TEACHING WITH THEMES

Social History through Primary Sources

On a mission to make history interesting to everyone!

Too many people hate history because they recall boring classrooms and memorizing one darn thing after another. Cynthia Williams Resor’s books, Primary Source Bazaar blog, educational activities, and primary source images and texts seek to remedy this age-old history hatred by exploring the daily life of average people in the past. The history of things we do every day – eating, living in our homes, finding mates, seeking medical care, or dreaming of vacations and better lives – is examined over the span of human history. Why are men and women supposed to act differently in relationships, in their homes, in the kitchen? What did people eat in the past? Have people always dreamed of a vacation? Have we always yearned for a utopian life? Why do we fall for quack cures? What do the symbols in cemeteries mean? We know technology is changing our lives; how did new technology change the lives of our ancestors? These questions and more are explored here for anyone interested in social history and the daily lives of average people.

select buttons to learn more Hardback Paperback Add to GoodReads Discovering Quacks, Utopias, and Cemeteries

Exploring Vacation and Etiquette Themes in Social Studies Primary Source Inquiry for Middle and High School

Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies