In 7th grade, students are pursuing two concurrent tracks in American history. All students just wrapped up their unit about the Founding Era, including the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This past week, they began a unit on U.S. territorial expansion and the events leading to the U.S. Civil War. Simultaneously, as a way to offer enrichment opportunities at home, students can study selected 20th-century topics, including World War I, The Great Depression and the Cold War. 

While distance learning presents some challenges, and teachers and students miss the direct contact of school, there is an expansive amount of material available for remote learning. Interactive maps, quizzes, primary sources and films are all available online.

With teacher guidance, students can explore these resources and accumulate knowledge and understanding of the historical events that have shaped their contemporary experience. And if all else fails, there is still that pre-digital standby: wonderful books.