Prepare teachers to teach students to be critical consumers of information while analyzing primary sources to determine and organize into advice, persuasion or propaganda.
Advice, Persuasion or Propaganda?
Classroom activities that encourage students to move. Example activities relate to primary source analysis and the space race. "A spectrum is displayed around the room with labels that include 1) Highly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) On the Fence 4) Agree 5) Highly Agree. Content-based comments or questions are posed to students, who then stand next to the label they agree with related to each question. Content-based statements and questions include: The government should invest more money in the space program; The space program brought great benefits to the U.S. despite the cost; The U.S. is lagging behind the world in the areas of math, science, and innovation; Which president had the greatest impact on the space program?"
“Tell me, I’ll forget. Teach me, I’ll remember.
Involve me, I’ll understand.” --Ancient Proverb
A classroom activity on S.T.E.M. with primary sources. "[Begin the lesson] with an overview of the history of STEM education. Then provide students with primary sources from the events that have been discussed. Have students place the events them on a spectrum of what they think had the greatest to least impact upon the development of S.T.E.M. and justify their order."
What is S.T.E.M.?
Is S.T.E.M. a new idea?
Is the vision of S.T.E.M. relevant?
Are students prepared for “blue ocean” fields?
Students will gain a better understanding of the contributions of key people related to a particular area or era of history by researching an assigned figure. Students take on the role of their figure and participate in a "speed dating" type simulation, meeting one historical figure at a time for 3-4 minutes each. At the end of the activity, you need to identify three people you believe that your character would like the most and three people you think your character would dislike the most.
History Speed Dating instructions and student worksheet
A classroom activity for Space Race unit. Dance, strut, stroll (but don’t twerk) around the room until you hear the music stop. Once the music stops find a partner. Each of you will roll your di and discuss the questions you have rolled. Got doubles? Have one person roll again so you discuss and a total of two questions. I will give you the warning to wrap up your discussion.
Primary Sources to accompany Advice, Persuasion or Propaganda lesson.
Introducing teachers who instruct Generation Z students with new technologies to teach history, including "Today's Meet," "Padlet," "History Pin," and Twitter for Educators.
Worksheet to accompany Advice, Persuasion or Propaganda lesson.