Historical Figures Trading Cards Research Activity

While teaching for the P-Tech Academy, students had to research a number of historical figures from the final unit of the course and create trading cards.  Students were required to research 2 Renaissance/Scientific Revolution thinkers, 2 explorers from the Age of Exploration, and 2 absolute monarch.

The activity served two purposes:  (1) to help students to review the historical figures discussed throughout the last unit and (2) to provide students a chance to practice research skills while learning more about the figures they were reviewing.

Religions/Belief Systems Research Project/Presentations

For the project, students were required to work with a partner to research two religions and/or belief systems.  As part of the project, students needed to be able to compare and contrast the two religions/belief systems and develop a presentation.  During the process, students learned how to use collaborate software, such as Google Slides and Prezi.  I assigned this project for the Global 9 classes I taught at PCS and at P-Tech.  Click here to download project assignment sheet.

Country Research Project

While teaching for the P-Tech academy, students worked on a month long research project and presentation.  Students were required to select a country and to research it.  As part of the project, students needed to pretend they were travel agencies trying to pitch a travel abroad field trip to a school district.  The presentations needed to be persuasive and informational.

As part of the project, students needed to provide

• Provide a brief historical background about the country they were presenting
• Give an overview of country's government and economic system (for example, is it a republic/democracy, monarchy, etc.; does it have a mixed economy, traditional economy, etc.; key imports/exports, industries)
• Provide audience with information about the country's culture (language(s), clothing, food, holidays and ceremonies, achievements/accomplishments, art and architecture, etc.)

Ancient Rome Board Games/ABC Book Projects

While long-term substitute teaching at PCS, my 9th grade class completed a project to conclude the Ancient Rome unit.  Students had the option of creating an educational board game or an ABCs of Ancient Rome book.  Most students opted to create a board game, while a couple of groups created ABC books. When all of the projects were completed, the students had the chance to play each other's board game, and the groups who created ABC books read them to the class.

Additional pictures can be viewed on the Potsdam High School Facebook Page:  (Link will open in a new tab or window)

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1284921768191418&id=149045258445747&match=Y2hhcGlu

Political Cartoons Activity (P-Tech Academy)

While teaching for the P-Tech academy, students were required to create a political cartoon related to the material covered in the last unit of the course.  Students created cartoons regarding the start of the early Modern Era, the Age of Exploration, and Absolutism and Divine Right.  The purpose of the activity was to help students develop their ability to think symbolically while reinforcing concepts discussed throughout the unit.

Political Cartoons Activity (Norwood-Norfolk)

During the last two class days before Spring Break, there were a number of students going to be out, and classes were shortened for report card day/night, so instead of beginning new material, I created a political cartoon activity for both my Global 9 and Global 10 courses at Norwood-Norfolk.  Students had to pick a topic from the previous two chapters we had covered (Global 9 had finished  covering the age of absolutism and the Enlightenment, while the Global 10 classes completed independence and nationalist movements in Asia and Africa after World War II).  After students created their cartoons, they had to write a brief explanation of it's symbolism and meaning on the back of the cartoon.  All of the cartoons were hung up on the chalkboards, and students had to try to interpret each other's cartoons.