American Social History Project
Deep, research-backed resources highlight America's rich diversity
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American Social History Project
Pros: Large collection of teaching activities, primary documents, and professional development opportunities.
Cons: The wealth of resources can feel overwhelming due to less-than-ideal organization.
Bottom Line: Worth the time investment, because these valuable, socially progressive materials will add depth to the study of American history.
Teachers should set aside a chunk of time to explore the ASHP website. Start with HERB: Social History for Every Classroom, as it has an extensive collection of free resources that are ready for classroom use. Teachers can search by keyword, teaching activity, collection, theme, or historical era to find a fit for their students. For example, when you're teaching the Civil War, there are lessons and materials on southern volunteers, African-American soldiers, Reconstruction, and much more. Teachers may also want to use the documentary series or the Who Built America textbook or participate in the professional development opportunities. History teachers of grades 7–12 can become part of the Who Built America Badges online professional learning committee that emphasizes classroom practice and collaboration.
The American Social History Project (ASHP) is a website hosting research-backed curricula and professional development to support effective, accurate, and up-to-date American history teaching and learning. Based at the City University of New York Graduate School, ASHP creates multimedia, print, and digital resources collected on a variety of sites that each offer comprehensive programs, all linked to from the central ASHP hub. The goal of the project is to bring the oft-hidden or de-emphasized history of ordinary working people as well as indigenous peoples, immigrants, people of color, and women to the classroom. Some of the highlights include the Who Built America textbook, the 10-episode documentary series with viewer guides focused on the roles of working men and women, and the database (HERB) of primary documents and teaching activities. While many of the resources are free, some have costs associated to obtain all the teaching and PD materials.
These resources are cutting edge and will be of great benefit to any teacher looking to incorporate more labor and social history into the curriculum. The materials, while daunting to sort through and wrap your head around, can be easily integrated into the curriculum and will add depth and a fresh perspective on the nation's past. For example, students take a "walking tour" of Chinatown in San Francisco by examining primary documents, read the story of a Vietnamese refugee, or participate in a debate on the annexation of the Philippines. The professional learning offered through ASHP is thorough and focused on supporting and guiding teachers as they develop instruction around social history, Common Core standards, and historical thinking skills.
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