Hi, I’m Matt, the teacher and creator behind Surviving Social Studies on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I taught middle school social studies for 23 years, all at the same school, designing engaging classroom activities and ready-to-use lesson plans that helped students connect with history, government, geography, and current events.

When I began teaching, there were no online marketplaces for educators. I was handed a textbook and given a pat on the back.  Every single lesson plan, primary-source activity, and classroom worksheet had to be built from scratch.  Those first few years were filled with late nights and long weekends as I tried to create meaningful, standards-aligned resources while keeping up with the daily demands of a lively middle school classroom.

The downloadable social studies resources you’ll find in my Surviving Social Studies Teachers Pay Teachers store are the exact materials that helped me survive and thrive during more than two decades in the classroom.  Each resource is classroom-tested, student-approved, and designed to save teachers time while sparking curiosity.  Whether you want easy-to-use activities that use primary sources, an interactive geography activity, or vocabulary word walls to have on display to support your curriculum, you’ll find ready-to-print and digital options that fit your schedule and engage your students.

My goal is simple: to provide quality social studies lessons and activities that help teachers focus on what matters most—connecting with students and inspiring a love of history.

If you would like classroom tips, updates on new resources, and occasional freebies, keep an eye out for the email subscription pop-up when you visit this site.  Signing up is the easiest way to stay connected and get fresh ideas sent straight to your inbox.

Thanks for visiting, and happy teaching!
Matt