Middle School History and Tips for Teachers
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Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
About the store
I spent two years in the Marine Corps (1968-1970) and then taught middle school in Loveland, Ohio for thirty-three years (1975-2008)
My subject areas were American and Ancient World History.
I have devoted the years since retirement to writing a book about teaching called: Two Legs Suffice: Lessons Learned by Teaching, based on my experiences with 5,000 teens.
The book has been extremely well reviewed on Amazon.com
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Frederick Douglass: Tale of an American Slave
In Douglass' own words, students are taken into a world of slavery, where some owners are good, while others are brutal, where a young boy remembers his slave mother, owned on another plantation, visiting him at night and bringing a glazed pastry shaped like a heart.
A story of courage by a young man who fought back. Covers Frederick Douglass' life up until 1841, when he began his career as an anti-slavery lecturer.
This handout works well paired with "A Slave Child Remembers," the story of Bo
7th - 8th
U.S. History
The Cincinnati Red Stockings
My students had fun with this reading and all the differences between sports in 1869 and sports in America now.
The story of the Cincinnati Reds in 1869 and 1870, when they became the first professional team: includes fans jumping on player's backs to disrupt games, Smiling George Wright, the favorite of the ladies in the stands, Asa Brainard throwing a pitch at a bunny on the field and homerun balls that roll under wagons in the outfield. Also: a powerful team that goes 57-0.
7th - 8th
Creative Writing, U.S. History
The Making of Abraham Lincoln
This reading looks at the life of Lincoln up until the Civil War.
I found that Lincoln's story was perfect for a discussion about how each of us, as human beings, can "make ourselves better than we are." How did Abraham, for example, get a good education?
What is "character?" How did Lincoln show good character.
(I will put up a free lesson guide on that topic soon.)
7th - 8th
Character Education, Social Studies, U.S. History
"Remember the Ladies"
A description of a variety of women who helped the American cause during the Revolution.
Includes Abigail Adams, who called for greater rights, Molly Pitcher, who fired a cannon, Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, and Mrs. Day, who used her broom to make "the powder fly" from the wig of one British official.
My students loved to do a skit based on this handout. (You had to be sure to include a broom for Mrs. Day.)
7th - 9th
U.S. History
African Americans in the Revolution
When news came that the Thirteen Colonies were willing to fight for liberty and freedom the 1 in 5 Americans who were black were anxious to do their part.
African Americans drove wagons, spied, labored and even joined in battle in hopes of winning the freedom of their country.
Attacks on slavery, as an institution, grew; but the cause of freedom would remain imperfect for many years to come.
7th - 12th
U.S. History
Native Americans: People of the Northwest Coast
A detailed look at a native civilization that looks nothing like the "Indians" usually seen on TV and in movies.
Tribes along the Northwest Pacific coast lived mainly on salmon, lived in wood plank homes, selected leaders based on wealth and hunted whales.
7th - 8th
Native Americans, Social Studies, U.S. History
Misery and Courage: Winter at Valley Forge
A look at the terrible conditions Washington's men faced and overcame during the winter of 177-1778. Topic for discussion: Perseverance. What is it, why do some people have it, and others do not? Why did some of the soldiers stay all winter, while others quit and went home. Humorous writing possibility also included.
7th - 8th
Character Education, Social Studies, U.S. History
A Slave Child Remembers
Booker T. Washington, a slave during his early years, describes what life for his family was like.
Firsthand account.
Washington experienced slavery in its mildest forms; this handout can be paired with "Tale of an American Slave" to help students understand the need to get all sides of a story.
7th - 8th
Informational Text, U.S. History
How the Other Half Lives
The story of Jacob Riis, the immigrant who became a reporter and exposed the terrible living conditions in the New York City slums.
Perfect for starting a discussion about immigration today--or the effects of poverty.
7th - 8th
Government, U.S. History
Hitler's Black Harvest
A lengthy description (4,200 words) of the Holocaust. The only problem I ever had using this reading, myself, was that students often broke down in tears. A good writing assignment was to ask students to write about the ghost of some victim, coming back to talk about their life and death. This reading can also be used to start a discussion about dehumanization in all its multiplicity of forms.
7th - 10th
European History, Other (Social Studies), Religion
Witch Panic in Salem
The story of hysteria in 1692, told in a little less than 2700 words.
A perfect reading to set up discussion of the modern American justice system and protections of the accused under the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th amendments.
Modern students can hardly fathom the methods of courts in that era: the use of torture to illicit confession, admission of "spectral evidence," the jailing of Dorcas Good, a five-year-old suspected of working with the Devil, and the pressing to death of Giles Cory, for refu
7th - 8th
Criminal Justice - Law, U.S. History
Fight for Women's Rights: Failure is Impossible
A detailed look at the fight for women's rights in the 1800s.
The story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, among others, is told in a lively fashion sure to lead to discussion in any class.
My students loved to do a "panel discussion" of six women, three from the 1800s, and three from modern America, to talk about how females live. (It never hurt to put a wig on some boy's head and let him take part.) This kind of activity can be a great deal of fun.
7th - 8th
Government, U.S. History
The Puritans of New England
A detailed look at the Puritans, the religious group which shaped all of New England.
Serves as a foundation for lively discussion of values (were Puritans right to focus on heaven, and are modern Americans wrong to focus more on things of this earth), on the nature and extent of religious freedoms, and even on topics like raising children. Students usually say the Puritans were too strict...but often say modern parents are too easy.
7th - 8th
Character Education, Religion, U.S. History
Native Americans: A Brief Look at Iroquois Culture
Iroquois life is described in 25 paragraphs, focused on topics like homes, food, sports, marriage, government and how the Iroquois handled death.
This reading is designed to get students thinking about and discussing the differences in cultures around the world and through time.
(See also: Iroquois Culture: Ideas for Teachers. FREE.)
7th - 8th
Native Americans, Social Studies, U.S. History
Colonial Women
What was life like for women during Colonial Times? Most girls today are aghast when they find out.
My students loved to do a skit based on this handout, where modern women and their colonial ancestors met and discussed how they were treated.
It never hurt to slap a wig on some young man and have him take one of the roles.
Students today are surprised by the age of marriage for women, the large numbers of children, the near-total lack of rights, and much more.
7th - 8th
Social Studies, U.S. History
Civil War: Diary of John Ransom
Firsthand account of conditions at Andersonville Prison.
Ransom kept a diary during his time in Andersonville; can be used to spark a discussion of the treatment of prisoners during any war, may even be tied to current events.
7th - 8th
Social Studies, U.S. History
Lesson Plans for History Materials
These are some of my best ideas--almost always proven effective in my own classroom--for how to use my reading selections. Materials lend themselves to skits, debates, critical thinking and creative writing possibilities.
Many readings are based on firsthand accounts from slaves, soldiers, Native Americans, colonial women, travelers on the Oregon Trail, cowboys and immigrants, as well as famous Americans like Washington, Franklin, Stanton and Anthony, Franklin and Edison
7th - 9th
U.S. History, Writing
The Making of George Washington
The cherry tree story may be a myth; but George Washington, warts and all, was a man of great parts.
Learn about his mother (nagging), Sally Fairfax (his first love) and his early mistakes as a soldier. This reading covers the years up to the American Revolution.
As a writer once said, "The first word of a child should be 'mother,' the second, 'father,' and the third should be 'Washington.'"
7th - 12th
Character Education, U.S. History
Civil War: Elisha Rhodes
Rhodes served through four years of bloody war with the Army of the Potomac.
Combined with other readings, it is easy to create a skit in which students take the roles of Rhodes, Sam Watkins, in A Rebel Soldier's War, and others, to describe their "lives" as soldiers during the American Civil War.
7th - 8th
Informational Text, Social Studies, U.S. History
Adventure Unlimited: The Story of Lewis and Clark
Their trip had everything: clashes with Indians, buffalo hunts, grizzly bears, grizzly bears chasing explorers, terrible weather, fantastic scenery and more.
(If you will contact the seller at vilejjv@yahoo.com he will also send you pictures of scenes from out west to go along with the story.)
7th - 8th
Geography, Native Americans, U.S. History
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About the store
Experience
I spent two years in the Marine Corps (1968-1970) and then taught middle school in Loveland, Ohio for thirty-three years (1975-2008)
My subject areas were American and Ancient World History.
I have devoted the years since retirement to writing a book about teaching called: Two Legs Suffice: Lessons Learned by Teaching, based on my experiences with 5,000 teens.
The book has been extremely well reviewed on Amazon.com
Teaching style
I found that there were all kinds of tricks to keep teens interested, including drilling a hole through Jenny's textbook. (It's a long story.)
I found if I worked hard to find and present material in interesting fashion, I always had a chance to keep students engaged.
Beyond a doubt, I would argue that motivating students was the key to success.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I sold older versions of some of these materials to Holt, Rinehart and Winston in 1989.
They paid for my work but never published it. So I started over and made my materials better.
I was chosen "Educator of the Year" for my building in 1990 (the first year the award existed, but did not accept), again in 1997 and 2002.
I am Facebook "friends" with more than 1,300 former students.
My own education history
I was a malcontent in school and finished 104th in my graduating class. My disdain for school helped me understand unmotivated students once I had a classroom of my own.
A trip to Parris Island in 1968 changed my attitude. I learned more about motivation in the Marines than in all the years before and all the years since.
I graduated from Ohio University in 1973 with a BSEd.
I earned a Masters in American History at the University of Cincinnati in 1976.
Additional biographical information
In keeping with my focus on motivation, I once told students I would ride a bicycle across the United States if they helped raise $5,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2007, we collected $13,500 and I pedaled from Avalon, New Jersey to Yellowstone Park to Tilamook, Oregon, a journey of more than 4,000 miles.
In 2011, I pedaled my bicycle from Acadia, National Park to Yellowstone, south to Salt Lake City, across Nevada, through Yosemite and on to San Francisco. This time I rode 4,186 miles and raised $10,000
I have four children and an beautiful wife.
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