Use These Three Examples To Keep Your Students Engaged
<p><em>By Mary Patterson</em></p>
<p>During my teaching days, this time of year was a tough slog. It’s still cold (at least here at the Bill of Rights Institute headquarters!), and you’re desperate for warmer weather and a good break where you don’t have to take a pile of essays home. How can you ease up a bit but still ensure something meaningful is going on in your classroom?</p>
<p>By using lesson ideas with energy and purpose for students, but with minimal involvement from you! The buzz in the room may surprise you when you take a break from marching through your curriculum (see what I did there?). After all, your students are probably ready for spring and a break too!</p>
<p>Each of these activities uses BRI’s <a href="https://billofrightsinstitute.org/activities/character-cards">Character Cards of American Heroes</a> from our <a href="https://billofrightsinstitute.org/curricula/being-an-american">Being an American</a> curriculum, but you can add any relevant characters to your classroom.</p>
<p>1. The Playlist</p>
<p>Have your students create a playlist for each person. Each song must include a description of why the song is relevant to their story. You can also play some of these songs while students work.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Ida B. Wells, “Not Afraid” by Eminem</p>
<p>Ida B. Wells courageously dedicated her life to fighting lynching. She received death threats, but never gave up with educating the world about the racism and discrimination African-Americans faced in the United States.</p>
<p>2. TIME 100: The Influencers</p>
<p>Ask individuals, partners, or small groups to create an article for their assigned historical figure. Just like in TIME Magazine, the article should be written by a related person (see example below). Students can present their choice and the class can vote for the cover star and decide who is the most influential.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> “George Washington,” written by Alexander Hamilton</p>
<p>“As a member of Washington’s military family, I interacted with the General every day. I saw his tenacity, his temper, but above all his love and sacrifice for the cause of patriotism. I saw his sacrifice again as he served two precedent-setting terms as our nation’s first President.</p>
<p>Beyond the monuments, the quarter, and anywhere else you will find him, Washington is first and foremost a man who loved his country dearly. The country owes him a debt that can never be repaid.”</p>
<p>3. The Diary Entry</p>
<p>a. Draw a picture frame on your own piece of paper. Your frame should use up the whole page.</p>
<p>b. In the center box, draw a colorful picture of your person. Be creative!</p>
<p>c. In the top box, write the person’s name artistically.</p>
<p>d. In the left box, write three sentences about a typical day in this person’s life.</p>
<p>e. In the right box, make a bulleted to-do list for this person. Be creative!</p>
<p>f. In the bottom box, write this person’s <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-give-an-elevator-pitch-examples">elevator pitch</a> about why they are important to U.S. History or civics.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Jackie Robinson</p>
<p>“If you need someone to break barriers, I’m your guy. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to preserve when others try to shut me down. I put aside prejudice and racial strife to show everyone what a talented and exciting athlete I am. I have a career batting average of .311 and a World Series championship to my name, but my passion goes beyond the game. I’m a vocal civil rights activist who believes there is not any American in this country who is free until every one of us is free.”</p>
<p><em>Mary Patterson is a Senior Content Specialist at the Bill of Rights Institute and is a former history and government teacher.</em></p>