Activity Overview
Activity Title: Parallel Historical Events
Grade Band: High School
Students will research two connected or comparable historical events — one in New Mexico’s history and one in U.S. or world history.
They will analyze causes, outcomes, and perspectives to uncover patterns or contrasts, then write a journalistic-style article explaining their findings.
This activity builds historical analysis, synthesis, and persuasive writing skills. It can be extended into a classroom or digital “newspaper” collection showcasing different eras and viewpoints.
Time Required
3–5 class sessions
Materials Needed
- Research resources (library books, online databases, primary sources)
- Notebook or writing journal
- Access to computer or paper for article design
- Optional: printer or online publishing tool (e.g., Canva, Lucidpress, or Google Docs templates)
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Identify connections between two historical events, one local and one national or global.
- Analyze patterns of independence, conflict, or progress across time and place.
- Write a clear, factual, and engaging journalistic article comparing the events.
- Reflect on how history repeats or transforms through cultural context.
Essential Questions
- How can comparing historical events help us understand change and continuity?
- What lessons from the past can guide us today?
- How do journalists decide which perspectives and details to include?
Inspired Conversation Topics
- Which modern events remind you of past struggles or victories?
- How does media shape how people remember history?
- What responsibility do we have when retelling stories from history?
- How can studying the past help communities heal or grow?
Educator Resources & Links
- A Forgotten Kingdom: The Spanish Frontier in Colorado and New Mexico, 1540-1821
- NM History Museum Timeline
- Library of Congress – Chronicling America: Historic Newspapers
- National Archives – Historical Documents & Research Tools
- New Mexico History Museum – Voices of Independence
- Journalism Basics
- Intro to Journalism Study Guides
- Six Tips for Teaching Journalism
- Free template for making newspapers in Word or Google Docs
- Flippable Digital Newspaper Template
- A Brief History of Hispanic Periodicals in the United States
- New Mexico, New Spain, Old Cultures: Historic Spanish-Language Newspapers in Chronicling America
- The Spanish Archives of New Mexico 1779
- New Mexico State Library Newspaper Collection
- New Mexico Historical Newspapers – UNM Digital Repository
- Newspaper Archive Albuquerque Public Library Edition – New Mexico
- Chronicling America :Historic American Newspapers Collection
- Timeline of Albuquerque History
Book List
Optional Family or Community Extension
Encourage students to share their article drafts with family members or community elders for feedback on tone and historical accuracy.
They can collect quotes or oral histories to enrich their comparison of events.
Teacher Note
Emphasize objectivity and critical thinking. Encourage students to explore how history is told as much as what is told.
Technical Tip
If students publish articles online, ensure proper citation of images and quotes, and review privacy settings before sharing publicly.