posting 11

I believe the best way to engage a student in the lesson is to one make it personal and two make it simple.  Because I am a history major I always try to find a way to relate my lesson/topic to today's world.  Or I simply present the topic by probing students to imagine how it would effect them if some similiar change took place.  For example I just taught a lesson on the "Trail of Tears" where the Cherokee Nation was uprooted from their homeland and were made to walk about 1000 miles to a new unfamiliar land.  I oppenly asked students what types of things are needed to have a civilized community.  Ex water, housing, school, form of government, etc..  So I then had them analyze the effects of the "Trail of Tears" on the Cherokee people.  They all showed signs of empathy and I could see that they were thinking or imaging how their family would react to that kind of experience.

Travelling Story

The travelling story activitiy is fun and helps students to be spontaneously creative.  I do feel that it is important for the teacher to facilitate and be sure the students are remaining focused with the specific topic if there is one.  It would also help students tap into their understanding or prior knowledge of a topic.  For example if covering the Middle Ages during a world history section students can focus their story on the lives of peasants or the different social structures.

cross curr

So far this is what I have put together, pretty broad, it's for a 10th grade class. 

TEKS Topic:

(20)  Research/Research Plan. Students ask open-ended research questions and develop a plan for answering them. Students are expected to:

(A)  brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate a major research question to address the major research topic; and

(B)  formulate a plan for engaging in research on a complex, multi-faceted topic.

Four areas: ELA, World History, Theatre, and Science

ELA Lesson Plan:

Seek sources for research - Plan design, data collection, taking notes

Locating and using primary sources

Present findings