Where do I start?

Hi Olga Lobban ,

Big History sounds like it would be a great fit for you and we have materials that will help you implement the course. You can start with the Big History Course Guide and there's a short info session that would help orient you. We also have a teacher-created course plan with a pacing guide, outline, and teacher notes.

Each Big History lesson includes an opener and closer activity and features a combination of articles, videos, activities, and graphic biographies. You can find the teacher lesson guide on each lesson page by clicking on the "Teaching Tools" hammer in the upper-right-hand corner (see screenshot below). You'll need to create a free account / be logged in to access the teacher lesson guides but each guide has learning objectives, pacing, vocabulary, teacher instructions, and sample answers to get you started. I recommend familiarizing yourself with Unit 1 and then just stay a few lessons ahead of your students and you should be fine for this first year. I'm also tagging in Meaghan Mihalic , one of our veteran middle school Big History teachers who can give you some advice.

For a crash course in Big History, you could also check out our lifelong learner course, which will give you the highlights of what you need to know to be able to teach Big History. 

If you'd like to schedule a 15-minute session to walk through these materials or ask questions, you can do so on our Help and Support page here: https://outlook.office.com/book/OERProjectTeam@oerproject.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled 

In what state are you teaching and when do you start school? 

 Olga Lobban Big History is one of the best courses you can offer to middle school students. Even if you have never taught social studies and come from a science background, you will find this course both fascinating and approachable. Its interdisciplinary nature allows you to build lessons around the areas where you feel most confident while gradually expanding your expertise. The way Big History integrates science and social studies makes the course engaging and highly teachable. The lessons are designed using robust pedagogical practices with clear instructions so you will feel confident all year long. And if you have questions you can always come to the community forum. I can assure you will get several suggestions.

I highly recommend including group projects such as the Museum Project and the many others available through the curriculum. Students have fun while strengthening their critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills.

Hi Olga Lobban ! I would say that Big History is an excellent fit for you! This seems like an incredible opportunity for you, given the course's interdisciplinary content. Here is my question: Do you have the same set of students for both science and history? (In other words, can you flexibly adapt that time to be a hybrid science/history time or do you have to keep the time siloed?)

I have to absolutely agree with the tips that you were given by Bridgette OConnor , especially 

Bridgette OConnor said:

I recommend familiarizing yourself with Unit 1 and then just stay a few lessons ahead of your students and you should be fine for this first year.

. There is SO much great content that I am still trying out new things. I would also say that, to set yourself up for success, create a table or organizational tool to track what you do. I use a table with three columns (Number of class sessions, Lesson notes, links, resources, narrative notes, etc, and Notes for next year). Notes for next year is key - when you are drinking from a firehose and doing things for the first time, creating an easy and efficient reflective moment is invaluable. Sometimes, I link conversations from this community to use as I adapt and change for the following year. 

I use certain activities and readings from BHP to supplement my local curriculum.  I use the Lifelong Learner section as a refresher for the sciency parts!

Jim Jaeger Can you tell us where the Lifelong Learner section you referred to is located? I never heard about it, though it seems very useful.

https://www.bighistoryproject.com/  It is a free course for anyone and not the teacher and lesson plan side of BHP. 

Thank you Jim Jaeger 

Thank you so much, Bridgette, and everyone. Things have been so busy, I'm just now getting a chance to reply. I'm in California and school starts on Monday (8/17). 

Thank you Bridgette OConnor  Laura Massa Meaghan Mihalic Jim Jaeger  

I *really* appreciate all the feedback!!!  I've looked at Lesson 1.1 and feel much less overwhelmed. It really is all prepared and everything....like no prep necessary, huh? I am SO excited to teach this.

Perhaps I'll make a new post for this, but my next question is purely practicalities. Like how to actually deliver this? Do students typically do this on their laptops? Do they get accounts at oerproject.com and walk through the course there? Can you somehow easily put everything in Google classroom? How do you folks actually do this...like the practical logistics of it? Laptops aren't a huge part of the culture at my school, so could I do this somehow by just making copies? Is there a place this is all explained on oerproject.com?

I would love to do a 15 minute session, but don't see anything available at this point before school starts. 

Hi Olga Lobban !

All the lessons are ready to teach and you can import them into your Google Classroom or other LMS such as Canvas. You can find guides for both Google Classroom and for Common Cartridge here: https://www.oerproject.com/help 

Students do not need accounts to access the student materials, you can simply point them to the BH course website or to the lesson you're teaching. If you're students don't have access to laptops on a daily basis, then you can print the materials for them. 

You can also schedule a "General Support" session with someone to talk through all the logistics. I'm out of the office starting next week through the remainder of August to move my daughter overseas for university, but another member of our team can help through the General Support booking page.

Please let us know if you have any more questions and so pleased to hear that you're excited about teaching Big History!