Interactive Alternatives in Civics / History Brian Surkan The Walker School
Interactive Alternatives in Teaching History v01
Jun 19, 2015
Interaction and communications are integral to the flow of my civics class. Students maintain a student blog for each class, containing a summary of class events and homework assignments. Additionally, technology facilitates simulations which help students to integrate civics concepts into their daily understanding of reality. For example, in Mock Congress, students apply their prior study of the Constitution to a simulation of the legislative process—complete with lobbyists, press, and (virgin) cocktail parties—to understand how the system works by living it. Take-home tests and dynamic projects also provide them with opportunities to collaborate and communicate in innovative ways.
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Interactive Alternatives inCivics / History
Brian SurkanThe Walker School
Humble Beginnings
Shoe Tax
Classroom Risk
Mock Congress
Day 1: Project Introduction
Roles• 1 – President• 1 – VP (opposite gender of President)• 4 – Senators (2 for each gender [state])• 7 – House Members• 5 – 7 Reporters• 5 – 7 Lobbyists
Day 2: Elections
Day 3: Role Assignments
Day 4: Writing Bills
Day 4: Cocktail Party
Day 5: Committee
Day 6: House / Senate
Day 7: Re-ElectionsSpecial Circumstances• Speeches cite achievements / press• Only vote of confidence for incumbents• President / VP Run Separately• No new candidates• Non-politicians have 3-5 votes each• Politicians have 1 vote each• 10% of politician’s grade linked to re-election
MC: Variations and Considerations
• Contextualize Mock Congress in history– Favorite Elections: 1928, 1932, 1936– Require relevant bills / identities for the time
• Add extra days between deadlines• Choose Tuesdays for deadlines over Mondays• Find innovative grading techniques
Simulations & Seminars
7th
Grade US History
Full Seminar Format
Student - Centricity
Persona Projects
Student Responsibility• Student Participation Grade– Encourage intrinsic motivation / citizenship– Value contributions beyond tests / homework
• Student Blogs and Class Jobs– Class summary & homework bloggers– Janitor
• Student-led Discussions– Current Events– Reading Reviews
Civics through Movies• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington– Compliments Mock Congress– Illustrates how Constitution protects minorities
• Harry Potter V: The Order of the Phoenix– Limits to the Role of Government– Unintended Consequences
• Hunger Games– Reconstruction in the South– Local v. Centralized Government
History through Movies• The Patriot– Tensions between Patriots, Loyalists & Neutrals– Tactics, morale, relations to slaves / blacks
• Colonial House (1873 Montana)– What was it really like in the West?
• 1900 House– What was life like just before WWI?– How many modern inventions were American?
• 1940 House
Questions?
Other Resources• The not so Wild, Wild West: Property Rights
on the Frontier– By: Terry L. Anderson and Peter J. Hill
• The Myth of the Robber Barons– By: Burton W. Folsom, Jr.
• Keynes v. Hayek Rap– Stimulates discussion about Economic policies
Sources 1 (order of appearance)
• clipartoday.com/…/School_4_tnb.png• thecoloradoobserver.com/…/classroom.jpg• 3.bp.blogspot.com/…/6a00e554ae4b6e88340115700e5987970b-4
50wi.jpg• worldmapsonline.com/…/World-Map-mural_detail.jpg• cityofclarkston.com/.../vote-button.gif• 1.bp.blogspot.com/.../coming_in_next_to_last_812925.jpg• 4.bp.blogspot.com/.../Lobbyist%252520vs_%252520Voter%255B2
%255D.jpg• prmarketing.com/.../reporter.gif• 1.bp.blogspot.com/…/i%2527m+just+a+bill+school+house+rock.jpg• plug-in.bestbuy.ca/.../original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1• i00.i.aliimg.com/…/Used_shoes.jpg• Personal photos by Brian Surkan @ Challenger• flickr.com/photos/perkinsy/6330361223/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Sources 2 (order of appearance)
• 11 Alive Video and Image• Photo by Brian Surkan @ The Walker School• broadinstitute.org/.../HapMap3-fullsize.png
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