As a project-based unit within a Social Studies classroom context, this unit challenges students to grapple with understanding themselves and our society concerning human conditions over time, acquire historical thinking skills, understand and deal with change, ask questions and locate evidence to support answers, go beyond the textbook to examine historical records, compare multiple points of view, and gain historical perspective. While participating in this unit, students will explore the connection between media representations and stereotypes, the importance of historiography, and the connection between past and present. By the end of this unit, students will be able to explore and refine 21st-century skills such as research, formative writing, small group collaboration, critical reading/viewing, and active listening skills. Below is a summary of the standards and skills students will refine over this unit.
Critical Reading and Inquiry
- Comprehend a variety of sources in different modes (written, oral, debate, etc.) CR&I1b.
- Contextualize and analyze sources of different types (maps, cartoons, paintings, text, etc.) to interpret historical and current ideas, topics and events. CR&I1c.
- Analyze sources to determine bias, perspective, and reliability. CR&I1d.
Research and Argument
- Form an arguable claim or thesis. R&A2a.
- Gather sources related to a specific topic or to support a claim.R&A2b.
- Organize and clearly present an argument using various methods appropriate to your audience, context and purpose. R&A2e
Applying Disciplinary Concepts and Tools
- Apply knowledge and concepts of civics and government to analyze historical and current ideas, topics, and events. ADC&T3a.
- Apply historical concepts (continuity and change, cause and effect, comparing and contrasting, contextualization, etc.) and tools to analyze historical and current ideas, topics, and events. ADC&T3d.
Communication and Civic Participation
- Communicate about topics and issues in the social sciences in an organized, clear manner orally, through visuals, and in writing. C&CP4a.
Materials for Classroom Use:
- Reading materials (as listed above)
- Notebooks
- Black Permanent Markers
- Construction Paper
- Research databases
- Video Projection
- Computers/laptop