I. Can I use/borrow/steal your assignment ideas and lessons?
II. What is "World History Adventure" and how is your class like a game?
III. How is your typical Unit structured?
IV. What textbook are your book work assignments keyed to?
I. Can I use/borrow/steal your assignment ideas and lessons?
Of course! When I first became a teacher I searched relentlessly for generic lesson ideas that could be applied to any unit. I didn't find much. It was this that motivated my colleague Mr. Roughton (www.mrroughton.com) and I to create and compile the "Choose Your Own Adventure" activities. So please... use it. That's why it's there.
But if you do use anything, can you please do me two favors?
- First, let me know how it worked out in your class (we're always trying to improve things).
- Secondly, if you repost it on your own site, could you please link back to my site?
II. What is "World History Adventure" and how is your class like a game?
This cannot be answered in a small paragraph so read on...
Basics - What's in a Name? Each unit is a level and each unit is divided into sub levels like in Super Mario Bros. World 1-1, 1-2, etc. Many regular activities have simply received name changes to fit the game model. I do an anticipatory unit activity which I call a "Walkthrough", study guides are called "Strategy Guides", and quizzes are called "Bosses". The Power of Quiz Scores I use quiz scores to reward students. If a student gets an 80% or better on a quiz they are allowed to move on to something called Choose Your Own Adventure (I'll get to that in a minute). If they get a 100% on the quiz they can choose a "power-up": 1. The Compass allows the student to sit where they want for the entire next unit. 2. The Fruit allows the student to eat in class for the entire next unit. 3. With the Magic Quill I give students a printed copy of the next unit's notes. 4. The Life Preserver gives students 10 points of extra credit and 300 points toward an class competition I call "World History Adventure" Are you still following me? Choose Your Own Adventure Okay back to CYOA. Students with an 80% or better on a quiz are allowed to choose from the various assignments you saw on my site. They love this freedom and they are motivated to do well on quizzes because of it. Basically, I just tell them to complete a certain number of points worth of assignments... say 40 points. I don't care which assignments they choose as long as they follow the directions and complete 40 points worth. Students who get less than 80% on the quiz do not get to choose and, instead, must complete a "Retry" assignment. World History Adventure I teach 5 periods of Social Studies. In order to motivate them to good effort, behavior, and deeds I award points to classes. For example, I award points for lining up, cleaning up the floor after class, earning good grades, donating to school supported causes (Haiti, pop-tabs for the Ronald MacDonald House, etc.), finding historical references in pop-culture, etc. There is a threshold of points which each class is racing to reach. The first class to hit the threshold gets a class party (games, doughnuts, pizza). The system is essentially a glorified marble jar. In Closing I hope this helps (and I hope it all makes sense). I have to say... it works. Using the same quizzes I have used for years, I have noticed quiz scores rocket upward and the number of 100% quizzes has doubled and at times tripled. |
III. How is your typical Unit structured?
1. Walkthroughs - This is a textbook assignment that prepares students for the rest of the Unit and focuses on reading maps/charts and analyzing pictures.
2. Notes - These are the meat and potatoes of my class. This is where I cover all of the state standards. Students take notes 3-4 times per unit and they compose 40-50 days of the school year.
3. Labs - These include historical simulations, class discussions, film notes, etc. They vary from unit to unit but are all designed to bring the unit alive.
4. Strategy Guides - (aka"study guides") - These are completed at the end of each unit just before the quiz or test.
5. Quizzes (50 points) - Quizzes are composed of multiple choice questions, true/false questions, identifications, and mini-essay questions.
6. Tests (100 points) - Every six weeks all teachers in my Social Studies Department give a Standards-based Criterion-Referenced Test (CRT).
7. Choose Your Own Adventure (40-80 points) - After each unit students receive a list of possible assignments/projects. They get to choose which ones they complete, and they may complete more than I ask for extra credit.
IV. What textbook are your book work assignments keyed to? (That's right I ended the sentence with "to".)
Though my PowerPoint notes more closely resemble TCi's History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond text, my bookwork assignments are keyed to Holt's Medieval to Early Modern Times. I fought for my district to adopt TCi, but the vetran establishment outvoted me and my cohorts.