This guide offers an easy introduction to social studies teachers wanting to challenge their students with creative media by bringing the past to life. The 14-step guide shows teachers and students the techniques needed for researching, scripting, and editing a historical documentary. Using a video camera and computer software, students can integrate historical photos, film footage, interviews, and primary-source materials to create a project that can be shared with students, parents, and community members. Students learn to research using the newest tools, write narrative scripts that integrate historical facts, and build a project that allows history to come alive. The guide includes how-to information about video cameras, new digital video cameras, computer software, online research, and sources of historical photographic film and video footage. Includes worksheets and forms. (BT)