Course Objective #1

Skillfully navigate Investigating History lessons, lesson clusters and units, and understand how each element of the curriculum fits together across the year.

Course Objective #2

Develop knowledge of the historical and geographical content of each of the five 7th grade units. 

Course Objective #3

Work through activities that demonstrate the integration of content and skills within student-centered and inquiry-based lessons.

Course Logistics

Dates School Year 2026 - 2027: Monday, September 16th and rolling admission (start anytime!) to Monday, May 31, 2027 Grade Levels Supported: Especially for grade 7 educators Course Format: Online, asynchronous Note: The course is self-paced, with guidance from a facilitator, and is built to fit naturally with your teaching of the Grade 5 curriculum, following the rhythm of your classroom timeline. Professional Development Points (PDPs): 45 PDPs  Graduate Credit: 2 optional graduate credits available ($300) with credit accreditation through Southern New Hampshire University Fee: $1,000 (contact us at [email protected] to enroll in the course using a Purchase Order)

Rachel Barker

Rachel is an award-winning educator, sought-after speaker and panelist, and storyteller with over a decade of experience working in public and international schools. Rachel currently writes about science and engineering for Harvard University, works in Integrative Wellness at Miraval Berkshires, and is the executive director and co-founder of The Birch Festival, an arts nonprofit. She has worked with Primary Source as a course facilitator, writer, and panelist since 2017. Rachel's MEd. is from Boston College, where she graduated with a focus on social justice and teaching English language learners. Her undergraduate degree in Anthropology is from Boston University and she currently studies Religion at Harvard University.

Massachusetts Standards & Professional Alignment

The Investigating History curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework and supports educators in implementing its inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. This course supports the original version of Investigating History authored by Primary Source for Grade 6. This version was piloted state-wide by DESE, reviewed by scholars, formally published in 2022, and designed to support all content, practice, and literacy standards in the History/Social Science Framework. Over 100 districts have adopted this curriculum. Substantial alterations by DESE to the revised version, including deletion of content relevant to many standards and to the Summative Assessments for certain units, render the versions incompatible. There is no state examination on this content, and districts and/or teachers are at liberty to choose whichever version of the curriculum they prefer.  Please note that by taking this course, you will be supported in using the original version of the curriculum, which is permanently housed under "Curriculum" within the Primary Source website.

Course Overview

5 Chapters · 49 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      A Brief Introduction to the Investigating History Curriculum (Grades 5, 6, 7)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Guidelines

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Grade 7: Implementing Investigating History: A Comprehensive Online Course Syllabus

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Discussion Forum Guidelines

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Graduate Credit Assignment & Registration Information

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Graduate Credit Assignment Information Page

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Unit 7.1

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Orientation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Cluster 1

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Cluster 2

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Cluster 3

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Cluster 4

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Discussion Forum: Session One, Cluster 4

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Session One: Summative Assessment

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Unit 7.2

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Orientation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Cluster 1

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Cluster 2

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Cluster 3

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Cluster 4

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Two: Summative Assessment

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Units 7.3 & 7.4

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Part I, Orientation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Part II, Orientation

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Orientation to Southeast Asia and Oceania

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Cluster 1

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Summative Assessment

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Cluster 2

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Three: Cluster 3

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Discussion Forum: Session Three, Cluster 3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Unit 7.5

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Orientation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Cluster 1

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part I, Cluster 2

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four, Cluster 2: Athens

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four, Cluster 2: Sparta

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four, Cluster 2: Greek Oration

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part II, Cluster 2

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part I, Cluster 3

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Discussion Forum: Session Four, Cluster 3

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part II, Cluster 3

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part I, Summative Assessment

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Session Four: Part II, Summative Assessment

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Wrap-Up

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      DESE Evaluation Form

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Primary Source Post-Course Survey

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Final Course Assignment (Journal Reflection) Submission

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Graduate Credit Project Submission

What our Educators are Saying

Join hundreds of educators across Greater Boston (and beyond!) who trust Primary Source for engaging, high quality professional development.

”
I have brought in so many resources, projects, and knowledge to the classroom because of these classes. My students have a richer, more intentional outlook on what we study.
 

 

The access to these courses is such an asset. Within my department, I have taught several different curricula, and Primary Source has been such a resource for me to help me feel more comfortable with historical context for texts that are new to me. 
 

 

Primary Source programs have introduced me to a variety of perspectives along with concrete strategies of how to incorporate them into my classroom. I leave every session with a lesson that I can immediately implement. 
 

 

About Primary Source

Primary Source educates global citizens by working with teachers to foster students’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions for thoughtful and engaged citizenship. With our guidance and resources, teachers cultivate students’ civic-mindedness, cultural awareness, and global competence, preparing them for our increasingly diverse and interconnected world. We collaborate with teachers, schools, and educational organizations to offer professional development programs and resources that help make global, civics, and cultural education an integral part of every student’s classroom experience. Our engaging face-to-face and online programs, curriculum resources, and international study tours enhance global understanding, civic engagement, and cultural understanding, and help thousands of teachers every year bring the wider world to their students. To learn more, visit our homepage at primarysource.org!