Lessons Learned

Instructional Technology - International Education - Wellness

Tag: role play

A Terrific Inquiry and Project-based Learning Activity

Jim Girard and Todd Gilbert, our two 8th Grade history teachers at Alexandria Country Day School, recently had their students learn about immigration in early American history through a very meaningful learning activity. Here are the directions and rubric copied from the class Haiku page.

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Immigration Scrapbook Project

Posted:

Sep 19, 2012, 02:10 pm (13 days ago)

Due:

Sep 27, 08:00 am

 At the turn of the century, new immigrants flooded the gates into America.  They experienced hardships and economic progress. Their story is the story of America’s growth and expansion. To deepen your understanding of the immigrant’s story, you will role-play an immigrant from one country and create a digital scrapbook of their life using Keynote and Pages.  You will select a country (maybe where your ancestors came from; you might even “become” one of your ancestors).


Use resources such as:

and other print/Internet resources to gain a better understanding of immigrants coming from that country

 

Goals and objectives of this project:

A) Research and “re-live” the immigrant experience through the eyes of somebody who lived it.

B) Become more familiar and proficient in the use of Keynote and Pages.

Use Keynote to create a scrapbook of your life. The scrapbook must include the following (it may include more items if you choose):

 

a.      A cover page (including a title to your scrapbook and an image that you select).

b.      Artifacts or memorabilia that represent your home nation (ex: flag, national anthem, photographs of historical figures or famous places).

c.       Photographs of your family or friends with caption. You are required to have at least one family photo and one photo of yourself in America.

d.      Artifacts, memorabilia, and information about: your first sight of America, your new home, job, expectations of America and social experiences (ex: pay stub, job description, any school experience, report card,   immunization form)

e.      Two “original documents”: Use Pages.  Options could include Ellis Island Registration Card, Medical Evaluation Sheet, Ship Log or Manifest from your journey over, Passport  the options are almost limitless.

f.        Four journal entries including at least one from your trip to America and one of your experiences at Ellis Island (each should be on a separate slide and include a date).

g.      1.5 – 2 page autobiography or biography of your immigrant.  This could take the shape of an obituary, a written life history by a “family member”, or many other creative possibilities.

h.     Each photograph or item must have a caption to illustrate its importance

i.        Creative design features that create interest for others viewing your scrapbook.

j.        The final page of your scrapbook (slide show), will be a bibliography.  The bibliography needs to be completed in the MLA format.

 

Though this project is digital, the documents, artifacts, photographs, and other materials that are used should be historically accurate. You will be graded on completion of requirements, historical content, historical accuracy, and creativity.


The Rubric for the Project

Skype Connects Role Players & Subject Matter Expert

A teacher at my school recently used a simulation, technology and a subject matter expert to bring deeper understanding to her students’ understanding of Shakespeare.

Ms. Galland’s Advanced Placement Language and Composition class read Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, analyzing how a moneylender named Shylock demands repayment from a debtor named Antonio. Shylock asks that Antonio repay him his 3000 ducats with a “pound of flesh,” as promised in the verbal contract they agreed on.

The AP students held a mock trial in class before George Galland, an attorney in Chicago. Mr. Galland played the role of judge over Skype. The plaintiffs used legal opinions, evidence from the Folger Shakespeare Library, and other websites and articles documenting the climate and laws in Elizabethan England to present and defend their cases. Mr. Galland favored the defendant but was impressed with the AP students’ preparation, presentations, textual citations, and courtroom performances.

 

Acknowledgment: Hilary Galland helped author this post.

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