🎬 Hollywood or History?

Proposals for Hollywood or History?: An Inquiry-Based Strategy for Using Documentaries to Teach U.S. History (Beginnings–Reconstruction) are due Feb. 28, 2026!

Questions? 📩 dr.scottroberts@gmail.com
| rober4s@cmich.edu

#SocialStudies #HistoryEducation #EdChat

Hollywood or History? Using the Hollywood or History? strategy, each lesson plan offers teachers an inquiry-based approach which allows students to analyze motion pictures, television shows, documentaries, and cartoons usi...

🎬 Hollywood or History? podcast returns this summer with 2 new episodes! Featuring the newest volumes edited by Tim Monreal & Jesús A. Tirado and Adam P. Zoller & Thomas E. Malwitz. Episodes drop in May! 📘🎙️
👉 www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/book-series/...

NCSS Book Spotlight: Bringing Hollywood to the Social Studies Classroom as a Catalyst for Teaching Inquiry This is a member-exclusive webinar. If you are not yet a member of NCSS, check out more information here!Editors Starlynn Nancy and Scott Roberts lead an exploration and discussion on their recently p...

🎬📚 Hollywood or History? Suggestion of the Week

Excited to co-lead an @NCSSNetwork webinar with Dr. Starlynn Nance on The C3 Framework and Film—using Hollywood as a catalyst for inquiry in social studies.

🗓 Feb 26, 2026 | ⏰ 7pm EST
🔗 www.socialstudies.org/node/29038

🎬📚 We’re excited to announce a Call for Proposals!
Hollywood or History? turns its lens to documentaries in U.S. History classrooms (Beginnings–Reconstruction).

We’re seeking practitioner-focused lesson ideas for elementary & secondary classrooms using the H or H strategy.

DM me for more info!

Reel critical: using film to teach Indigenous studies in the elementary classroom Purpose. Film has long been an instructional tool in social studies education; however, most research and methods for using film to teach social studies are situated at the secondary level. As such, t...

🎬📚 Hollywood or History? Suggestion of the Week

In 2024, I guest edited a special issue of Social Studies Research & Practice. This week’s highlight:

🎥 “Reel Critical: Using Film to Teach Indigenous Studies in the Elementary Classroom”
by Kate Van Haren & Abigail Stevens

🎬📚 Happy 2026 from the Hollywood or History? Podcast!

📊 2026 “UnWrapped”:
▶️ YouTube: 1,225 viewers | 44 subs
🎧 Podcast: 562 downloads in 22 countries 🌍

🎯 2026 Goals:
• New podcast episodes by summer
• New education podcasts
• PD nationwide

Thanks for listening—like, subscribe & share! 🎉

An Inquiry Based Approach for Using Comic Based Stories to Teach Liberal Arts and Social Sciences An Inquiry Based Approach for Using Comic Based Stories to Teach Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, illustrates the belief that film can serve as a powerful tool in the social studies classroom and, where appropriately utilized, foster critical thinking and civic mindedness.

Volume 12 of Hollywood or History? is out just in time for the holidays! This inquiry-based book offers classroom-ready lessons—many featuring the Marvel & DC universes—to engage K–12 students while building critical thinking & civic skills.

👉 Available: bookstore.emerald.com/an-inquiry-b...

Had a great time reconnecting with colleagues at CUFA & NCSS! Loved presenting with Nancy Sardone & Kate Van Haren about our book The C3 Framework and Film. 🎬📚 Check it out—great holiday gift for any social studies teacher! ncss.users.membersuite.com/shop/store/b...

Excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the NCSS Conference on Fri, Dec 5 (9–9:55am, Room 204)! We’ll be discussing my new book The C3 Framework and Film with chapter authors Kate Van Haren and Dr. Nancy Sardone. Book signing to follow—hope to see you there! 📚🎬

Happy (American) Thanksgiving! Since the H or H series hasn’t tackled Thanksgiving or Plymouth Colony yet, here’s a non-film social studies recommendation: Beyond Pilgrim Hats and Turkey Hands by Christie & Montgomery. A great read on using holidays to teach citizenship, not crafts.

Hollywood or History? Suggestion of the Week:

If you’re looking to bring film into your social studies classroom—and want a great holiday read—check out Teaching History with Film by Marcus, Metzger, Paxton & Stoddard.

A seminal work and major influence on the Hollywood or History? series.

horhpodcast.bsky.social Hollywood or History? Unpack fact vs. fiction in film. Great for teachers, trivia buffs, and history fans. New episodes every other week. Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube https://youtube.com...

📸 Follow & connect with us:
Instagram: @hollywoodorhistorypodcast
Bluesky: horhpodcast.bsky.social
X: @HorHpodcast
Facebook: Hollywood or History? Podcast
LinkedIn: Dr. Scott L. Roberts

📩 Contact: dr.scottroberts@gmail.com

#EdTech #CivicEducation #TeacherCommunity

Hollywood or History Podcast

As you plan 2026 PD, keep us in mind!

We help students think critically, question deeply, & “do history” through media analysis. 🧠

🎧 Podcast: www.youtube.com/@Hollywoodor...

📚 Book Series: www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/book-series/...

#EduInnovation #InquiryBasedLearning

🎥 What We Offer:

Interactive PD on teaching with film

Half-day, full-day, or multi-day workshops

Virtual or in-person sessions (U.S., Canada & beyond 🌎)

Pro bono guest lectures for K–16 & grad classes

#TeacherPD #EdLeaders #HistoryTeachers

💡 Our collaborative brings together contributors to the internationally recognized Hollywood or History? book series & podcast — teacher educators, researchers, & classroom teachers who believe film can spark inquiry & critical thinking in K–16 classrooms. 🎞️

#MediaLiteracy #TeachingHistory

🎬 Introducing the Hollywood or History? Learning Collaborative! 🎓

We’re a team of educators & authors helping teachers use film, TV, and media to make social studies more engaging, relevant, & powerful. 🌍

#HollywoodOrHistory #SocialStudiesEd #EdChat

Thanks for all your support — this project has grown far beyond what I imagined when it began. 🙏

🎬 Stay tuned next week for details on the Hollywood or History? Learning Collaborative!

#HollywoodOrHistory #SocialStudies #Education #Podcast #EdChat

Plus…
🎧 New podcast episodes and guest appearances
📬 Opportunities for podcasters, radio hosts, or writers to connect (DMs open!)
🍎 Resources for using film in the classroom and social studies education
💡 And updates on my new venture — Hollywood or History? Learning Collaborative

Moving forward, these pages will serve as the hub for all things Hollywood or History? including:
🎥 Updates on new books in the series
📝 Calls for book proposals
📚 Info about publications & presentations from contributors

horhpodcast.bsky.social Hollywood or History? Unpack fact vs. fiction in film. Great for teachers, trivia buffs, and history fans. New episodes every other week. Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube https://youtube.com...

First — please keep supporting the pod! 💥
Like, share, subscribe, and review
📸 Instagram: @hollywoodorhistorypodcast
💬 Bluesky: horhpodcast.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): @HorHpodcast
📘 Facebook: Hollywood or History? Podcast
🔗 Links also shared on LinkedIn

🎬 What’s Next for Hollywood or History? 🎬
The podcast series may have wrapped up a few weeks ago, but there’s plenty more coming! Here’s what’s ahead for the Hollywood or History? community 👇

Took a day off from researching and writing to check out a Buffalo game. Go Bills!

What’s next? 🤔
I’ll be sharing updates every Wednesday — from future podcast ideas to new projects. Stay tuned!
#HollywoodOrHistory #EducationPodcast

Thanks to @CMUniversity support, we created 11 incredible episodes that’ll live on for teachers + history lovers everywhere.

YouTube video by Hollywood or History Podcast Final_Teaching Social Studies with The Simpsons | Hollywood or History Ep. 11

The Hollywood or History Podcast just wrapped its final episode — and we went out with a bang: The Simpsons! 🍩📺
🎥 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1U...

YouTube video by Hollywood or History Podcast Final_Teaching Social Studies with The Simpsons | Hollywood or History Ep. 11

🎙️ Bittersweet news — the final episode of Hollywood or History? is out now!

I chat with Dr. Annie Whitlock, Dr. Tim Constant & Kimberly Wregglesworth about using The Simpsons 🟨 to teach social studies — focusing on economics & civics.

🎥 Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c1U...

🎬 The final Hollywood or History? podcast episode drops next week! 👀
(Hint: it’s about the longest-running scripted TV show).

In the meantime, check out Cinematic Social Studies (Russell & Waters, 2017) — featuring my Hollywood or History? chapter!

#HollywoodOrHistory #TeachingWithFilm

YouTube video by Hollywood or History Podcast Teaching Inequality with Hidden Figures | Hollywood or History Ep. 10

🎬 The 10th episode of the Hollywood or History? Podcast is live! I talk with Dr. Sarah Kaka & award-winning teacher Lucas George about teaching inequality & inequity in history.

Watch here 👉 youtu.be/Y6k_ed8xD-c

#HollywoodOrHistory #Education #HistoryEducation #SocialStudies #Teaching

When Hollywood or History? host Dr. Scott Roberts isn’t reading, writing, or podcasting about using films effectively in the classroom, he’s busy making holes in one! ⛳️

🏌️‍♂️ First hole-in-one — 10/06/2025 at Red Tail Golf Course!

#HollywoodOrHistory #RedTailGolfCourse #HoleInOne #GolfGoals

Big thanks to Dr. Amber Godwin for her review of the Hollywood or History? Cartoon Volume in Teachers College Record! 🙌 Read it here: journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cm...

#EdResearch #SocialStudies #HistoryEd