AP® World History Teacher Resources

It’s been said many times before–teachers are superheroes. Unlike the super-human variety we see in movies, AP® World History (WHAP) teachers do not have access to radioactive spiders or strength-enhancing serums to give them their powers. Instead, they rely on high-quality AP® World History teacher resources to strengthen their classroom instruction and better support their students. This is exactly why our team of former AP teachers and authors have compiled a list of quality AP World History teacher materials for you.

Free Resources for AP World History Teachers

The following is our compiled list of free AP World History teacher websites. These are great resources you can incorporate into several AP World lesson plans!

Boundless U.S. History

Online learning platform with educator-contributed assignments, quizzes, case studies, lecture notes, and more.
Provides a vast array of resources for subject areas and time periods that range from ancient civilizations to the 21st century.

The Adamson Adventure

Web site specifically designed for AP World History teachers who are seeking presentations, handouts, test reviews, and classroom activities to support their instruction.
Organizes all resources by unit and follows the College Board’s® requirements for AP World History.

Game: Climb that Big Mountain!

Slide presentation that is an engaging way to review for AP exams and can be used for any subject area or unit.
Requires 2+ teams for a group game activity and–aside from the slides presentation, itself–requires no additional supplies.

Stanford History Education Group

Stanford-based educational resource site with 130+ assessments, lesson activities, and other free activities for history teachers and students.
Conducts research and works closely with school districts to “reach directly” into classrooms and support education.

AP Worldipedia

Free online encyclopedia created by an APWH teacher with an emphasis on AP World History course requirements.
Organizes each topic by its respective time period and includes detailed narrative text paired with illustrative media.

World History For Us All

Site that provides world history curriculum materials for middle and high school teachers, including teaching units, lesson plans, and resources.
This site is a project of the National Center for History in the Schools at UCLA and may be adapted to a variety of world history programs.

Crash Course: The Agricultural Revolution

Youtube video in which John Green dives into the early stages of human civilization and agriculture.
Crash Course is a Youtube channel that provides free, high-quality educational videos on a variety of topics in a variety of subject areas.

Freeman-Pedia

Site that acts as a “conduit” for an abundance of AP World and World History II information.
Mission is to “translate the wealth of World History for students in the 21st Century.”

FRED Economic Data

FRED, short for Federal Reserve Economic Data, provides data that is “widely reported in the media and play[s] a key role in financial markets.”
Allows people to retrieve vintage versions of economic data from specific dates in history.

Atlas of Economic Complexity - Harvard

Data visualization tool that people use to observe global trade flows across markets, track their dynamics over time, and look for each country’s opportunities for growth.
The Atlas is the flagship tool of Harvard’s Growth Lab’s portfolio of visualization tools.

Other Resources for AP World History Teachers

The above list of sites just scratches the surface of the free AP World History teacher resources that can be used for instructional supplementation. There are additional ways AP World History teachers can strengthen their teaching “toolbox” as well, and some of our favorites are listed below. Please note that, unlike the ones listed in the above section, some of the following resources are not free.

AP Summer Institutes (APSIs)

Each summer, the College Board offers AP professional development through their AP Summer Institutes. During these summer sessions, teachers develop AP teaching skills and strategies and explore each section of the course and its exam.

AP Online Workshops

For educators who can’t attend in person, the College Board provides online workshops that teach strategies and tools to help AP staff to plan and focus their instruction.

Teacher Websites & Communities

There are a variety of social media platforms and websites that provide not only AP teacher resources, but also a feeling of community. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we do recommend you check out the following:

Other Paid Resources

Tips for Finding Quality AP World History Resources

When searching for resources to support your AP instruction, it’s important to make sure they are credible. Here are a few ways you can ensure your resources have a high level of quality!

Use resources that have been created by experts in their field. AP educators, published journals, and educational resource companies are more reliable than people who do not have strong educational backgrounds. For example, UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses only include materials written by former AP educators and content area experts.
Share resources with other educators in your district’s AP network. You can do this within your school, but you can also network with AP teachers elsewhere in your district when you go to professional development sessions in your field of instruction.
Use textbooks. Many textbooks have online versions that allow teachers to find the resources they need just as easily as on other websites. Furthermore, these digital versions are more reliable than their printed counterparts since they are updated, as needed.

For teachers who want to enhance their AP instruction with a quality resource, UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses is an innovative program that helps students strengthen their understanding of course concepts needed for AP success. Discover how we can help your AP program today.