Student Journals in US History

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Student Journals in US History

by NJTEACH

Dec 17, 2010

I will be starting a unit on the American Revolution and I would like to incorporate a student journal into my plans. Any ideas for how to organize this? I have 42 minute classes and I thought that I would have students respond to 5 events leading up to the Revolution and 5 events during the Revolution and 5 events afterwards. Any creative or organizational ideas would be great!!! Thanks.

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Bulldog - back to Lynde Basically, it's a kind of a "day in the life of..." For instance, imagine what was on the Day-Timer for Leonidas at the Battle of Thermopylae... 8a - Eat breakfast 830a - Sharpen sword, shine armor 915a - Encourage the troops 945a - Taunt the Persians 10a - Launch attack 11a - Die a horrific death at the hands of the Immortals This is a goofy examp...See MoreBasically, it's a kind of a "day in the life of..." For instance, imagine what was on the Day-Timer for Leonidas at the Battle of Thermopylae... 8a - Eat breakfast 830a - Sharpen sword, shine armor 915a - Encourage the troops 945a - Taunt the Persians 10a - Launch attack 11a - Die a horrific death at the hands of the Immortals This is a goofy example, but you get the idea.

Bulldog!

On 12/19/10, Lynde wrote: > Bulldog--your "to-do list" sounds interesting. Can you explain > what/how, etc? > > > On 12/19/10, Bulldog wrote: >> I agree with Sara - 5 is too many. I would do one or two and >> have them focus on those. Kev (mrroughton.com) has some neat >> projects that I also use. One is "Be the Thing". The student >> tells the history from the objects point of view. You could >> also do a day planner of a person where the student does a to do >> list of what the person wold be doing that day. >> >> Good luck. >> >> Bulldog! >> >> On 12/18/10, Sara wrote: >>> On 12/17/10, NJTEACH wrote: >>>> I will be starting a unit on the American Revolution and I >>>> would like to incorporate a student journal into my plans. >>>> Any ideas for how to organize this? I have 42 minute >>>> classes and I thought that I would have students respond to >>>> 5 events leading up to the Revolution and 5 events during >>>> the Revolution and 5 events afterwards. Any creative or >>>> organizational ideas would be great!!! Thanks. >>> >>> 5 events sounds like a groaner - and what 5? Any random 5? To >>> invite more creative and/or critical thinking, have them choose >>> the one event that they feel was more contributory to the >>> outbreak of revolution. And then have them choose what was the >>> most positive outcome of the revolution and the most negative >>> outcome of the revolution. >>> >>> Then they just don't fill the page, they have to make a >>> decision about the events. >>> >>> I don't do journals - but the kind(s) of questions I put above >>> are the kind of questions that I use to initiate discussion. >>> >>> >>> >>>

Dec 20, 2010

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Lynde Thanks for the idea! Sounds great. I think my kids might enjoy this one, and I can see how it might help them to process, and certainly to reinforce. Thanks.

On 12/20/10, Bulldog - back to Lynde wrote: > Basically, it's a kind of a "day in the life of..." For instance, > imagine what was on the Day-Timer for Leonidas at the Battle of...See MoreThanks for the idea! Sounds great. I think my kids might enjoy this one, and I can see how it might help them to process, and certainly to reinforce. Thanks.

On 12/20/10, Bulldog - back to Lynde wrote: > Basically, it's a kind of a "day in the life of..." For instance, > imagine what was on the Day-Timer for Leonidas at the Battle of > Thermopylae... > 8a - Eat breakfast > 830a - Sharpen sword, shine armor > 915a - Encourage the troops > 945a - Taunt the Persians > 10a - Launch attack > 11a - Die a horrific death at the hands of the Immortals > This is a goofy example, but you get the idea. > > Bulldog! > > On 12/19/10, Lynde wrote: >> Bulldog--your "to-do list" sounds interesting. Can you explain >> what/how, etc? >> >> >> On 12/19/10, Bulldog wrote: >>> I agree with Sara - 5 is too many. I would do one or two and >>> have them focus on those. Kev (mrroughton.com) has some neat >>> projects that I also use. One is "Be the Thing". The student >>> tells the history from the objects point of view. You could >>> also do a day planner of a person where the student does a to do >>> list of what the person wold be doing that day. >>> >>> Good luck. >>> >>> Bulldog! >>> >>> On 12/18/10, Sara wrote: >>>> On 12/17/10, NJTEACH wrote: >>>>> I will be starting a unit on the American Revolution and I >>>>> would like to incorporate a student journal into my plans. >>>>> Any ideas for how to organize this? I have 42 minute >>>>> classes and I thought that I would have students respond to >>>>> 5 events leading up to the Revolution and 5 events during >>>>> the Revolution and 5 events afterwards. Any creative or >>>>> organizational ideas would be great!!! Thanks. >>>> >>>> 5 events sounds like a groaner - and what 5? Any random 5? To >>>> invite more creative and/or critical thinking, have them choose >>>> the one event that they feel was more contributory to the >>>> outbreak of revolution. And then have them choose what was the >>>> most positive outcome of the revolution and the most negative >>>> outcome of the revolution. >>>> >>>> Then they just don't fill the page, they have to make a >>>> decision about the events. >>>> >>>> I don't do journals - but the kind(s) of questions I put above >>>> are the kind of questions that I use to initiate discussion. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>

Dec 20, 2010

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Matthew I have found it helpful when doing activities like these to force organization on my students. What that possibly looks like it is creating a packet of paper for your students. I'm not sure what age you are teaching but mine tend to lose a single paper. If I ask them to get out a journal entry they made 10 days ago the chances are it won't be found...See More

Jan 20, 2011

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Ahhhrats Several years ago a teacher I was working with shared with me some materials from HistoryAlive. They suggested using a journal that is a 70 page spiral notebook. If you use it as they recommend, students do not remove any of the pages from the notebook. They number them and then create a table of contents in the back so that they can access the mat...See More

Jan 21, 2011

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curiositycat We use Interactive Student Notebooks (like Ahhhrats described) in my eighth-grade U.S. history class everyday. The kids filled out a survey at the end of the first semester, and many said that the ISNs are their favorite element of the class. Simply google the term, and you'll find sites on how to set them up. History Alive! has one that you can or...See More

Jan 23, 2011

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