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AP European History

Choose Your Own Adventure: The English Civil War

September 14, 2025 / Shane Twaddell / 1 Comment

Lectures have their place, but sometimes students need to step into history themselves. This Choose-Your-Own-Adventure activity on the English Civil War let my AP Euro students explore turning points through roleplay, choices, and consequences—making the conflict between Charles I and Parliament more engaging and memorable.

Negotiating History: A Classroom Simulation of the Treaty of Westphalia

September 7, 2025 / Shane Twaddell / Leave a comment

Simulations bring history alive, even if students don’t always land on the “right” outcome. My Treaty of Westphalia simulation in AP European History pushed students to negotiate, compromise, and reflect, skills as valuable as the history itself.

Cards on the Table: Starting AP Euro with a game

August 7, 2025August 12, 2025 / Shane Twaddell / Leave a comment

I designed a custom strategy game called Institutions and Ideologies, themed around the Renaissance through Enlightenment. The game introduces students to major ideas and institutions of early modern Europe through unique decks, influence mechanics, and competitive play. Check it out, and try it in your own classroom.

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