Sell history teaching resources and social studies materials

Can I use primary sources and historical images in resources I sell?

Many primary sources are old enough to be in the public domain, which makes history one of the friendlier subjects for sellers. But be careful with the details:

• The original vs the reproduction. An 18th-century letter may be public domain, but a modern transcription with notes, a translation or a museum's photo of the document can carry its own rights or terms. Check the terms of the archive or collection you take it from.
• 20th-century material. Photos, speeches, posters and newspapers from the last hundred years are often still protected. Copyright terms differ between countries.
• Excerpts. Short extracts from a source can work well for teaching, but quotation rules differ by country. Do not rely on them for large chunks.
• Your own writing. Background readings, summaries and questions you wrote yourself are always yours.

Record where each source came from and its terms, alongside your clip art licenses. Many national archives and libraries publish clear reuse terms. Copyright basics for teacher-authors explains public domain in general terms.

How should I handle sensitive topics in history resources?

History deals with war, slavery, genocide, colonialism and current political debates. Teachers buying resources on these topics are careful, and some work under rules about how such topics are taught. A resource that feels one-sided can be hard for them to use.

• State the grade level clearly and add a short teacher note on how to introduce difficult content.
• Use multiple perspectives and let students weigh the evidence rather than telling them what to conclude.
• Avoid graphic images unless they are needed, and flag them in the teacher notes.
• Use respectful, current terminology for the people and groups involved.
• Keep current-politics resources balanced and focused on how institutions work and how to evaluate arguments.

Resources must be suitable for schools. TeachLessons may take a resource offline if it receives a complaint or has reason to believe it breaks rights or the law.

How should I preview and price history resources?

Previews and thumbnails as PNG or JPEG are required. Show one source page with its guiding questions, so buyers can judge the reading level, and one page of the answer key or teacher notes. A thumbnail with the question and grade ("Why did WW1 start? Source Set, Grades 9-10") tells buyers exactly what they are getting. More in how to make previews and thumbnails.

Price by research time saved. Finding, checking and excerpting good sources takes hours, and teachers know it. You set the price in US dollars; our optional suggestion is at least $4.99 for a single resource.