From the Classroom
When Fourth Graders Command the End of the Civil War
Days 10-11 brought the Battle of Natural Bridge, a civilian primary source, and the end of the Confederacy. Fourth graders learned what it means when continued fighting serves no purpose.
The Battle of Olustee: When Fourth Graders Command Florida's Largest Civil War Battle
Fourth graders command Florida's largest Civil War battle with full understanding of strategic constraints, supply limitations, and military necessity.
Reading Primary Sources After Major Turning Points: How Context Changes Student Understanding
Discover how major turning points in simulations create the perfect context for primary source analysis—making historical documents meaningful instead of abstract.
How to Help Students Role-Play Characters They Disagree With
"How can we pretend to be these people when we know slavery was wrong?" Practical strategies for helping students engage with difficult historical perspectives.
From Frontier Freedom Fighters to Confederate Leaders: The Jarring Transition My Students Never Saw Coming
When my students transitioned from defending Seminole villages in our Frontier Struggles unit to playing Confederate roles in the Civil War simulation, their questions were blunt and uncomfortable: “Wait, we’re the bad guys now?” This jarring shift challenged them to grapple with historical complexity, moral ambiguity, and the skills of analyzing perspectives without applying contemporary judgments.