Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook: Six Investigative Strategies, Grades 5-12

"Williams′ passion for helping teachers look at content in new ways is precisely what we need. This book challenges educators to think outside the box."
―Dennis Denenberg, Professor Emeritus
Millersville University

"This is not your typical social studies methods book. Williams′ highly readable prose shows a deep respect for the marriage of American history content and teaching."
―Elaine Wrisley Reed, Retired Executive Director
National Council for History Education

Turn your students into history detectives with these innovative teaching strategies!

Written by a history educator, this exciting guide provides a unique approach that makes it easy for middle and high school teachers to engage students′ critical thinking in history and social studies.

Using a "CSI approach" to history, the author′s six powerful strategies tap into students′ natural curiosity and investigative instincts. Students become detectives of the past as they ghost-hunt in their neighborhoods, solve historical crime scenes, prepare arguments for famous court cases, and more. Each ready-to-use technique:

• Demonstrates how students can use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries
• Includes sample lessons and case studies for Grades 5–12
• Aligns with national standards, making the book useful for both teachers and curriculum developers
• Features review questions, reflections, and Web and print resources in every chapter for further reading

Incorporate these strategies into your classroom and watch as students discover just how thrilling and spine-chilling history can be!

Yohuru Rashied Williams is an associate professor of history at Fairfield University and the vice president for history education of the American Institute for History Education. He is the author of Black Politics/White Power; editor of A Constant Struggle: African-American History from 1865 to the Present; and coeditor of In Search of the Black Panther and Liberated Territory: Toward A Local History of the Black Panther Party.

Williams began his educational career as a high school history teacher in Washington, DC, where he first began to develop many of the ideas included in Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook. After earning a PhD in history from Howard University, Williams served as director of social studies education at Delaware State University, training preservice history teachers, and in 2002 was tapped as a consultant for the National Council for History Education. A sought-after, dynamic speaker, Williams has been conducting seminars and colloquia for history teachers around the nation since 2005.