I am preparing for my first year of teaching 8th grade Social Studies. I only have one year experience in middle school -- and that was 7th grade social studies (my student teaching). During that year we used a few simulations that students really seemed to enjoy.
I'm looking for similar simulations that will help with the "big picture" ideas for U.S. History. A good "westward expansion" simulation or maybe something about colonialism -- or something for the Constitution.
Any ideas? Any "tried & tested" simulation experiences?
Thanks! Do you have any suggestions for which are good simulations? I see DOZENS of them and they can be pretty expensive. Have you used any in particular?
I teach 7th grade.
Look at the transparency of Westward Movement. HA demonstrations usually use that in their seminars.
I am pretty sure they are having seminars during the summer.
You should check it out. Go on line to their web site.
Teacher Created Resources has readers theater books available. They sell for around $15 or so. Would be a good place to start and tho' TCI's materials look great they are expensive. An option on that would be to check ebay. Sometimes they have used material for a lot less.
Robert,
Do you teach the Civil War? Something I've done is divide the class into N/S groups. I do this in % of states in the areas so that the kids can visually see advantages and disadvantages. They sit in these groups too. That is hard for you to divide if the group is hard. Then I have the kids write their names on popsicle sticks. When we study a major battle I pull a stick and whoever is on the stick is in that battle. Some are injured, some die etc.
One class who had a group problem of turning in work, I worked out a system of "injuries" for lack of hmwrk.
One group approached me and asked to represent the west and WVA so that made me happy b/c they realized the roll of those areas.
Its not a simulation, but is cheap and visual and gets the kids talking when they can see the odds. I've even gone as far as putting "rr" in and destroying them during Sherman's march.
As long as you go over the rules for discussing and respecting those that died (you know this age loves the violence) it can serve as a great board for discussion. When issues arise like Southerners fighting for the North you are able to say, Okay Timmy you have been fighting in the South and lost friends, (lost points) how would you feel if your neighbor Lisa left and fought against you.
I do something similar with the Revolution based on the Patriots and Loyalists. I like a lot of discussion and movement in the room so they are able to turn our room into the simulation.
I hope that makes sense. I have a small personal budget and little to no school budget so I try to do things that are inexpensive but the kids remember them.
Good luck. I've taught 8th grade for 15 years now and love it.
I love doing experientials. They make everything come alive!
I'm not sure what curriculum you're dealing with but 2 of my favorites outside of TCI are:
1. Taxation without Representation: When students come in, I tell them they have a pop quiz today. However, our school district is running low on funds. Because of this, they have limited our paper supply. To be able to take the quiz, students must pay $0.10. If they refuse to pay, they will receive a 0. Students are startled, but starting pulling out dimes and asking friends for money. One student usually speaks up and starts complaining. I ask them why are they upset, these are the rules, I'm the teacher so just do it, etc. This leads into a good discussion about how the colonists felt when they were taxed by Britain.
2. Civil Rights: This is similar to the brown eyed/blue eyed experiment. I pick some aspect of the students wardrobe as the deciding factor (jeans, tennis shoes, etc.). I then treat the students wearing something other than jeans like royalty for the entire class. They get to sit up front, they get to borrow paper, they get to ask/answer questions. This makes the "other" students upset and again, one brave soul speaks out. We then have a discussion about how it feels when ones rights are taken away. I have students write about what their experience was like and then share. It's interesting to hear from both sides.
simulations are great, but i would not overlook the power of teen literature. In fact, the two connect. take the book My Brother Sam is Dead by Collier and Collier (but there are many more the the NCTSS portion of the children's book council has an entire list of books they pick every year on all portions of social studies). in the book there are three characters: the father, a loyalist, Sam, his son a continental and the younger brother, who is undecided. In the course of the rev war as it is described in the book Sam is accused of stealing cattle and executed by his own army. By the way, he was innocent. Meanwhile, dad's gun, old bess, becomes an issue with the british troops. As I recall dad would not let the british have it either. as a result he is imprisoned on a ship in boston harbor, where he dies.
All of the historical data is real in collier and collier's books. things like this really happened. so the question is, was it worth it? the younger brother comes away with the feeling that if the continentals and the king had tried harder to listen, the war would not have happened and his dad and brother would still be alive.
I'm not saying the class has to read the whole book. You could do a book talk and read key passages and then let the class debate the issue, which is does war ever excuse itself? Since war is by definition a pretty nasty business, does the military end ever justify the military means?
i like the idea of coming in and being devils advocate and saying that the whole war was a waste of men and money and women too, for that matter. and keep pushing until someone disagrees, which they will. then turn it into a question and answer lesson on war. do we have the right to go to war for any cause. have there been unjust wars. Why was ww ii just and the gulf was not, and so on.
Any way, teen lit is wonderful. kids feel free to agree or disagree with the heroes or heroines plight, and the complex issues of the time become both simpler and more human. ciao
07-27-2008, 12:30 PM
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