From rote memorization of dates to popcorn reading from worn-out textbook passages to monotonous lectures (Ferris Bueller, anyone?), history lessons can get a bit… boring. But they don’t have to be!
Do your students say they “hate history?” If you’re still relying on that 30-year-old textbook, that might be part of the problem. Teaching history without a textbook is not only totally doable — it’s so much more engaging for everyone in the room.
After hours of research, I’ve pulled together some incredible resources that will bring your U.S. history lessons to life. Let’s dive in!
Why Teach History Without a Textbook?
While textbooks contain important factual information, they can be a passive and uninspiring way for students to learn. When reading from a textbook, there’s little need for active student involvement — which means students are often zoning out rather than connecting with the material.
The good news? There are so many better ways to teach history.
Before You Start: A Few Tips
Plan out your unit or year first. Before searching for resources, get clear on what you need to teach. Focus on your state standards and make sure your lessons are aligned. For help with this, check out:
Do your research carefully. Not all resources are created equal. Keep these things in mind as you search:
- Preview everything. We’ve all had that gut-wrenching moment of turning on a recommended YouTube video only to have a swear word pop up in front of the whole class. Watch, read, or listen to every resource before using it with students.
- Check for historical accuracy. It can be tedious, but it’s important to verify that the resources you choose are teaching correct information.
- Choose age-appropriate content. A great documentary or podcast for adults may not be right for your students. Make sure the content fits your specific grade level.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel. Read teacher blogs, browse Teachers Pay Teachers, or reach out to colleagues. Nobody expects you to figure it all out on your own — and neither should you!
7 Ways to Teach History Without a Textbook
1. Podcasts
A podcast is an audio recording in which a speaker discusses a specific topic. Podcasts give students a unique medium to engage with as they learn about U.S. history — exposing them to new perspectives, deeper dives into historical topics, and even building their listening comprehension skills along the way.
Tips for Teaching with Podcasts
- Listen ahead of time so you know exactly what’s covered.
- Decide whether students will listen to the full episode or just a clip.
- Have students complete a graphic organizer or listening guide to keep them engaged and accountable.
A few of my favorites (please preview before using!):
- The Explorers Podcast — Matt Breen takes an in-depth look at history’s greatest explorers. Episodes are 30+ minutes, with multiple episodes per explorer. Topics include Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and more.
- Ferdinand Magellan and the Circumnavigation of the World (4 episodes)
- Vasco Nunez de Balboa (2 episodes)
- Zebulon Pike (2 episodes)
- John Cabot and the Exploration of Northern America (1 episode)
- Christopher Columbus (7 episodes)
- BBC Radio Homeschool History — 15-minute episodes created specifically for children. Check out the Pocahontas episode.
- BBC Radio You’re Dead to Me — Created for adults, but some episodes work well for middle schoolers in clip form (~45 min each). Highlights include Harriet Tubman, The Mayflower, Sacagawea, and Becoming America.
- Young Ben Franklin — A historical fiction “drama” following Benjamin Franklin as a 14-year-old boy. Fun and engaging!
- Constitutional & Presidential — Deep dives into the Constitution and U.S. Presidents (~45 min each). Best used in short clips. Episode 1, “Framed,” is a standout — host Lillian Cunningham explores the original Constitution at the Library of Congress.
- The Past and the Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families — Mick Sullivan offers fun, accessible takes on history in ~30-minute episodes. Great for younger middle schoolers.
- Episode 4 — Mail Tales: Pony Express, Air Power Subway, and More
- Episode 10 — Washington and Charles Lee, Lincoln’s Drawers and More
- Episode 12 — Shaking Hands with Presidents
- Episode 19 — The Statue of Liberty
2. Simulations
A simulation is an activity in which students re-enact a historical experience. Done well, simulations are some of the most powerful and memorable lessons you can teach.
One of my favorites is the Declaration of Independence unit — students take on a colonial identity and experience first-hand what it was like to live in Colonial America, including being taxed, debating in congresses, and ultimately declaring independence.
Here are a few other simulations included in our U.S. History units:
- Age of Exploration Unit — Students participate in a sailing simulation and learn about the risks of exploration.
- 13 Colonies Unit — A colonial fur trading simulation spanning one lesson.
- US Constitution Unit — Students become delegates to the Constitutional Convention, complete with identity cards, a character sketch, and four full simulation lessons.
- Revolutionary War Unit — A week-long simulation where students join the Continental Army as a soldier, spy, or officer. Each day they respond to real events, analyze primary/secondary sources, and complete journal entries.
- Westward Expansion Unit — Two simulation lessons: an Oregon Trail simulation and a California Gold Rush simulation.
Note: While simulations are incredibly engaging, they aren’t always the right tool for every topic. Check out my post Why I Removed Some Simulations from My History Units to learn more.
3. Videos
Sometimes the best way to bring history to life is through a well-chosen video. From documentaries to docudramas to short YouTube clips, video can make historical events feel vivid and real.
I have an entire archive full of my favorite YouTube videos to help you teach US History.
Here are a few of my favorites!
- The History of Colonial America (Flocabulary) — A Hamilton-style rap that covers the 13 Colonies, including economies, cultures, and reasons for colonization.
- Liberty’s Kids (PBS) — An animated series following fictional kids living through the American Revolution. Top episodes: 101 (Boston Tea Party), 106 (The Shot Heard Round the World), and 136 (Yorktown).
- Crash Course U.S. History — John Green’s engaging video series covering major topics in U.S. history. A great one to start with: his video on the American Revolution.
Don’t overlook Khan Academy either! It pairs instructional videos with practice exercises, articles, and more, making it a well-rounded supplement for almost any unit.
4. Virtual Field Trips
Virtual field trips are a fun, low-prep way to bring history into your classroom without leaving it. Many historic sites and museums offer incredible free resources on their websites.
A few worth bookmarking:
- Colonial Williamsburg — Virtual tours of historically significant buildings plus a virtual scavenger hunt. Perfect for a 13 Colonies unit.
- Ford’s Theater — An in-depth virtual tour of the theater where Lincoln was assassinated. Great for a Civil War unit.
- Mount Vernon — A tour of George Washington’s estate and a glimpse into life as the first president. Works well with a Revolutionary War or Early Republic unit.
- The White House — A virtual tour of the building that has housed every U.S. president.
- Google Earth/Street View — Take students virtually anywhere in the world, and even inside some historic buildings.
- Smithsonian — Explore the Natural History Museum or exhibits from the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- Discovery Education — Live and on-demand virtual field trips on a wide range of topics.
- Library of Congress — Virtual building tours and student workshops.
- Google Arts & Culture — Exhibitions and virtual tours from museums worldwide, including several powerful exhibits from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
5. Historical Books
From biographies to historical fiction to picture books, reading can be one of the most immersive ways to connect students with history… Even for older kids.
Children’s Picture Books
There’s something about a picture book that brings magic into the classroom at any age. I’ve compiled lists of favorites organized by era:
Historical Fiction
These novels are required to be historically accurate in their depiction of events and time periods, even if characters and storylines are fictional. Help students distinguish between fact and fiction as they read, and guide discussions about how the characters’ experiences reflect real life in that era.
Audiobooks
- Sterling Biographies (~2 hours each) — Rosa Parks, MLK Jr., Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and more.
- Ordinary People Change the World Series (~20 min each) — Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Rosa Parks, and more.
- Storier App — Free for 30 days, then $6–$12/month. A safe, ad-free audiobook app curated for kids 12 and under, with historical fiction titles and more being added regularly.
6. Primary Sources
A primary source is a first-hand account of a historical event (e.g. a photograph, newspaper article, letter, diary entry, artifact, or audio/video recording). Teaching with primary sources is one of the most powerful ways to help students understand what life was really like in the past.
A few great resources for using primary sources in the classroom:
- My Favorite U.S. History Primary Sources
- Gallery Walk (Students rotate around the room analyzing sources posted at different stations)
- ABC Graphic Organizer (A creative way to organize information from primary sources)
- Library of Congress Teacher’s Guides & Analysis Tools
- National Archives Primary Source Analysis Worksheets
7. Reader’s Theater
A reader’s theater is an activity in which students “perform” by reading from a script, usually without props or costumes. It’s a natural fit for history class because it builds reading skills while immersing students in a historical moment.
Here are a few reader’s theaters included in my U.S. History units:
- Westward Expansion — Come and Take It, set during the Texas Revolution.
- 13 Colonies — Two hilarious reader’s theaters: Charles II Has an Idea (King Charles II declares war on the Dutch) and Peg Leg Pete’s Decision (Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant surrenders New Amsterdam to the British).
You can also find a wide variety of reader’s theaters on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Keep Exploring!
As you can see, teaching history without a textbook is not only possible, it’s so much more engaging for everyone involved. This list is a great starting point, but the possibilities truly are endless. As you discover new resources, I’d love to hear what’s working in your classroom!
Ditch the Textbook — and Let Us Handle the Planning
Finding high-quality, historically accurate, and engaging resources takes time… And time is something most teachers don’t have enough of. That’s exactly why I built a complete, done-for-you U.S. History curriculum packed with all of the strategies above: simulations, primary sources, reader’s theaters, virtual field trips, and more.
The Ultimate U.S. History Bundle gives you every single U.S. history unit The Clever Teacher has ever made — all in one place, all ready to teach. Here’s what’s inside:
- Think Like a Historian (Intro to U.S. History; Why Study History?)
- Western Hemisphere Geography (Intro to Geography; Map Skills; 5 Themes of Geography)
- Native American Regions
- Age of Exploration
- 13 Colonies
- Declaration of Independence
- American Revolutionary War
- U.S. Constitution
- Presidential Elections
- Early Republic
- Westward Expansion
- Civil War
- Reconstruction
- Gilded Age & Industrialization
- Economics Fair Simulation
- U.S. History Quote of the Week (Parts 1 & 2) – Ready-to-use daily bell ringers all year long
That’s a complete, year-long U.S. history curriculum for grades 5–8 — fully planned, engaging, and ready to go the moment you download it. No more scrambling for lesson ideas, no more stitching together resources from a dozen different places. Just open it and teach.
Even better, you’ll save 20% compared to buying every unit separately. No coupon code needed; it is built into the bundle price.
Learn More About the Ultimate US History Bundle
Ultimate US History Bundle | 5th–8th Grade Activities & Lessons
This is such a great article. And the resources are amazing!. Once I can, I am literally in the hole financially at the moment. But once I can I will be coming back. I have a class that has several students that are not able to read well at all. So I’m a looking for ways to help them stay engaged while learning. Thanks for sharing