History Frames
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: What are frames and how do they shape our perspectives on historical events?
What communities do we build? Why do our networks expand and contract? How has production and distribution shaped our societies? Frames can help us change how we see history by focusing our attention on different details. Before you draw conclusions, you will literally draw some pictures of communities, networks, and production and distribution systems.
Learning Objectives
- Explain how historians use frames to make sense of history.
- Understand the differences among the three WHP frames.
- Assess how using different frames can change our understanding of historical events.
Vocab Terms:
- community
- distribution
- frame
- network
- production
Opener: History Frames
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 1.3 Teaching Guide.
Curious about how other WH teachers introduce the frames to their students? Check out this conversation in the OER Project Teacher Community.
This lesson is all about exploring different ways to frame history. Get started by predicting what each frame will reveal.
Introducing the Frames
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 1.3 Teaching Guide.
Curious about best practices for using video with your students? Look no further than our Video Guide.
Get familiar with the frames with a quick intro from historian Bob Bain. Then, put your knowledge to the test with the review activity!
-
Guiding Questions
-
Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- What is a frame, and how is it like a map?
- Why are frames useful?
- What are the three frames we use in this course?
- Why is it useful to have more than one frame?
- Why aren’t frames perfect tools?
After you watch
Respond to this question: What might be another frame, outside of the three introduced in this video, that could be used to interpret the past and make it usable?
Key Ideas
Getting to Know the Three Frames
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 1.3 Teaching Guide.
Professor Bob Bain is back to walk you through each individual frame. Complete the Frames Overview activity as you watch the three short videos below.
Key Ideas
Key Ideas
Key Ideas
Closer: History Frames
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of the Lesson 1.3 Teaching Guide.
Want to extend the drawing of the frames and see student exemplars of how to do that? Read this discussion in the OER Project Teacher Community.
Build on what you’ve learned to create your own graphic representation of the frames.
