Transform reading in Social Studies from comprehension to interpretation

Created by educators with a first-hand perspective of today’s student, Source Squads presents a consistent structure for students to engage read in Social Studies through meaningful academic dialogue and develop the skills needed to not only comprehend, but interpret the world around them.

Source Squads provides collaborative learning strategies and ready-to-teach lessons that help students read and interpret sources across Social Studies classrooms.

Materials are available through a license that provides educators with shipped role cards and instructional resources shared digitally for teachers to modify for their students.

What We Do

  • Engage with questions specific to Social Studies.

  • They use role cards to support support, challenge, and extend each others’ ideas and perspectives.

  • Practice interpreting sources through a consistent structure across classes year-over-year.

What Students Do

  • Collaboration is authentic and supported so every student has a voice

  • Consistent structure helps students develop skills and deepen understanding

  • Provides a connective tissue across courses and subjects.

Why It Works

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.

Ready-to-Teach Lessons

Slides

Lesson Plans

Sources

Other Instructional Materials

Source Squads was developed by teachers for teachers.

Learn more about our team below!

Founder Andrew Bedell

Andrew Bedell

Andrew is a National Board Certified Social Studies and Special Education teacher who brings a wealth of experience to the Source Squads team. Andrew has taught for 11 years and holds a M.A. in American History. He is continually working to develop new curriculum and strategies to benefit his students, which has resulted in work at the district and state level, and multiple organizations including New American History, National History Day, and the Delaware Historical Society. His passion for historical literacy led him to create Source Squads, and after multiple years of testing and refining, he created this company to help students and educators across the country use the Source Squads curriculum. When he isn’t teaching or writing curriculum, Andrew can be found spending time with his family or performing locally as a freelance saxophonist.

Founder Erin Sullivan

Erin Sullivan

With over 20 years of teaching experience, a M.A. in American History and a M.A. in Economics, and National Board Certification for Teachers, Erin is passionate about social studies education. Her work has included curriculum development for multiple organizations including National History Day, National Endowment for the Humanities, The United States Institute of Peace, Delaware Historical Society, and Delaware Public Archives. Her favorite part about teaching history is helping students make meaningful connections to what they are learning and watching as they become confident young scholars. When she isn’t nerding out about history, Erin can be found with her nose in a book or spending time with her family and puppies. 

What Educators Are Saying

  • "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

Bring Source Squads to Your School or District