About the course
Our unique methodology
The Horizon of Independence: Teaching the American Revolution at 250 explores the causes, experiences, and legacies of the early America and the build up to the American Revolution (1607-1776) through three inquiry-driven units focused on early America, escalating tensions with Britain, and the Declaration of Independence with exclusive interviews with leading historians: Dr. Kathleen DuVal, Dr. Alan Taylor, and Dr. Hasan Jeffries. Through primary source analysis, historical inquiry, and culturally responsive teaching practices, educators will deepen their understanding of the Revolutionary era while developing strategies to help students engage thoughtfully with the complexities of the nation’s founding.
Our final unit explores how we teach the American Revolution at 250 and why it still matters. With readings on the role of standards in social studies instruction, strategies for teaching difficult topics, and ideas for scaffolding primary sources, teachers will engage with content that gives them practical ideas for how to translate what they’ve learned into the classroom.
Details
Includes
Shareable PD Certificate
Course accessibility
What you’ll learn
Master Core Concepts
- Explain what life was like in early America for multiple groups of people.
- Analyze the significance of events, legislation, and systems that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- Evaluate the significance of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and how it has evolved over time.
Develop Skills
- Formulate a framework for teaching the early American Revolution in your classroom.
- Identify how social studies standards are created and taught in the United States and evaluate how that applies to your teaching of this time period.
Apply Your Skills in Context
- Interpret primary sources and appraise their applicability for your students.
- Explain ways to scaffold primary sources for students in need of more support or students in need of more of a challenge.
Share Your Learning
- Complete assessments that demonstrate your new capabilities and document your progress.
- Practice primary source interpretation and share with your peers.
Skills you’ll gain
Huzzah!
Ready to transform your teaching of early America & the build up to the American Revolution?
Modules
Explore what the Declaration meant in 1776 and what it means today.
Course resources
1607-1776
The course helps educators think about how to teach the Revolution during the American Semiquincentennial by connecting a study of life in early America and founding-era events to ongoing conversations about citizenship, democracy, rights, and civic participation.
The course features conversations with historians including Kathleen DuVal, Alan Taylor, and Hasan Kwame Jeffries.
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