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Peter Pappas

@pappas.bsky.social

Creator of “The Forgotten Files: Because the past is still teaching." Fueled by jazz, biking, books, film, garlic. AI curious. forgottenfiles.substack.com linktr.ee/peterpappas People's Republic of #PDX

154 Posts505 Follower 678 Folgt

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last wk.

Fort Niagara. Niagara River (on the right) emptying into Lake Ontario (to left and beyond). Fond memories

Being_Melissa@melissag.bsky.social · last wk.

Lake Ontario! ☺️

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I ditched stock photos and used Keynote Creator Studio to generate slide visuals, with ChatGPT helping with metaphors and prompts. Faster workflow, more consistent deck. Post: "Better Than Clipart, Faster Than Stock: The Keynote and AI Workflow for Polished Decks" peterpappas.com/2026/03/bett...

Better Than Clipart, Faster Than Stock: The Keynote Trick for Polished Decks

I ditched stock photos and built my slide visuals inside Keynote using Creator Studio, with ChatGPT helping with metaphors and prompts. The payoff was a coherent visual style and cleaner concept sl…

peterpappas.com

Diana Laufenberg @dlaufenberg.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Currently in a webinar with the Library of Congress/Teaching with Primary Sources Consortium partners - each month a partner presents their work. Today features the Collaborative Local History and Action Civics Project. So many great resources for #sschat iacp.berkeley.edu/historical-a... #edusky

Collaborative Local History and Action Civics | Integrated Action Civics Project

iacp.berkeley.edu

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The House just voted to turn "one person, one vote" into "one person, one birth certificate, one passport, and a mountain of paperwork." Here's the "fine print" of this stealth attack on our democracy: forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-fine-p... #VotingRights #SAVEAct #Democracy #2026Midterms

The Fine Print of Suppression

How the SAVE Act Would Quietly Lock Millions Out of the Voting Booth

forgottenfiles.substack.com

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Trump’s Venezuela stunt feels like the kind of “easy victory” thinking that turns into a long mess. Here's a classroom-safe lesson using LOC political cartoons on U.S. imperialism. Students compare the arguments to today. peterpappas.com/2026/01/the-... #EduSky #history #sschat

Color political cartoon from Judge titled "A Thing Well Begun Is Half Done." A caricature of President William McKinley stands on a map of North and Central America, using a shovel like a spade to dig a canal across the isthmus between the Atlantic and the Pacific. U.S.-flagged ships crowd both coasts, and American flags mark places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. In the background, Uncle Sam stands near the U.S. Capitol carrying tools and a flag, implying Washington is backing the project as part of national expansion.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Pro tip: when a White House builds a “Media Offenders” list, you can pretty much read it as “Start here for solid Trump coverage.” Thanks for the reading list, Mr. President. www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/?cst

Media Offenders

Explore the Media Bias Tracker that fact checks and holds Fake News accountable. False claims debunked, Hall of Shame for serial offenders, Leaderboard of networks ranked by Repeated Lies. Stay inform...

whitehouse.gov

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Turn your students into historical detectives. I just posted a way to use AI to create custom mystery activities where every student holds a clue and the whole class has to argue their way to an explanation. peterpappas.com/2025/12/desi... #ai #edusky #history #chatgpt

Design Your Own Historical Mysteries With AI

Turn your students into historical detectives. This post shows how to use AI to build custom “mystery” activities where every student holds a clue and the whole class has to talk, argue, and piece …

peterpappas.com

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Young Republican’s racist chat leaks are not a shock to history teachers. Currier and Ives’ “Darktown comics” sold by the tens of thousands and trained Americans to laugh at brutality. See the comics and connect the dots. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-cruelt... #racism #history

The Cruelty of the Darktown Comics

White Supremacy’s Favorite Joke

forgottenfiles.substack.com

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you.” Trump: “Ask not to explain anything to me.” #Trump

Truth social post from [Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump]
"The Wall Street Journal ran a typically untruthful story today by saying that Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, explained to me that firing Jerome "Too Late" Powell, the Worst Federal Reserve Chairman in History, would be bad for the Market. Nobody had to explain that to me. I know better than anybody what's good for the Market, and what's good for the U.S.A. If it weren't for me, the Market wouldn't be at Record Highs right now, it probably would have CRASHED! So, get your information CORRECT. People don't explain to me, l explain to them!"

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Portland wakes to a warm dawn, the horizon already hinting at the furnace that awaits

Caption
Sunrise sizzle: Mt. Hood burns gold above Tilikum Crossing as Portland wakes to a warm dawn, the horizon already hinting at the furnace waiting in the afternoon.

Alt text
Warm predawn view from Southwest Portland: Mt. Hood’s shadowed peak stands against a fiery orange sky, layered hills fade toward the horizon, and the cable-stayed Tilikum Crossing glows with bridge lights above the Willamette River, framed by illuminated South Waterfront buildings—an early hint of the day’s coming heat.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

AI took the coding jobs. The philosophers are just asking why. #AI #EduSky

Bar chart titled “Unemployment Rate of Recent Graduates showing lower unemployment rates for Philosophy and Art History Majors than Computer engineering or Computer Science

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

"From 1910s 'Better Baby' fairs to MAGA's fertility crusade--discover how America's eugenic past still shapes today's immigration and family policies." forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/better-bab... #History #edusky #MAGA

Composite header: on the left, a black-and-white photo of a toddler in a diaper standing hands-on-hips; on the right, a vintage poster that reads "Better Baby Contest -- Indiana State Fair, Aug. 31 to Sept. 7." The pairing evokes early-20th-century baby competitions linked to the eugenics movement.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Teaching historical thinking with a million-year timeline, three clashing perspectives—and a little help from ChatGPT #edusky #history #chatgpt #AI peterpappas.com/2025/06/rewi...

Rewinding History with AI: A Timeline Technique that Teaches Perspective

Teaching historical thinking with a million-year timeline, three clashing perspectives—and a little help from ChatGPT

peterpappas.com

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Go Timbers

Man in foreground makes peace symbol with his hand as green smoke celebration in Timber’s Army fills the background

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Toronto sunset. #Nofilters #photography #sunsets

Photo of Toronto skyline from the water. Blazing sunset reflected in the water. Silhouette of city

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Somewhere in this setup is the illusion of productivity

Dual-monitor desk setup showing a March Madness basketball game on one screen and a Portland Thorns soccer match on the other, with Apple devices neatly arranged—everything suggests productivity, but none is happening.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · last yr.

Good food, good friends.Looked up from my plate and found a masterpiece in the shadows. Cheers to the little moments. #SpontaneousArt #photography #abstract #art

A photograph capturing intersecting shadows of geometric patterns on a glass or reflective surface. The image features warm golden tones with crisp lines forming an abstract composition. Faint tree branches are also visible through the reflections, adding depth to the visual layering.

Diana Laufenberg @dlaufenberg.bsky.social · 2y ago

Sometimes in my work with the TPS Teachers Network, I'm introduced to some real gems. This was a thing at the turn of the century- www.vox.com/.../the-19th.... And in case you thought it was minor-there are 177 matches for "bicycle face" in Chronicling America. h/t @pappas.bsky.social #sschat

Vox

Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology, culture, science, the climate crisis, money, health and everything else that matters. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of income or status, can access accurate information that empowers them.

vox.com

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

Mt Hood in the moonlight.

Portland nighttime cityscape illuminated by a full moon, with layers of wispy clouds and airplane contrails stretching across the sky. Below, a vibrant city skyline glows with lights, including a brightly lit bridge and high-rise buildings. In the distance, a snow-capped Mt Hood’s peak is faintly visible against the dark horizon.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

Norman Rockwell predicted Facebook groups, but the algorithm lived next door. #edusky #sschat #history

A Norman Rockwell illustration depicting a chain of people gossiping in a series of animated, expressive conversations. The sequence begins with a woman whispering into another woman's ear, and the message travels through multiple pairs of people, each reacting with increasing drama--some shocked, others laughing, some leaning in eagerly. The characters include men and women of various ages, dressed in mid-20th-century attire, with some talking on the telephone and others engaged in face-to-face conversations. The chain of gossip ultimately comes full circle, ending with a woman confronting another with an accusatory expression. The painting humorously captures the rapid spread of information (or misinformation) in a pre-digital world.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

Great way for students to organize their thinking. I created a digital lesson template you might like https://peterpappas.com/2020/10/making-connections-virtual-organizer.html

Mr. David Burton@mrburtonmps.bsky.social · 2y ago

Hexagonal Thinking - 30-ish terms printed on hexagons and your team has to link them. If two (or more) terms are touching be ready to explain the connection. #mpspride #edchat #sschat #oklaed #okss #vocabulary #literacy #history #geography

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

In the 1930s, 'talkies' replaced live theater orchestras, leaving musicians out of work. A bold campaign to save live music waged a creative war against 'canned sound.' Their fight resonates today as AI disrupts creative industries. The Day the Music Died: forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-day-th...

A 1930s Music Defense League advertisement titled "Making Musical Mince Meat!" depicts a robot feeding musical instruments into a grinder labeled "Canned Music Theatres." The grinder churns out mechanical sound effects ("Bing! Bang! Biff!") while a crowd of theatergoers watches. The imagery symbolizes the replacement of live orchestras with prerecorded soundtracks, a central theme of the campaign.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

Meet my new AI assistant: gets it done without backtalk #AI

A beige sweater draped over a chair, positioned in front of a tablet on a desk, resembling a person working. The setup humorously suggests an AI assistant at work

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

My 145th loan on Kiva. Better than building walls. Will you join me in helping Jose Salvador in Agencia La Unión to pursue their dream? www.kiva.org/invitedby/pe...

Can you help Peter Pappas support Jose Salvador?

Kiva is a loan, not a donation. With Kiva you can lend as little as $25 and make a big change in someone's life.

kiva.org

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

My lesson exploring how systemic inequality has shaped communities, using redlining maps and the 1940 Census. A powerful way for students to connect history with personal narratives and understand the impact of policy on people's lives. #edusky #history peterpappas.com/2020/11/mapp...

A historical black-and-white photograph showing four young Black children standing in front of a tall concrete wall in Detroit, Michigan. The wall, built in August 1941, was constructed to separate Black neighborhoods from a white housing development. A quote by John Vachon reads: ‘Negro children standing in front of half mile concrete wall, Detroit, Michigan. This wall was built in August 1941, to separate the Negro section from a white housing development going up on the other side.’ The image is part of a graphic titled ‘Designing Inequality: How Government Policies Segregated America’s Cities.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

You know Currier & Ives for their picturesque winter scenes. But have you heard of their Darktown Comics? These wildly popular prints mocked Black ambition and sold white supremacy. My latest post dives into "The Cruelty of the Darktown Comics." forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-cruelt...

A Currier & Ives Darktown print titled "A Darktown Lawn Party" depicts a grotesque caricature of a social gathering. A well-dressed Black couple stands at a table under a bright red umbrella, exaggerated features mocking their attempt at sophistication. In the background, chaos unfolds: a bull charges through smoke, a woman struggles with a crying child, and others are depicted in clumsy or absurd poses. The scene ridicules Black leisure and social aspiration, reinforcing racist stereotypes common in 19th-century visual culture.

A Currier & Ives Darktown print titled "A Darktown Lawn Party: A Bully Time" depicts a chaotic and grotesque scene. A bull charges through the lawn, trampling over a well-dressed Black woman and tearing apart a red umbrella. Black figures with exaggerated features react in absurd, panicked ways—one climbs a tree, another falls backward, and others flee in disarray. The scene mocks Black leisure and social aspirations, portraying them as clumsy and incompetent, reinforcing racist stereotypes of the 19th century.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Darktown Comics were 19th-century bestsellers, but their punchlines were anything but innocent. These prints mocked Black ambition to prop up white supremacy. Explore their chilling legacy in my latest post: "The Cruelty of the Darktown Comics" forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-cruelt...

A chaotic scene from a Currier & Ives Darktown print depicts a group of Black firefighters in exaggerated, grotesque caricature. The fire engine is spilling smoke as the firefighters fumble with their tasks: one sprays water ineffectively at a woman suspended on a pulley, while others carry babies or engage in slapstick mishaps. The exaggerated features and poses reinforce racist stereotypes, mocking the competence and humanity of Black individuals.

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 2y ago

A 1913 cartoon, a New Year's toast, and a reflection on resilience. What history's lessons can teach us about today. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/historys-t...

A vintage cartoon from _Puck_ magazine, published on December 31, 1913. It depicts Uncle Sam sitting in a cozy parlor, being offered two bottles by the symbolic figure of the New Year, portrayed as a young boy wearing a "1914" sash. The bottles are labeled "Hope" and "Fear," inviting Uncle Sam to make a choice. The scene is warmly lit by a decorative hanging lamp, and Uncle Sam appears pensive, considering his options. A discarded top hat lies on the floor beside him.