For Teachers & Librarians
Y'all are my heroes--for all you do for your students to instill knowledge, critical thinking, and a love of reading, communicating, and learning. All are so vital to their own lives and happiness, but also to the state of humankind. Thank you for graciously championing my historical/biographical works, including them in your curriculum, state lists, Battle of the Books competitions and for the many invitations to speak at your schools. Those visits have brought me such joy and, often, ideas for new works. I always learn from you and from them.
I've created landing pages for each book (see pull down tab BOOKS), with contextualizing essays on their time period, mini-bios of real-life players, historical resources for readers who want to learn more. Also included there are awards, trailers, video book chats, panel talks etc. HERE I've posted things for you--knowing how wildly busy you already are. Lesson plans, discussion guides, articles about teaching historical fiction. If you'd like me to talk with your students, please go to Appearances.
And for those who use it: TeachingBooks has a comprehensive listing of educational resources for all my works.
Why/How Use Historical Fiction in the Classroom
A Love Song for Historical Fiction for Teens in Writers' Digest
Mind Walking: Using Young Adult Literature to Teach Social Studies by Lisa Matherson
Teaching with Historical Fiction by Lisa Matherson
ALAN Review: Writing & Teaching Historical Fiction
Interview with Rocky Run Middle School about Research
WWII & the Great Depression
Under a War-Torn Sky
The Fairfax Network Meet the Author suggested activities guide
Lesson Plan: Introduction to French Culture and Geography using Under a War Torn Sky
Critical literacy as comprehension: Expanding reader response
School Project Example:
John Walsh Elementary School
School Project Example:
Midlothian Middle School
Glossary of World War II Vocabulary and Concepts (European Theatre)
Pre-Teaching World War II (European Theatre)
A Troubled Peace
Glossary of World War II Vocabulary and Concepts (European Theatre)
Pre-Teaching World War II (European Theatre)
Across a War-Tossed Sea
Glossary of World War II Vocabulary and Concepts (European Theatre)
Pre-Teaching World War II (European Theatre)
Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves
Blog for NAMI: Novels serving as non-threatening starting points for discussing emotional health
Bea and the New Deal Horse
Host a Depression Era Meal with Music
The American Revolution
Hamilton and Peggy!
Lesson Plan: Reading Primary Documents for Character and Story
Lesson Plan: The American Revolution Through The Eyes of Female Poets
Lesson Plan: The American Revolution from a Loyalist Perspective
Lesson Plan: Teaching French Style and Rhetoric Through the American Revolution
Suggested Study Units and Resources for American History/Social Studies Teachers
Book Talk with FCPS TV: Finding Story in Primary Documents, the joy of research
Leadership and Alexander Hamilton Lesson Plan from the Museum of the American Revolution
Give Me Liberty
Give Me Liberty - A Common Core Aligned Unit
Harper Collins Reading Group Guide
Q&A with Todd Post on Re-enacting
Lord Dunmore's Declaration from the Museum of the American Revolution
Lesson Plans from the Museum of the American Revolution
Cold War Docu-Novels
Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between (1973: Watergate & the ERA)
Why Invite L.M. Elliott to Speak
Little Brown School/Library Newsletter Feature Profile
Talking About Sexism, Misogyny, and Gender-Based Violence Discussion Guide
Walls (1960-61: Berlin & the Wall)
Disinformation, Lies & the Berlin Wall w/ GMU's Fall for the Book, video and Educators' Guide
Lesson: "Invitation to Imagine"
TeachingBooks Virtual Book Tour
Understanding Military Students
Suspect Red (1953-54 McCarthyism)
Discussion Guide (by Hyperion)
Primary Document (Images) Lesson Plan & Images
Webinar on Using Historical Fiction in the Classroom
Stand-Alones in Various Eras
Da Vinci's Tiger
EPIC READS Book Club Discussion Guide
STEM Lesson Plans inspired by Da Vinci’s Tiger.pdf
Write your own Sonnet Handout.pdf
Storm Dog
Annie, Between the States
Flying South
Quiet Voices with a BIG Message
Picture Books
Hunter's Best Friend at School
Building Relationships Lesson Plan
Fairfax Network Suggested Activities Guide
A String of Hearts
Thanksgiving Day Thanks
