History is a large and complex topic that can be overwhelming for some middle school students. In addition to learning about past events, students often need to learn new vocabulary and new historical figures to have a thorough understanding of what they are learning. That is why differentiating history instruction is so important.
Differentiating history instruction allows teachers to address the different learning styles, needs and abilities of students. An excellent tool for doing this is by using modified lessons, which are lessons created specifically for those working below grade level.
Modified lessons can be a great resource for students who need to work with reduced reading and writing expectations, including those on a modified IEP and ELL students.
For all levels of learners, teachers can also find ways to make history class more interesting by using the suggestions in this blog post, 13 Ways to Make History Class Engaging for Students.
Why Differentiated Instruction?
Creating lessons with differentiated history instruction allows students and teachers to use resources that best meet the needs of individual learners. Educators know that students do not all learn at the same rate or using the same materials. Some students may prefer more hands-on activities, while others are more visual learners.
Differentiated instruction allows teachers to connect with these unique needs by creating lesson plans for different types of learners. By adding more graphics when needed for one student, or more text-based elements for another, teachers can meet the needs of students working at various levels and processing information in different ways.
Meeting the needs of students working at different levels creates a better educational experience for students, who can feel more connected with the material as they can comprehend it more easily, and for teachers, who can instruct students in the way most appropriate for their learning needs.
This blog post, Useful Differentiation Strategies for Middle School ELA Lessons, provides more helpful information about using differentiated strategies in the classroom.
Differentiating History Instruction in the Classroom Through Ready-To-Use Resources
There are many reasons teachers may choose to use differentiating history instruction with students. One of the key reasons is to enhance the learning experience.
When students are struggling with a concept or material, and teachers present them with differentiated history instruction that addresses those needs, their educational experience can change. A student who was struggling may feel more confident because they now have a better understanding of the material.
Students, especially those who would benefit from modified resources, may engage more with a topic or lesson once they feel the material is not as daunting, thanks to differentiating the lesson.
Differentiating history instruction does not just benefit a select group of students. By using these strategies in the classroom, teachers can develop knowledge about what each of their students needs, which can carry over from one topic to another, making future planning easier as well.
For example, suppose a teacher discovers that adding a more visual or video component helps a student learn. In that case, that information can be used across topics and lessons, making the educational experience more fulfilling for both student and teacher.
Differentiating History Instruction Strategies
There are many ways to differentiate instruction in the classroom, and teachers can get creative when looking for new ways to connect with students during their learning.
Some key ways to add differentiated history instruction into lessons include:
Create Lesson Variety
A student working at any level may struggle to stay engaged and interested if teachers present material in just one way. Think about how most people absorb information – it’s not just through text or oral presentation. There is usually a visual component and possibly hands-on experience. Lesson variety can help reinforce student learning in a way that can maximize engagement and comprehension.
Modified Lessons
Modified lessons are for students who are working below grade level. They generally have reduced reading and writing expectations and provide activities that have been modified to meet the needs of these students (for example, a research project may have a reduced list of resources or have information provided). These lessons can be a fantastic tool, as they provide ways to differentiate lessons that can, at times, be helpful for all students, such as increased visuals or video components and simplified texts.
Hands-On Activities
Differentiating history instruction through hands-on experiences can be engaging and fun for students. There are many ways historical lessons lend themselves to hands-on learning. Students could act out a scene representative of a time period, plan a meal from that time, or even create a social media post using a person or character from the past. How different would a historical event have been had there been instantaneous communication?
Student Choice
It’s important to allow students to make decisions about their educational experience, possibly by allowing a student to select one of several topics to focus on, and then providing them with several options for how they can study the material.
For example, teachers can allow students to present material through an oral, video, or text presentation. By allowing the student to choose the method of delivery, teachers provide them with a differentiated learning experience and enable students to have a role in their educational process.
Using these differentiating history instruction strategies can help boost student engagement and connection with the material, which can help increase student confidence and can lay the groundwork for increased engagement and the introduction of new material, as the success students feel may carry over into new educational challenges.
Providing Feedback
Teachers must provide students with a regular assessment of their learning, both for the student and for the teacher, which allows students to see specific areas where they can improve, and gives teachers an idea of how to monitor the progress of individual students.
Not all assessments need to be time-consuming and in-depth. For example, teachers can use these entrance and exit tickets, reflection questions or quizzes as ways to provide feedback. Or teachers can integrate some of these 6 Quick Assessment Strategies the next time they are planning lessons.
Modified History Resources
Many students can benefit from using modified resources, and 2 Peas and a Dog has created grade-specific modified middle school history resources to help teachers meet the needs in their classroom.
These units align with the regular history units by 2 Peas and a Dog, helping to create classroom cohesion, as students using modified resources will be learning similar material, and allow teachers to seek areas of overlap in class discussion or activities.
Check out these regular history units for Grade 7 History and Grade 8 History.
Key Features of Modified History Resources For Differentiating History Instruction
Each modified history bundle is for teachers who are required to teach the Ontario History Curriculum, but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension. All 2 Peas and a Dog modified resources are designed to meet the needs of ELL students and/or students on a modified IEP.
Here are some of the key features of the modified history units created by 2 Peas and a Dog:
Ready-To-Go Lesson Plans: The lessons contain detailed teacher lesson plans, links to videos (where possible), audio files, student readings, assignments, rubrics, quizzes, and tests.
Lesson Variety: Cut & Match, Fill-in-the-Blanks, True/False, Multiple Choice (fewer choices), Guided Inquiry and more.
MP3 Audio Files: Audio files are provided for all student readings for those who prefer to access the text this way.
Modified Middle School History Resources
Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle
In this Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle, teachers receive 104 engaging lessons. Each of the 104 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 6 Social Studies Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Resource Includes:
- 104 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Canadian Identity: Indigenous Peoples, Creation of Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, Canada’s Role in International Programs, The Creation of New France, The Establishment of British Rule, War of 1812 and Rebellion in Upper Canada.
Grade 7 History Modified Bundle
In this Grade 7 History Modified Bundle, teachers are equipped with 43 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 7 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 7 history unit. Each of the 43 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 7 History Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 7 History Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Resource Includes:
- 43 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Haudenosaunee, Inuit and Métis, The Treaty of Utrecht 1713, Black Loyalists Inquiry, The American Revolution, War of 1812, Mackinac and Drummond Islands and Life in Lower Canada.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this resource:
“I loved how the resources connects with the regular unit! This unit has been a huge time saver and helped engaged our struggling learners.” — Lisa N.
Grade 7/8 History Modified Bundle
In this Grade 7/8 History Modified Bundle for the Ontario History Curriculum, teachers are equipped with 77 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 7/8 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 7/8 history unit. Each of the 77 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Grade 7 & 8 Ontario History Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 7/8 History Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Resource Includes:
- 77 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Important Events Sorting Activity, Medical Care in the 1700s, Fur Trade Inquiry Assignment, The Impact of the Loyalists’ Migration on the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, Métis & Settler Relations, Château Clique and British – Indigenous Treaties.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this resource:
“A great resource to accompany the original units that I use and love with my class. Activities look the same and are about the same topics but more accessible to all students.” – Christine K.
Grade 8 History Modified Bundle
In this Grade 8 History Modified Bundle for the Ontario History Curriculum, teachers are equipped with 34 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 8 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 8 history unit. Each of the 34 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Grades 8 Ontario History Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 8 History Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Resource Includes:
- 34 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Expansion of the Dominion, Historical Figures Assignment, Confederation, The British North America Act of 1867, The Manitoba Act of 1870, The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, and Arctic Interests and Indigenous Case Law.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this resource:
“This resource made differentiating my for my rotary classes a breeze and kept all of my students working together, but at their own levels and on their IEPs. Great resource” — Jennifer L.
Incorporating these modified resources into your teaching can create a more inclusive and effective history education experience for all your students.
Additional Resources for Differentiating History Instruction
- Interesting History Lessons For Middle School Teachers
- 13 Ways To Make History Class Engaging For Students
- Engaging Canadian History Lesson Plans for Middle School
- Easy and Engaging Canadian History Sub Plans For Middle School Students
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