My 5 Favorite Middle School History Test Prep Resources

The phrase “test prep” probably doesn’t get your students very excited about learning. For teachers, it may even bring to mind memories of your own time as a student, sitting for hours with boring study materials. But test prep doesn’t have to be that way!

I want to make learning about history engaging for your students, so I’ve compiled a list of my favorite middle school history test prep resources. I hope you and your students love them!

Resource 1: Khan Academy

What is it?

Khan Academy is a free, personalized learning resource for all ages. Khan Academy covers many subjects, including history. Learners can choose specific social studies courses, such as U.S. History or U.S. Government and Civics. Each course is divided up into around 10 units.

The information is taught through instructional videos, key terms pages, and informational articles. Students can complete the courses on their own or you can choose specific parts of each course to show to the class. Students can also take short tests to track their progress at the end of each unit.

My favorite Khan Academy units:

How can teachers use this test prep resource in the classroom?

Khan Academy is a useful way to identify gaps in student knowledge. When starting test prep, choose a course from Khan Academy that your class has already learned about. Ask students to complete the unit test for that course (don’t worry, the tests are generally not too long!). Students can complete the test online through Khan Academy or you can display the questions on the board and ask students to answer on paper.

After scoring the test, look for commonly missed questions. Then use the Khan Academy course videos and information to review those concepts. This helps you avoid reviewing things your students already know!

Resource 2: Crash Course US History

What is it?

Crash Course U.S. History is a series of fast-paced, engaging history videos created by John Green. Each video covers an important topic in US history, including the Constitution, colonizing the Americas, and the Civil War. Your students will love learning about history in a fun way, and you’ll love that each video is packed full of important facts they need to know.

Note: Make sure you always preview Crash Course US History videos before showing them. Many of the videos include humor and language more appropriate for older students and adults.

My favorite Crash Course U.S. History videos:

How can teachers use this test prep resource in the classroom?

One easy way to use these videos with your middle school students is to pair them with my ABC graphic organizer. This is a low prep way to review! Students watch the history video closely and listen for key terms that fit different letters of the alphabet. Challenge students to fill in as many letters as they can. John Green talks fast, so I recommend turning on the closed captions and slow down the speed to .75.

This activity opens up discussion about historical topics and gives you a chance to review key concepts with your students.

Resource 3: Gilder Lehrman (YouTube)

What is it?

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is an amazing informational resource to use with middle schoolers. I especially like their short YouTube videos which feature historians answering essential questions.

Note: These videos often have challenging vocabulary and concepts. I recommend turning on the captions and pre-teaching vocabulary words.

My favorite Gilder Lehrman videos:

How can teachers use this test prep resource in the classroom?

One easy way to use these videos in your classroom is with student groups. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a video to watch. Each group watches the video and summarizes what they learned for the rest of the class. Not only will students learn as they watch the video, but they will also gain deeper knowledge as they teach their peers.

Resource 4: PBS Learning Media

What is it?

PBS Learning Media is an extensive site full of lesson plans, videos, and other educational resources. PBS allows you to sort by subject, grade level, and type of resource in order to find the best material for your students. I especially like the videos and interactive resources.

My favorite PBS resources:

How can teachers use this test prep resource in the classroom?

The lesson plans and media available on PBS are great! They are often detailed and show individual perspectives on historical events. One way to use PBS is after you’ve taught a unit, choose a video or lesson plan that delves deeper into the subject. For example, after reviewing Colonial America, students could watch the PBS video on Daily Life in Colonial Georgia. Encourage students to identify what new information they learned and compare that information to what they already know.

Resource 5: MrBettsClass (YouTube)

What is it?

MrBettsClass is a high-quality and hilarious Youtube channel that covers all topics social studies related. Your students will love his silly song parodies and comedic “memestories.” Although these videos will make your students laugh (or cringe), they are also chock-full of important people, places, and dates that your students need to know.

My favorite Mr. Bett’s Class Videos:

How can teachers use this test prep resource in the classroom?

Videos from MrBettsClass are a great way to start test prep on a subject. Simply go to his page, search for the subject you want, and select a video (he has over 200!). He has review videos that cover entire topics like the Civil War, or more specific videos like a song parody covering strengths and weaknesses of the North and South. Whatever video you choose, it will be a helpful review for your students and a great way to get them excited about test prep.

More US History Resources

I hope these middle school history test prep resources will engage your students!

Do you need more help teaching history? I’ve created interactive history units with everything you need from lesson plans and answer keys to student articles and worksheets. They will save you tons of time and your students will love the activities! Check them out below! You may also be interested in browsing my free lessons.

Grab a free Civil War Battles lesson

I help busy teachers fall in love with teaching history.