Photos! Photos! Photos!

Some of my favorite things to use in the classroom are photos that depict historical events. Students enjoy looking at the photos, and when they're relevant to a lesson, they can really enhance students' involvement and learning. Of course, one should ask questions about the photos, or prompt students to come up with a question that they have about a particular photo, and discuss. I read some research that when photos depict highly emotional events, students tend to recall them and remember the content presented with them better than when the photos don't elicit an emotional response. (Sorry! Where I read this escapes me! Am I plagiarizing since I didn't cite this?!?) Anyway, try photos, they're fun, and usually promote interesting discussions.

Concept-Based Units

I'm really excited about the idea of concept-based units and lessons! I've been reading our book Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction by H. Lynn Erickson, and there are a lot of great ideas in it. I think it's going to be difficult for the idea to catch on, because it's so easy to just teach facts, and never articulate the bigger ideas and concepts we want students to come away with. I really wish I had read this far in the book before I designed my last work sample. I think I would have been able to design the material so it was much more relevant to students, if I had. What have you all thought about the book? Does anyone else see the potential in the application of this material?

Quack! Video Productions on the Bill of Rights

The other day my cooperating teacher wanted my opinion, so he had me watch a couple of videos on the First through Third Amendments to the Constitution. They were put together by college students through a small production company called Quack! Each video was approximately 15 minutes, and they were of good quality. The makers used clips of old films and dubbed voices over them to explain the amendments. They also had a cleverly written script, with commentary by the makers interspersed with the video clips. They were hilarious, and the information was sound. They're geared toward 7-12 grade students, and my cooperating teacher used the videos with his 7th and 8th graders. They loved them, and they can't wait to watch the others (there are four videos that cover the first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights.) If I teach 7th and 8th grade social studies, I will probably use them in my classroom as well. One caveat is that these videos aren't for everyone! You must be a fan of the slightly odd.