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Comment by Bob Irving on February 22, 2012 at 11:55am

Hi all. New member here. I taught HS history for years, segued into technology, became a tech coordinator, and am now also teaching MS history, specifically 7th grade. In our curriculum, it's US history from pre-Revolution through Reconstruction. 

I'm specifically looking for hands-on learning suggestions for the Civil War. Though I love doing projects, I also want to be sure that all students learn the basics of the war (causes, effects, etc. Not so much every battle).

What have people found that works for them? 

Comment by Leticia Hallmark on July 6, 2011 at 10:18pm

I agree with Malissa - analysis is critical skills students must have when entering high school.  I begin the year by teaching students the scientific method - kind of correlates with what's happening in my kids' science classes - that social studies ARE the social SCIENCES.  Then I give them each a party-favor magnifying glass.  With each unit I have them use their "magnifying glass" to "analyze" four different things:  a document, a visual, a song, and a discussion over one of the issues regarding that particular unit. I use the first six weeks to directly teach how to break down a document, a visual, a sound recording, and a discussion.  Then I reinforce those skills in lesson previews and processes.  I also use DBQs for all students 3-4 times a year and 6 times a year for Pre-AP classes.  For example, in 8th Grade American history, we start the year by asking the question, "What is an American?"  We read excerpts of Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer," Whitman's "I Hear America Singing," and Hughes "I Too Hear America Sing."  Then I give students the analysis questions....what is author saying (what is his hypothesis)?  What does he really mean (what is he trying to prove)? Why is he saying that (what is need of experiment)?  What's going on that influence's his feelings (what data is influencing author)?  What conclusion can we draw?  Then we do the same with pictures of the border, Statue of Liberty, etc. and music too, like Stevie Wonder's "Black Man."  We have specific pieces we use for each unit we teach.  6th and 7th do the same.  6th is Contemporary World Cultures - they start by asking "What is the Modern World?" In 7th which here in Texas is TEXAS history....(no comment lol).... we ask why everything seems so big here...kind of leading into stereotypes and the geo of Texas.  It's a lot of fun, and then we go back to the thematic question(s) over the year so they see how conclusions can change over time.  The bottom line is that analysis is a process.

Comment by David Wallace on July 2, 2011 at 11:22pm

Anybody interested in coming up with some group learning targets after the fourth. I was thinking of just creating a google doc that we could input info into. I think if we start with the targets, or what we want kids to know, we can begin to build our units/lessons from there. Let me know what you think! Have a great 4th!

Comment by Timothy Monreal on June 10, 2011 at 9:59pm

I use a lot of CNN Student News and have them answer questions like what are the effects, why is this important, what are some predictions, etc... Using current events at the beginning helps students think in this direction I have found.

Comment by David Wallace on June 9, 2011 at 8:08pm

The next step would be how to do you teach analysis? What tools or topics do you use to teach kids what analyzation is, what it means, how it looks...

Comment by Timothy Monreal on June 2, 2011 at 5:20pm

Malissa-

 I have decided that the most important skill to teach is analyzation. The reason I say this is because most middle school/junior high students do not know what this is. We often say analyze this passage or analyze the effects of a certain event. The problem is that they do not know the questions that good analysis can answer. Once they are taught their minds start coming up with brilliant questions and answers. 

Comment by Malissa Gore on June 2, 2011 at 12:50am

Question for my fellow middle school teachers:  What do you think are the most important skills for a social studies teacher in 8th grade to teach for students to be most successful in high school? 

As I reflect back on the year that was, I want to nail down what these skills are as I prepare for the year ahead.

Comment by Timothy Monreal on June 1, 2011 at 11:26am

Heather sorry for the late response I have been traveling. If you want to email me at tmonreal42@gmail.com I can send you some things I have used. I really like to use The Boy and the Painted Cave to introduce early man

Comment by Heather Woodland on May 23, 2011 at 11:47pm

Actually, I am Canadian but will be teaching at an IB school in Hong Kong. Ancient Greece and Early Man on the curriculum.

Comment by Timothy Monreal on May 23, 2011 at 11:40pm

Heather what state are you from and what are your standards: I have stuff for sixth ancient history and 7th early modern history if any of that helps

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