Welcome! This is my online classroom where I post a variety of resources and reflections for students, parents and fellow educators. If you find something useful or have any suggestions, let me know. Enjoy!  

Class Portals:

U.S. History 8 (Pacific Trails Middle School)
Award winning Integrated Thematic Unit - "Most Effective for Teaching Social Justice"
"WHAT STUFF COSTS" encourages students to think critically about their role in global supply chains, and how we can work to create more equity and justice in how the stuff we buy is produced. Students will research a variety of issues at the production and manufacturing ends of the supply chain, and be challenged to develop real world solutions to the human rights abuses and environmental concerns they discover. 

Virtual Tour of Auschwitz

This TOUR allows students to be virtually transported to the industrial town of Oświęcim, located in southern Poland, where they'll use 360 degree panoramic photography to explore the remains of the former German concentration camp, Auschwitz. The tour is both visually stunning and in depth. Students are given access to major buildings and can explore the various exhibits and memorials at Auschwitz I, and Auschwitz II - Birkenau. In addition, students can select to "Read More" at any location in the camp, where detailed historical information is provided, as well as photographs, artwork and eye-witness accounts. I've created a Virtual Tour Packet to go along with the tour, so students can record what they learn as they go. 
Virtual Tour Student Packet: I use this packet to guide students through the tour, and give them an opportunity to summarize the information they learn on the tour. You can "make a copy" of the original to edit.  

Revolution and Refugees

The ability to generalize social science phenomenons is a critical skill for students of history to develop. In this unit, students relate the Syrian Civil War and the revolutions of 18th Century Europe, in order to investigate  the root causes of political revolution, and wrestle with questions about human nature, power and authority, and social responsibility.

The Economics of Race in America

When we talk about the economics of poverty in the United States, we have to understand that race and history are important factors in that conversation. As we look at race, keep in mind that the connection between poverty and race is complicated. Through our study, you should begin to notice statistical trends of poverty that can be connected to the historical struggle for equality in the United States. When talking about race and poverty in the U.S., it's important that we consider the historical trends of poverty and wealth distribution, the mechanisms by which wealth is gathered in a capitalist society, and the history of government legislation in the economy. While statistics give us a more clear picture of the story of economics and race, how to bring equity to wealth distribution is widely debated. Examining that debate will be a major part of this unit.

Capitalizing on
​Students' Interests

This image was created by one of my sophomore students. She used her gift and interest in art to demonstrate her understanding of child labor during the Industrial Revolution. Providing opportunities for choice allows students to build on their strengths, exercise creativity, discover academic value in their talents, and express a deeper understanding of their discoveries.

And it makes grading a whole lot more fun. 

CSUSM EDU16
​TWITTER FEED - 

SOCIAL SCIENCE ED. 
​RESOURCES ​-

Ted Talks -
​Creativity Playlist