I posted this to the conferences, but here it is again:
Title of Proposed Lesson: Who was William Shakespeare?
Objective:
Students will explore the life of Elizabethan England in order to learn more
about the controversy of the authorship of William Shakespeare’s plays.
Teleresearch Purpose: Answer a Specific Question or find out more about
a topic
Grade Level: Grades 9-12
Content Area: Middle School
Language Arts
Summary: Following the students reading of several of
Shakespeare’s plays, they will not only research the life of William Shakespeare
the rumored author of the plays, but they will try to determine whether the
author was who he really said he was.
Value: (i.e. why it's "worth it"):
This question can prompt debate in students. One of the curriculum requirements
of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (where I teach) is to encourage and foster
debate about students. After gathering this information, the students can
participate in a debate to determine whether or not Shakespeare was the
author.
Title of Proposed Lesson: The Impact of the Great Depression in
the South
Objective: Students will find information regarding the impact
of Great Depression in the south, particularly on racism.
Teleresearch
Purpose: Practicing Information Seeking Skills/ Publishing Synthesized and
Concrete Information
Grade Level: Grades 6-12
Content Area:
Middle School Language Arts
Summary: One of the current units that I am
teaching is the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. In order for the students to
have a good understanding of the novel, they need to be able to understand what
the political, social, and economic climates. Students will complete a WebQuest
activity which will help them to find information about an assigned topic.
Students will then create an interactive presentation to share that information
with the rest of the class.
Students will then be able to understand the
major events of the story.
Value: (i.e. why it's "worth it": This is “worth
it” because it provides the students with an opportunity to take responsibility
for their own learning. They are able to become the teacher and share the
information that they have learned with their class.
Title of Proposed
Lesson: Prayer In Schools
Objective: Students will identify and analyze
the reasons both for and against prayer in schools.
Teleresearch Purpose:
Review Multiple Perspectives
Grade Level: High School
Content Area:
Social Studies
Summary: Students will identify and investigate the
reasoning that prayer in school was banned. They will read primary documents
online and read court decisions that will help them to better understand the
reasoning. Once they have identified the perspectives, students will participate
in a debate and reevaluate the constitutionality of the decision.
Value:
(i.e. why it's "worth it": This activity once again encourages debate among
students. This activity can push the students outside their comfort zone and
help them to see the other side of the issue. Once they have identified both
sides they can then make an educated decision about the issue.
5 comments:
I like the "Prayer in Schools." Hot button topic sure to inspire debate, but not as touchy as something like same sex unions. And, got to say, the prayer I wrote to begin my tech class at Holy Cross calms those kids down like nobody's business. If I were at a public school I think I would have developed a poem of some sort for the same purpose. Hee, hee, using religion to tranquilize the masses, that's me.
Beth,
I'd suggest two separate objectives, though:
--identify the reasons
--analyze the reasons
In a full-length activity (such as Project 2) you would then be able to assess the extent to which students can complete each task. Analyzing is a higher level skill than identifying. Some students might be able to identify; however, analyzing would be harder.
Good point. I was thinking of going with the Shakespeare lesson plan, but with that I can add the analysis and debate objectives.
Except Jim took "Multiple Perspectives" and doesn't have other options, so you need to go with the Shakespeare.
Beth,
In your Shakespeare lesson, I really like that you include the debate component. This lets students "use" the knowledge they gained in the research assignment. i thinks its great that your school administration encourages the teachers to use the debate format. This vehicle allows students to analyze and synthesize information in authentic ways.
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