American History – 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

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.

(Semester) Final Projects

Drew Story — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 17:14:20 +0000

This handout is geared towards Social Studies and provides a list of six research based projects that students can choose from to create a culminating final project, working as individuals, pairs, or groups. We always let students decide how they wanted to approach this task letting them choose if they wished to work in a group or individually.

These project ideas allow for various learning styles your students have to be utilized. Additionally, the projects themselves provide good review materials for the entire class.

Subject Areas: History, Social Sciences
Materials Required: Printed handouts, other materials may be provided by the students themselves.
Time Needed: At least two full class periods, plus homework, or more in-class work days as desired.

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.

President Carter’s Dilemma

Drew Story — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 21:07:52 +0000

This cognitive moral dilemma lesson was originally written as a current events activity. It has been used since to discuss the power of former Presidents, and also tying past to present with a look at American foreign policy. It can also be used to discuss diplomacy powers, too.

Carter’s Dilemma asks students to consider what they would do if they had been President Carter as he attempted to negotiate a peaceful outcome with the Haitian government knowing that the Clinton administration was preparing to send in military forces.

Please download and read our free Cognitive Moral Dilemma Teaching Guide to prepare for this teaching strategy.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: Whiteboard or display
Time Needed: Typically half or an entire class period

Forms of Government – Concept Attainment

Drew Story — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 03:40:19 +0000

This lesson is intended to teach students how to differentiate between six forms of governments:

Monarchs/Oligarchies
Military Juntas
Democratic Republics
Democracies
Constitutional Monarchies
Anarchies

This is useful instruction in most Government, Civics and History classes and can be very helpful in some Language Arts classes. This lesson plan has been used successfully with both middle school and high school students.

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: Optional – whiteboard or display for posting prompts, copies of provided handout
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period

Forms of Political Change – Concept Attainment

Drew Story — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 03:34:39 +0000

This lesson is intended to teach students how to differentiate between the concepts of:

Terrorism and Guerrilla Warfare,
Civil Disobedience,
Martial Law,
Revolution,
Civil War,
Wars of Independence, and
Coup D’é Tats.

This is very useful instruction in most History classes and especially in Government classes. This lesson plan has been used successfully with both middle school and high school students.

Be sure to read our free Teaching Guide for the Concept Attainment Strategy first as it provides this lesson’s methodology and format.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, History, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: Optional – whiteboard or display for posting prompts
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period.

Take the Power! Simulation Game

Drew Story — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 03:14:23 +0000

This simulation game is designed to teach students about the aspects of Human Nature which make the formations of government necessary. Additional applications can be drawn from this simple simulation.

We’ve also included several extensions that can be used for follow up or additional analysis by students.

Be sure to also download our Teachers Guide to Instructional Simulation Games for more information about using this active learning strategy.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: A chair
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period

World War III Simulation Game

Drew Story — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:36:53 +0000

This lesson plan is intended for use with any study of the Cold War, or reading any post-apocalyptic literature. It can also be used to facilitate discussions of the power of the President in the modern era. The debriefing questions used for this lesson highlight what is hoped to be learned:

How was our game similar to the real world?
Does Mutually Assured Destruction “work”?
What facilitates trust?
What makes M.A.D. stronger and more believable?
Do these forces work against one another?
If you could play the game again, do you think you could achieve a better outcome? Why or why not?

Be sure to also pick up our free Teaching Guide for Instructional Simulation Games to learn about this teaching strategy.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: Optional – whiteboard or display for posting prompts, printed handouts from this packet
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period

World War I Dilemma

Drew Story — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 00:56:45 +0000

Is it moral to give an order in wartime when you know the majority of your troops will be killed? Officers in World War I faced this decision often, fighting from trenches against new mechanized weapons of war.

This dilemma is intended for a high school or middle school history class and works well with English classes reading All’s Quiet on the Western Front, or perhaps A Farewell to Arms.Be sure to download our free Cognitive Moral Dilemma Teachers Guide, too, as it provides the methodology and lesson’s process, too.

- Subject Areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, Literature, English
- Materials Required: Whiteboard or display
- Time Needed: Can run an entire class period or less.