Transform reading in Social Studies from comprehension to interpretation

Help students analyze sources together and build meaning through structured collaboration and ready to use lessons that fit into your existing curriculum.

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What This Looks Like in a Classroom

Students Interpret Sources

Students work within clear structures to interpret sources for purpose

Students Collaborate Together

Small groups with defined roles ensure every student participates

Students Access Sources Equitably

Formatting and built in supports help all students engage with complex texts

Students using Source Squads to collaboratively source a letter. Notice how the “Sourcer” feeds the group prompts for them to discuss and interpret while she guides them along.

Person pointing at a color-coded educational worksheet with a pencil on a wooden table surrounded by other papers.

A Better Way to Teach with Sources

Source Squads provides structured strategies that guide how students read, discuss, and interpret sources together

  • Role based collaboration

  • Structured academic discussion

  • Consistent routines that build literacy skills

  • Accountability for every student

Our Collaborative Learning Strategies

Close-up of small group source analysis sheets with the text 'Source Squads' and 'Small group source analysis' overlaid
A person pointing to a paper with various documents and charts on a desk, with a large overlay text that says 'Document Duos' and 'Partner based discussion and reasoning.'
Two hands holding puzzle pieces against a light background with the text 'History Puzzles Reassembling historical interpretations over time'
Cover of a book or a presentation slide titled 'Geo Groups: Geographic thinking with maps and data' with a map showing continents, dotted lines, and location markers in the background.

Lessons That Make It Easy to Start

Ready to use lessons and formatted sources help teachers apply these strategies right away within units they already teach.

  • Organized by topic and unit

  • Built for collaborative analysis

  • Easy to integrate into existing curriculum

Browse lessons and topics
A document titled "Freed People and Reconstruction" discussing the ending of slavery after the Civil War and questions about the wants and challenges faced by freed people, including questions about their conditions, priorities, and obstacles after emancipation.

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Why It Works

  • Students actively build meaning instead of passively reading

  • Structured discussion increases engagement and participation

  • Clear routines make implementation consistent

  • Designed specifically for Social Studies classrooms

  • "This is the most student engagement I've seen with source analysis. It has been awesome to see students take the ownership of the learning and be the leaders of the inquiry. "

    Amanda, Social Studies Coordinator

  • "Source Squads has been a powerful addition to my U.S. History classroom. I’ve seen noticeable growth in students’ literacy skills, historical thinking, and willingness to engage with complex texts."

    —Daniel, Classroom Teacher

  • "Source Squads addresses two important goals of social studies instruction - disciplinary literacy and collaborative student talk. The protocol provides a clear framework to guide students as they work together to dig into evidence."

    Lisa, Social Studies Coordinator

  • "This has been an especially helpful protocol in my AP African American Studies classroom to get them to think critically about the sources in order to come to an evidence-based conclusion."

    Jenn, Classroom Teacher

  • "Working with Source Squads was a game changer for our museum! Erin and Andrew’s deep knowledge of curriculum, students' needs, trends in the field, and endless creativity makes the final product a premier program."

    —-Tom Guiler, Director of Museum Affairs, Oneida Community Mansion House

  • "As a new teacher, having Source Squads has been a major help in facilitating thoughtful discussions around texts with my students. Its clear structure in my classroom has noticeably helped my students feel comfortable taking chances in their learning."

    Arlo, First Year Teacher

  • "Source Squads offers a powerful, classroom-ready approach to building critical thinking in Social Studies through highly collaborative and interactive learning frameworks. Their team is incredibly responsive and willing to customize topics to meet specific instructional goals, state-specific content and student needs."

    Kristin, Social Studies Coordinator

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