease. What I love about this video is that it is the first video footage I have ever seen that actually shows him shaking (and trying to hide it, of course). To keep your students involved in the video, ask them to see if they can spot the shaking. (See the video below.)
The second video discusses Hitler’s relationship with his girlfriend/eventual wife Eva Braun. Students are always very interested in learning what kind of woman would date Hitler. I knew a lot about Braun and Hitler already, but this video includes colorized footage of them which makes things seem so much more realistic. Also, this video does a great job of explaining what happened in the final hours of Hitler’s life when he was hiding in his bunker.
I have a bunch more videos that I use/show during World War II. I hope to post a big list of those soon. I’ve just got to add a few more!
In case you’ve been living under a rock, you know that there is a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! We were in the path of totality in 2017. It was amazing! Here I am looking like a big goober with my glasses and a thumbs up.
How does this apply to your classroom? You know your students will probably be discussing it. Why not take a break for a few minutes from your regular content and really enjoy this marvel of nature that only comes around every once in a while? This article has some really cool pictures of people throughout history viewing solar eclipses.
Did you know that Christopher Columbus used an eclipse to trick Jamaican natives into giving him food?! Watch the video below to learn more!
Lewis and Clark witnessed both a lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse when they were exploring the Louisiana Purchase.
Probably the most well-known event in US history that was connected to a solar eclipse was Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Turner took a solar eclipse as a sign that he should lead a slave uprising. His uprising took place months later and led to the murder of about 60 people, which struck fear into the hearts of slaveowners.
The picture at the top is one of President Coolidge and his wife viewing an eclipse in 1925. I hope you get to step outside of your classroom and catch a glimpse of such an awe-inspiring event!
Check out this virtual tour of Ford’s Theatre! Use the white arrows to move around the theatre and click/drag your mouse on the screen to turn around. The first part shows the main theater view from the stage, but if you scroll down the page, you will see other parts of the theater. Show your students exactly where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated! What better way to teach about what happened when Lincoln was assassinated than to take them inside the presidential box where it happened. See the stage on which John Wilkes Booth jumped when he yelled “Sic semper tyrranis!” Students can really visualize the events of that night using this tour.
One final note: Have you ever seen The Conspirator? It’s a great movie about Mary Surratt, the only female charged in Lincoln’s assassination. It’s too long to show it in class, but it’s a really interesting movie that scratches that history itch!
This is really more of a science/math video, but it has George Washington in it sooooo it’s history-related. Right? It made me laugh, so I thought you might enjoy something silly on Monday morning!
If you want to show your students an awesome jazz performance when discussing the Harlem Renaissance, this video is great (see below)! It features famous African-American bandleader Duke Ellington (at the piano) and Ella Fitzgerald. While this particular performance took place long after the Harlem Renaissance when these two greats are in latter part of their careers, it is an excellent example of one of the most well-known jazz songs to come out of the Harlem Renaissance (it was written by Ellington). (Side note: While Ellington was an important figure during the Harlem Renaissance, Fitzgerald started making a name for herself at the very end of the Harlem Renaissance.) You can also use this video to explain to students what scatting is starting at around 1:24. After watching this clip, it’s easy to see why Fitzgerald is called the First Lady of Song!
Most historians agree that the colonies probably would not have defeated the British during the American Revolution were it not for the support of France. While Washington was fighting in the colonies, Franklin was schmoozing aristocracy in France trying to get support for the Patriot’s cause. Imagine trying to convince a monarch to support the overthrow of another monarch. That’s just what Ben Franklin did. The video below does a great job of explaining Ben Franklin’s work in France during the American Revolution.
Here’s my roundup of the best, short World War I videos to reinforce concepts in your classroom. Most are around 4 minutes long. These should not all be shown in one day, but throughout the unit. Be sure to ask questions after each video and discuss with your students what they learned or thought was interesting.
How a Wrong Turn Started World War I – a great explanation of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination
Life in a Trench World War I – a short summary, good contrast between German and Allied trenches, as well as dramatic description of how soldiers felt about trenches (it’s listed as age-restricted because it shows dead bodies)
Life in the Trenches WWI – Trench Warfare Explained – a longer description of trench warfare (about 8 minutes), less dramatic, more factual approach (may want to use for students who want to dive deeper)
Tech Developments of World War I – a great summary of the change from the beginning to the end of the war (show after trench warfare video)
Dog Fights: WWI Uncut – a 7 minute video, use for students who want to know more (side note: turn closed captions off – the word fokker is translated as the f word)
The Treaty of Versailles: What Did the Big Three Want 1/2 – a great summary of the feelings leading to the Treaty, show Part 2/2 below to get the full picture
The Treaty of Versailles: Terms of Treaty 2/2
Bet You Didn’t Know – a good summary of the entire war, might be good to show the day before a test or at the end of the year for End of Course test-prep
Here’s a great video that covers the basics of Bacon’s Rebellion. I have found that Bacon’s Rebellion is one of those historical events that typically gets sacrificed because of lack of time. It is important to know that the rebellion led to a larger dependence on slave labor in the colonies (rather than indentured servants).
This video also has review questions in the video description if you need them.
Also, here’s an interesting tidbit…it was recorded that Bacon died of the “Bloodie Flux” (dysentery) and “Lousey Disease” (body lice). His death inspired a little saying:
“Bacon is Dead I am sorry at my hart That lice and flux should take the hangman’s part.”
Guess who I thought I saw at Wal-mart and how it applies to my classroom! Watch the video below to find out more OR scroll down to listen to the audio only version.
When covering life in the 1920s, it’s always good to mention mass media and various important figures. Charlie Chaplin is one of several 1920s figures I usually cover. I found a great clip today of Charlie Chaplain in The Kid. It’s a great example of a good silent film, as well as the work of Charlie Chaplin. It also shows our students that humor is often timeless and that the latest technology is not always needed to entertain or make a statement.
This clip is a great filler to show at the end of class or to grab students’ attention at the beginning of class!
This a great video explaining the importance of Valley Forge! It not only talks about the hardships and disease, but it also the strategic reorganizing and training of the army during this time. It also gives a great summary of the events leading up to the winter at Valley Forge, so the students have some context as to what has been happening in the war. My one criticism is that the guy at the beginning says the war has been “waging” rather than “raging.” While you can “wage war,” I’m pretty sure that is not correct in this context. I’m sure it was probably just a slip of the tongue. You may or may not want to mention that to your students. Still it does not diminish the value of the information in the video. It’s really interesting and only about four minutes long.
This video summarizes how the March on Washington led to the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1964. It’s a great video that shows cause and effect. This would be good to show before or after covering the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1964.
After the video, ask:
Image Source: Civil rights march on Washington, Library of Congress, Public Domain
I came across this video on Christopher Columbus that I think is very balanced. It acknowledges the fact that he treated the native people brutally but also acknowledges that, for better or worse, his actions still changed the world. It would be great to use as a summary after you have covered notes on Columbus or as a review at the beginning of class the day after you have covered Columbus.
By the way, I’ve got a Christmas freebie coming soon! Check the blog later this week or first part of next week!
Image: Wikipedia Commons, Public Domain
Most of you don’t have time to devote a whole day to covering Veteran’s Day. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the truth. There is so much material to cover in US History that Veteran’s Day typically gets a very small piece of the pie, if any. How can you cover Veteran’s Day well, but also do it quickly?
First of all, make sure your students know what a veteran is. They probably do, but it’s always good to cover the basics. Then, show the first video below. It explains what Veteran’s Day actually is and how it came about.
After the video, ask the following questions:
Then show the video below. It’s about five minutes long, but it’s really well done. It shows a lot of clips from various wars. It evokes an emotional response and presents veterans as real people. It really helps students see the “people” behind the word veteran.
Then, have your students write an informal reflection or freewrite answering some of the following questions:
Download a free copy of these questions to display on the board here.
This video is a short and sweet summary of how Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle led to changes in the meat-packing industry. It’s a great way to reinforce a discussion of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and it also shows some really interesting shots of the meat-packing industry back in the day.
You can use this in conjunction with my other free resources to teach The Jungle found in this blog post.
While you’re at it, check out my QR Code Scavenger Hunt on the Progressive Era in my TPT store. It’s a fun and engaging way to get students out of their seats while reviewing important aspects of the Progressive Era! Students LOVE my QR code scavenger hunts!