Kennedy Assassination: Crime Scene Investigation

Unique Class Assignment Encourages Students to Use Problem Solving and Communication Skills Students travel back in history to 1960 to the presidential election between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. We spend a week acquiring biographical information while comparing and contrasting the influence of media then and now. Once students have a good understanding of […]

Best “Cs” in the Classroom

Use of the 5 C’s in the Classroom Helps to Engage Students Project Based Learning:  In choosing rubric design and criteria to guide students as they research, analyze, and present topics, remembering the best “Cs” in the classroom leads to learning, interesting discussion, and creative and affective product development.  The Best “Cs”:  Choice; Collaboration; Communication; […]

High School Social Studies

Exercise to Encourage Students to Embrace Politics Teaching the American Presidential election of 1960 using the commercial simulation “1960: Making of the President” (Z-Man Games: 2007). This is a relatively sophisticated simulation that uses familiar board-game concepts (turns, cards, mapboard, marker cubes, etc.) to examine the classic — and close — Kennedy vs. Nixon electoral […]

High School World History Lesson: How & Why Major Cities Around the World Developed and Expanded 1500-1820

Using NPR as a Model to Present Historical Information About a Major City Students used an NPR article about “How Paris Became Paris” as a model; chose a major city in the world that also developed and expanded some time between 1500 to 1820; and created and presented their own article. Issues this Best Practice […]