Posted on Leave a comment

The Greenland Shark: What has this shark seen?

Several years ago, a rare specimen washed up on a beach in Cornwall, England: A 100 year-old Greenland Shark. Even at a century old, this shark would still be considered a juvenile. These Arctic-dwelling predators don’t reach full adulthood until 150 years of age. They grow up to 25 feet long and eat anything they can get from fish to seals to moose if given the chance. Female Greenland sharks gestate for between 8 and 18 years before giving birth to live young.    But Greenland sharks are most well known for their long lifespans; the oldest specimen captured was…

Read more

Posted on Leave a comment

The Importance of Using Authentically Sourced Materials

At History Unboxed®, our commitment to authenticity sets us apart in the realm of education. We believe in going beyond textbooks, offering students a hands-on experience with materials sourced directly from the very places they are studying. But why is this so important to us? Cultural Authenticity When we use culturally authentic materials, it gives students an opportunity to experience windows and mirrors. “Windows and mirrors” means giving students windows to see into different cultures and experiences and mirrors to reflect their own identity and background. Authentic materials make for the clearest and most reflective windows and mirrors. When I…

Read more

Posted on Leave a comment

A Brief History of Book Banning

It’s Banned Book Week! This year’s theme is “Let Freedom Read!” In this blog post we are going to talk a little bit about the history of banning books, and give you a few suggestions on banned books that can be paired with specific History Unboxed® boxes. Let’s get started! Banned Book Week was started in 1982. At that time book banning had really ramped up and activists wanted to fight to make sure books were accessible to everyone. Each year, The Office of Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association compiles a list of the most challenged books of…

Read more

Posted on Leave a comment

Historical Research: Wikipedia

This week we are starting a new series on historical research. In this blog post we will focus on historical research using Wikipedia, and its strengths and weaknesses. This post is by Stephanie Hanson, History Unboxed’s® Creative Director. When I was majoring in history, I had to write a senior thesis. The course was called “1968” and my topic had to center around major events that took place in that year. I knew I wanted to write about the American Indian Movement, but had zero background knowledge other than their occupation of Alcatraz Island. My research required primary sources and…

Read more

Posted on Leave a comment

Why It’s Important to Teach Asian American & Pacific Island History All Year Long

As this year’s Asian & Pacific Island Heritage Month comes to a close, History Unboxed® is bringing you a guest blog post by Rachel Juliette on the importance of teaching Asian & Pacific Islander history, not just during the month of May, but the whole year through.   The U.S. has always had deep ties with Asia, but most schools don’t discuss this in depth. Professor Sohyun An of Kennesaw State University tells TIME that Asians were part of the United States before many white European immigrants came to the country. Unfortunately, most K-12 American history texts barely discuss this…

Read more

Posted on Leave a comment

Women’s History Month Teatime

March is Women’s History Month and here at History Unboxed® we figured that it’s time for a Women’s History Month teatime. Check out the graphic below to learn about how Women’s History Month came to be. We’ve compiled a list of poetry and short readings we think lend themselves well to a Women’s History Month themed teatime. But first, the tea and snacks! Looking for more Women’s History Month lessons? Check out Women’s History Unboxed: Storytellers  and Women’s History Unboxed: Healers & Hope.   American Tea Gown, 1875-80. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Tea gowns…

Read more