Remote Learning – Inquiry Teaching

Propaganda Techniques – Concept Attainment

Drew Story — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 23:51:50 +0000

This lesson is intended to teach students how to differentiate between ten different propaganda techniques:

Bandwagon
Repetition
Transfer
Testimonial
Exigency
Glittering Generality
Card-Stacking
Innuendo
Snob Appeal
Just Plain Folks

This is useful instruction in most Social Studies and we use it with current events and a review of political speeches like the State of the Union address. Be sure to read our Teaching Guide for the Concept Attainment Strategy first as it provides the methodology and process behind this lesson's format.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, History, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: Advertisements (easily found on YouTube) are the suggested main data set, but historical posters would work, too. Optional – whiteboard or display for posting prompts, copies of provided handout
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period

Team Building – Survival Test Role Play

Drew Story — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:05:20 +0000

This lesson provides students with an opportunity to role play two different survival tests; one being lost on the moon, the other surviving a plane crash in the desert. (We liked to use one test for one grade, and the other for another grade level.) Students attempt to rank a list of items individually, then within a team.

The ranking of these lists are then scored against an experts ranking. Teachers may then use the individual and team scoring for discussing the strengths (or weaknesses) they found in their respective teams. Good teams listen to everyone’s ideas and will (nearly) always score better than an individual alone.

These role plays are always a big hit and fun lessons for students.

Subject Areas: Any
Materials Required: Copies of handouts in packet (or means of displaying them), paper for students.
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period.

The Writing Process

Drew Story — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:37:51 +0000

This is a free resource and just a simple listing of “the writing process.” It is useful for introducing and reminding students that when writing, revisions and re-writing are expected and desired outcomes. Striving to have a “perfect” or final written piece is not expected but often what students first think is being asked of them.

We found this handout very useful and think you will, too. The handout is an outline of the writing process to be used with a directed discussion.

Subject Areas: All
Materials Required: Copies of provided handout, or a digital copy displayed
Time Needed: 15 – 20 minutes.

The Power of Ideas – Database Project

Drew Story — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:19:32 +0000

Spreadsheets are perhaps the simplest form of a database and are excellent tools for introducing students to using technology for analysis. This lesson plan provides an introduction to using databases for a research project about “idea creators” from history; famous artists, scientists, politicians, etc.

While doing research about these individuals, students will learn about filtering, sorting, and other spreadsheet commands.

Subject Areas: Any really, but ideal for History and Social Studies.
Materials Required: Virtual classroom or other screen sharing tool, or a large screen display with a computer, plus either printed or digital copies of the provided handouts.
Time Needed: Typically two to three class periods.

We’ve included everything you’ll need in a single zip archive.

Spreadsheet Basics – Learning to Analyze with Databases

Drew Story — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 19:09:56 +0000

Spreadsheets are perhaps the simplest form of a database and are excellent tools for introducing students to using technology for analysis. This lesson plan provides an introduction to using databases with a very simple spreadsheet that provides data about homes sold in a given area. Students will learn about filtering, sorting, and other spreadsheet commands.

Subject Areas: Any
Materials Required: Virtual classroom or other screen sharing tool, or a large screen display with a computer.
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period.

We've included everything you'll need in a single zip archive.

Analyzing Congress – Database Activity

Drew Story — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:23:13 +0000

Newly updated!

Spreadsheets are perhaps the simplest form of a database and are excellent tools for introducing students to using technology for analysis. This lesson plan centers around analysis of the current House of Representatives.

How representative of the average American is Congress?
What traits are common for current members?
What does this analysis tell us about what it takes to be a Member of the House of Representatives?

This teaching guide and lesson plan provides you with the resources to do a deep dive on current Members of the House of Representatives.

Subject Areas: Government, Civics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Materials Required: Virtual classroom or other screen sharing tool, or a large screen display with a computer.
Time Needed: Typically two to three class periods.

Special Note: This product comes with our Simulation of Congress. Buy one or the other, but not both perhaps.

Postcards From History

Drew Story — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:53:37 +0000

Sometimes a simple writing and art project can act as a closure activity for any unit. We had students create a “postcard from history” with attention to details including the drawing of the stamp, who was the card written to and/or by, in addition to what was written and drawn on the card itself. This lesson always worked well and pairs well with a quick read-around follow up. See our free Teacher’s Guide for Read Arounds if you wish to add that feature to your lesson.

This handout is created to work with any history class and includes directions for students.

Subject Areas: History, Social Sciences
Materials Required: Printed copies of the handout, colored pencils/pens/crayons.
Time Needed: Usually a full class period or as homework.

Writing Prompts – Learning Logs

Drew Story — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 15:27:15 +0000

We like to begin or end a lesson with a simple writing prompt. If at the end of the lesson, often the prompt was “What was learned today?” Having students focus their thoughts and put them into written words always aids retention and the follow up discussions were insightful and sometimes led to entire other lessons. We would refer to these writings as “Learning Logs.”

This list of over 80 writing prompts will also help stimulate lesson ideas for you. Please consider downloading our free Teacher’s Guide to Open Ended Discussions, too. It pairs well with this list.

Subject Areas: ALL, but many fit best with Social Studies
Materials Required: Optional, but a display of the prompt is helpful.
Time Needed: 15-20 minutes usually.

The Monster Drawing

Drew Story — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 14:02:12 +0000

This lesson is intended for a Language Arts class to help students learn to use similes and metaphors — show not tell language skills. It’s simple, fun, and effective!

Subject Areas: Language Arts, English.
Materials Required: Paper, colored pens, pencils, or crayons. Optional – whiteboard or display for posting prompts.
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period.

Discovering Atlantis

Drew Story — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 02:39:50 +0000

Always a fun activity for students, this culminating activity simulates the analysis of an archaeological dig on an imaginary island thought to be Atlantis.

Students may work in groups or independently as they write an essay using deductive inferences. Essays are then shared in a “read-around” activity. This lesson packet contains all you need to run the simulation, with directions and step by step guidance for the read-around activity, too, plus additional resources that may be used as extensions of this lesson.

Atlantis typically takes most classes two full periods to complete in addition to a homework assignment. It may take three to three and a half class periods if the writing is done completely in class.

Please consider adding a good introductory lesson to making deductive inferences by using our “The Flowers of Guatemala” lesson.

Subject Area: History, Social Sciences
Materials Required: Printed handouts, optional need for a whiteboard or display, too
Time Needed: Two full class periods, plus homework, or three in-class work days total.