Free Ap Us History Teaching Resources And Professional Development Opportunities

Educators seeking to enhance their AP U.S. History instruction have access to a variety of free resources, community platforms, and professional development opportunities. These materials are designed to support teachers in developing effective lesson plans, accessing primary source documents, and connecting with a broader network of educators. The available resources range from online learning platforms and digital archives to structured professional development programs and community forums.

Free Digital Resources and Learning Platforms

Several websites offer extensive collections of instructional materials for AP U.S. History teachers. These platforms provide educator-contributed assignments, quizzes, case studies, and lecture notes that can be incorporated into various lesson plans. The resources cover a vast array of subject areas and time periods, ranging from ancient civilizations to the 21st century.

Specific free resources identified include: * Online learning platforms featuring educator-contributed assignments, quizzes, case studies, and lecture notes. * Subject-specific resource sites that provide materials for various time periods and historical eras. * DBQ (Document Based Question) guides for educators seeking document-based questions to support their instruction. These DBQs are prepared by AP U.S. History teachers and students and follow the format of previous APUSH exams. * Library of Congress pages offering primary source charts and graphs, as well as specific lesson plans about United States labor unions and working conditions in the 20th century. The Library of Congress also provides professional development and classroom resources for educators utilizing their extensive digital collections. * Stanford-based educational resource sites offering over 130 assessments, lesson activities, and other free activities for history teachers and students. * Crash Course YouTube videos, including those by John Green, which cover the history of the United States. The Crash Course channel provides free, high-quality educational videos on a variety of topics, including AP World and AP U.S. History, organizing critical topics into easy-to-access playlists. * FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data), which provides widely reported economic data and allows users to retrieve vintage versions of economic data from specific dates in history.

Additionally, Teaching American History is a free resource that brings together primary documents, continuing education, and community for American history teachers. It offers Core Documents Volumes, which are collections of key primary sources curated by leading scholars and available as bound paperbacks or PDF files. These volumes track a single theme throughout American history and serve as a foundational piece for any documents-based curriculum.

Professional Development and Teacher Training

For educators looking to strengthen their teaching strategies, the College Board offers professional development through AP Summer Institutes (APSIs). During these summer sessions, teachers develop AP teaching skills and strategies and explore each section of the course and its exam. For those unable to attend in person, the College Board provides online workshops that teach strategies and tools to help AP staff plan and focus their instruction.

Teaching American History also offers seminars where participants read primary sources and engage in thoughtful discussion. These programs are designed to leave teachers with a richer appreciation for broader themes in history and a better understanding of how to bring discussion-based learning to their own classrooms.

Community and Collaboration

Building a sense of community is another key aspect of professional development for AP U.S. History teachers. Various social media platforms and websites provide not only teaching resources but also a feeling of community. Recommended platforms include: * Teachers of United States History (Facebook) * AP US History Teachers (Facebook) * Classroom 2.0 * Flipped Learning Global Initiative Community * Teachers Connect * Teachers Network * The Current * The Educator Collaborative

Teaching American History also encourages teachers to become members to participate in discussions and access their bookstore, which offers classroom bundling options for resources like "Causes of the Civil War."

Textbooks and Lesson Plans

Other free resources available include detailed textbooks and lesson plans. One resource offers a detailed history of the United States from before the arrival of Europeans through the end of the 20th century. There are also textbooks on ancient civilizations and American Government, which explain the framework of governance created by the founding fathers.

Specific lesson plans are available, such as one exploring the events leading up to the American Revolution, the war with Britain, and the emergence of the new American nation. This resource includes carefully constructed discussion questions and activities for students. Additionally, resources focusing on African-American history cover the struggles for justice and equality from the early abolitionist movement through the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and continuing to the present day.

Conclusion

The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.

AP U.S. History teachers have access to a diverse ecosystem of free and paid resources designed to support classroom instruction and professional growth. Free resources primarily consist of digital platforms offering lesson plans, assessments, and primary source documents, including specific collections from the Library of Congress and Stanford-based sites. Video content, such as Crash Course, is also available for supplemental instruction. Professional development is supported through the College Board's AP Summer Institutes and online workshops, as well as seminars offered by organizations like Teaching American History. Community building is facilitated through specific Facebook groups and educational networks. Additional free materials include comprehensive textbooks on U.S. history, government, and ancient civilizations, alongside targeted lesson plans on topics like the American Revolution and African-American history.

Sources

1. UWorld AP US History Teacher Resources
2. Teaching American History
3. USHistory.org Resources
4. New American History Resources