Teaching Democracy and Freedom: Facing History’s US History Curriculum Collection

Facing History’s approach to teaching US history emphasizes students’ capacity for civic agency. Our resources help students develop the historical inquiry skills needed to generate a more nuanced understanding of the struggle for democracy and freedom throughout US history. Through this curated set of US history units and C3-style inquiries, students explore how progress toward greater freedom, equality, and justice is not inevitable but rather a result of choices that people make.

During this four-week mini-course, participants will:

• Experience a Facing History approach to teaching US history through hands-on activities and exploration of voices not often included in textbooks
• Engage with C3-style inquiry units that explore the relationship between democracy and freedom during the founding era, the Reconstruction era, and the era of Asian exclusion in the United States
• Use resources and teaching strategies to help students develop the capacity for civic participation and an understanding that democracy can only remain vital through the active, thoughtful, and responsible participation of its citizens

Educators will participate in this course as part of an asynchronous cohort. While content can be accessed and completed at your own pace and on your own schedule, the cohort will follow a weekly schedule and move forward together, interacting via discussion boards and other online communication tools. Note that there are no live learning sessions in this mini-course.

Mini-course at-a-glance details:

Who should take this mini-course: 7th–12th grade US history teachers and curriculum specialists

Cost: $25

Schedule:

• Module 1: Getting Started with the Curriculum Collection (asynchronous, about 3 hours to complete): October 2 to October 9
• Module 2: Complexities and Contradictions in US History (asynchronous, about 3 hours to complete): October 9 to October 16
• Module 3: Borders & Belonging in US History (asynchronous, about 3 hours to complete): October 16 to October 23
• Module 4: Freedom Dreaming Capstone Project (asynchronous, about 3 hours to complete): October 23 to October 29

Time commitment: Approximately 3 hours per week

Duration: 4 weeks (There is a new module each week, and all components will be asynchronous in Canvas.)

Format: Self-guided work in Canvas

Accessibility: Facing History is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational environment for educators of all abilities. If you have an accessibility need, please contact us at support [at] facinghistory.org (support[at]facinghistory[dot]org).