I’ve generally kept designations for things I’ve used in my almost-AP World History class, but that doesn’t necessarily mean those things are only useful in AP. It should go without saying that I have no connection to AP, College Board, or anyone else of elevated repute – I’m just an old guy doing my best to teach some history to young people who love the TikTok and the Chatty G.P. Tea.
PDFs should open in a separate window where they can be easily downloaded. You can make your own copy of any Google Docs or Google Slides materials to edit as you see fit, distribute to students, or convert into whatever other formats you prefer.
These aren’t necessarily the “best” things I’ve ever done in class, but they are the easiest to share online with minimal explanation. If you figure out a way to gain massive wealth and long-overdue fame using any of these materials, please cut me in. Otherwise, I mostly just hope you find some of it useful.
AMSCO APWH Modern Intro to Unit One: The Global Tapestry (Assignment on Google Slides) – This one is more textbook-specific than most, so it’s probably only useful if you actually use this textbook. As the name suggests, this is an intro and overview of 1250 – 1450.
AMSCO APWH Modern 1.1: Developments in East Asia (Assignment on Google Slides) – Somewhat textbook specific, but might work with other books or no textbook at all with minimal modification.
East Asia Stations Activity – Content (PDF) – If you haven’t done stations before, the basic idea is that you post the content around the room, put students in small groups and give each group a set of questions to complete over each station. They travel according to your instructions (I do 6-7 minutes per station and rotate in a specific order to minimize the chaos) and work together to complete as many of the questions as possible in the limited time available.
East Asia Stations Activity – Questions (PDF) – Goes with content above.
AMSCO APWH Modern 1.2: Developments in Dar al-Islam (Assignment on Google Slides) – Somewhat textbook specific, but might work with other books or no textbook at all with minimal modification.
ABC Summary Assignment – Developments in East Africa (Google Docs) – I’ve used ABC Summaries in different ways for years, usually only once with each class. This year I decided it would be to crunch foundational content, in this case roughly corresponding to APWH 1.5. The linked document contains instructions for ABC Summaries, a full Sample ABC Summary for 1.2: Developments in Dar al-Islam, and a short article covering the basic content for this topic.
Excerpts from the Laws of Manu (Primary Source w/ Questions on Google Docs) – I use this with the introduction of Islam into the Hindu cultures of northern India to highlight some ways in which the two belief systems differed – in this case, ideas about social classes and marriage.
Excerpts from the Laws of Manu (Primary Source w/ Questions on PDF) – See above.
Excerpts from the Quran (Primary Source w/ Questions on Google Docs) – I use this with the introduction of Islam into the Hindu cultures of northern India to highlight some ways in which the two belief systems differed – in this case, ideas about social classes and marriage.
Excerpts from the Quran (Primary Source w/ Questions on PDF) – See above.
Hinduism & Islam: A Basic Overview (Reference Page on Google Docs) – A helpful support piece for the two primary sources above, if so desired.
Hinduism & Islam: A Basic Overview (Reference Page on PDF) – See above.
AP-Style MCQs over Manu Excerpts, Quran Excerpts, and Hindu Caste System (Quiz on Google Docs) – As the title suggests, these are AP-Style Multiple Choice Questions specifically tied to the two primary sources and one short summary article above.
Chinese Innovations (Assignment on Google Slides) – An overview of the plethora of Chinese innovations and improvements during this time period plus an introduction to basic categorization (in hopes they’ll one day be able to write a coherent argumentative essay).
Famous Travelers and World Changers Biopic Movie Poster Project (Assignment on Google Slides) – Isn’t a good push for “Tamerlane: The Musical” long overdue?
AMSCO APWH Modern 2.1: The Silk Road (Assignment on Google Slides) – Somewhat textbook specific, but might work with other books or no textbook at all with minimal modification.
The Mongols (Presentation on Google Slides)
The Mongols (Student Outline on Google Docs) – This goes with the presentation above.
The Mongols (Student Outline on PDF) – This goes with the presentation above.
Crash Course World History #17: The Mongols (Student Outline on Google Docs)
Crash Course World History #17: The Mongols (Student Outline on PDF)
Small Group Quiz / Thesis Building (Assignment on Google Docs) – This uses the information from the Mongols lecture and CCWH#17 video to introduce basic thesis writing.
Small Group Quiz / Thesis Building (Assignment on PDF) – See above.
Black Death Stations Activity – Content (PDF) – If you haven’t done stations before, the basic idea is that you post the content around the room, put students in small groups and give each group a set of questions to complete over each station. They travel according to your instructions (I do 6-7 minutes per station and rotate in a specific order to minimize the chaos) and work together to complete as many of the questions as possible in the limited time available.
Black Death Stations Activity – Questions (PDF) – Goes with content above.
Excerpts from Pegolotti’s Merchant Handbook (Primary Source on Google Docs) – OK, I confess I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do with this one, but I really like the excerpt, so…
Excerpts from Pegolotti’s Merchant Handbook (Primary Source on PDF)
Academic Vocabulary Crossword for APWH Units #1-2 (PDF) – I know, I know… but sometimes you end up making a vocab crossword puzzle to use in class. I’m not exactly bragging about it or anything.
Content Vocabulary Crossword for APWH Units #1-2 (PDF) – Same vague sense of shame, but I’m sharing it anyway because that’s what we do.
Vocab Crosswords Keys (Google Docs) – If you’re going to use these, you might as well make it as easy as possible for yourself.
Where Am I? Unit #1 (Assignment on Google Docs) – This is a small group / class discussion activity to use for review or informal assessment or just to break things up a bit
Where Am I? Unit #1 (Assignment on PDF) – This is a small group / class discussion activity to use for review or informal assessment or just to break things up a bit
Who Am I? Golden Pilgrimage Version (Assignment on Google Docs) – This is a variation of the “Where Am I?” assignments. In this case, all 5 scenarios revolve around the same basic event but from different points of view. I suggest not giving them ANY clues before they’ve wrestled with it a bit – not even the full name of the assignment.
Who Am I? Golden Pilgrimage Version (Assignment on PDF) – See above.
What Is This? Units #1-2 (Assignment on Google Slides) – This one’s all about recognizing and understanding maps and other world history visuals from this basic time period.
Those Circle Things – Units #1-2 (Presentation / Assignment on Google Slides) – If you’re not familiar with this activity, you might check out this introduction.