Carl Hanson — Teaching Social Studies Through a Literary Lens

Carl Hanson

When history is viewed through a literary lens it becomes a story, a compelling docudrama with comic and tragic moments, heroes, anti-heroes, and plot twists. It is a story which can be told by multiple voices each representing distinct, though sometimes shared points of view. I often employ well written researched historical documentaries-such as PBS’s The American Experience or Ken Burns Documentaries. I also use well written researched historical fiction, in addition to journalism written at the time of the event, eye witness accounts, oral histories, political cartoons, engravings, to supplement the class text book and aid in envisionment building and creating historical empathy. I seek to create spaces in my classroom where meaningful dialogues can occur, where sub literacies of historical empathy, social justice and inclusion are created and new understandings arrived upon. I strongly believe the purpose of teaching social studies centers around advocating self-awareness, the development of political consciousness and agency in young adults, preparing them to function as informed participants in a participatory democracy.

[Recorded on August 12, 2023]