Since I am a history nut, it is named The Square Deal. Do you remember what president used this slogan? Like other flipped content, The Square Deal activity is done outside of class. The Square Deal is also used to differentiate instruction in any class with any content. It gives students many choices (12) to demonstrate what they have learned and prepares them with the valuable background knowledge necessary to conquer the higher level tasks you will coach them through in class. There is a choice that touches upon each of the documented intelligences in multiple intelligence research and brain-based learning. Students enjoy the independence afforded to them and I love to maximize the number of opportunities for student each student to succeed. Take a moment to view the preview. This activity is all inclusive! You will only have to make copies and assign.

Creating an animations is a fun and engaging way for students to demonstrate their learning. This learning template can be used with any subject. lt emphasizes learning in the 21st century via content and creativity. It is pre-loaded with content that explores imperialism but you can easily edit in any content to suit your needs. The activity guides your students by taking a simple three part approach: research, practice, and create. I have included everything you will need to coach your students through the process: specific instructions, examples, video tutorial, and a rubric. It even includes an element that addresses fair use and citations.

Do you want to bring several historic periods and many events to life through a lovable fictional character named Forrest Gump? Let Hollywood help. Forrest Gump is rated PG-13 and is a film that touches upon many topics covered in a U.S. History course. This movie is used at the end of the semester as a review resource. This lesson connects your students to history with Forrest as their guide. There are several pause points that will give you an opportunity to discuss and do some quick research that is historically appropriate. My students love ending the year with this activity! This lesson includes an answer key and 29 questions that guide your students through the action. Questions are divided into two parts, multiple choice and sequencing. When shown in class, it takes three traditional (50 minute) classes. You will have to purchase the movie.

Do you want to bring a historic period or event to life? Let Hollywood help. Red Tails is rated PG13 and is a great film that follows the story of some of the first African Americans to participate in combat during World War II. This movie will bring to life some of the struggles associated with fighting a war. As students get to know the characters, you will have many opportunities to make many connections or refer back to their stories. This lesson includes an answer key and 50 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie. The run time is 127 minutes.

Do you want to bring a historic period or event to life? Let Hollywood help. The Ernest Green Story is rated PG and is a film that follows the story of the Little Rock Nine as they become the first students to integrate a high school in the south. Students will enjoy seeing the style of dress and the cars. They will also become keenly aware of the courage and bravery it took to end segregation. As your students get to know the characters, you will have many opportunities to make many connections and/or refer back to their stories. This lesson includes a movie review, an answer key, and 30 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie.

Have your students follow the action during World War II as the Allies try to regain control of Europe! This activity will engage your students with four maps that describes the fighting from North Africa to Italy to France. It also includes a YouTube clip to Saving Private Ryan (hitting the beaches) to build student interest. The printable worksheet is set up so students can record their findings on the handout or can respond via a bubble answer template to 10 questions. It is a great activity that emphasizes map skills while learning about history.

The Similes in History strategy will challenge your student’s creativity while requiring them to demonstrate content knowledge. In this literacy activity, students must document their learning by constructing seven similes that touch upon the Great Depression & New Deal. All literacy strategies can easily be aligned to CCSS. You can assign or students can decide the topics. This activity can be done individually, with partners or groups, or split between both to encourage collaboration. It includes a brief 10 minute video clip explaining what a simile is, directions, examples, and an answer template for students to record their creativity. This activity serves as a great non-traditional assessment piece. It usually takes me one (50 minute) class period and every time it is used several students amaze me with the creative examples they generate. They will do the same for you too!

Hidden Figures centers on the struggles of three African-American women that worked for NASA during a pivotal time in American History. As you watch, you might find it interesting that as America struggles in the race to space, they also have many problems on earth with the topic of race. Hidden Figures is a great movie that touches upon many topics: American History Civil Rights Movement Race Gender Equity Cold War Race to Space Math Science Careers I use it in a U.S. History and Geography class but could substantiate using it in Psychology, Sociology, Math, or Science classes. This lesson includes a movie review (three days), an answer key, and 33 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie. Teacher Note: Students can identify with the young characters in this movie. The entertainment qualities of the movie also spark student interest. Leverage both to scaffold students into more complicated concepts in your course. The movie also serves as great background information that you can use as conversation starters in class. These conversations are the seeds of relationship building and help you make it more than a movie, you will make it memorable.

Do you want to bring a historic period or event to life? Let Hollywood help. The Lost Battalion is rated PG and is a film is a fact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I. Students will enjoy seeing how the soldiers were outfitted but be shocked by the brutality of trench warfare. They will also become keenly aware of the courage and bravery it took to fight in WWI. As your students get to know the characters, you will have many opportunities to make many connections and/or refer back to their stories. This lesson includes a movie review, an answer key, and 27 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie.

Have your students chart the growth of America as a world power! This activity will engage your students as they research territorial acquisitions from 1870 to 1930. The printable worksheet is set up so students can record their findings and once finished, plot the new territories on a world map. Map is also included.

Do you want to bring a historic period or event to life? Let Hollywood help. The Grapes of Wrath is rated G and is a film that follows the story of the Joad family as they are removed from the family farm and struggle to make it during the Great Depression. Students will become keenly aware of the problems facing farmers during the depression. As your students get to know the characters, you will have many opportunities to make many connections and/or refer back to their stories. This lesson includes an answer key and 50 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie.

Do you want to bring a historic period or event to life? Let Hollywood help. Apollo 13 is rated PG and is a film that follows the crew of the Apollo 13 space mission from training to space. After several critical mechanical failures, students will be on the edge of their seats wondering if the crew will make it back to earth . As your students get to know the characters, you will have many opportunities to make many connections and/or refer back to their stories. This lesson includes an answer key and 30 questions that guide your students through the action. You will have to purchase the movie.

Are you teaching about World War II? Do you need a resource to help students explore the Japanese American Internment? Let me help you with an engaging lesson from my literacy series. It is called LINK and it is conducted in four part: List, Inquire, Notes, and Know. All parts can be done in one traditional class period or assigned as homework. It has been a class favorite since it was started. If you can think, you can LINK, and that don’t stink:-) This item includes the LINK lesson, including a brief supporting article and a video tutorial demonstrating how the activity is to be conducted.

A wordsort is an organizational strategy that learners will love (view this http://goo.gl/kHJVMD). This literacy building strategy begins with the reading of an article (included) about Globalization. After reading, students are given a number of terms and phrases that must be organized to demonstrate an understanding of the content. They use what they know and the article to sort the words and phrases from general to specific. An answer template is included. The activity ends with students documenting their learning on a pre-designed template (also included). Also included is a brief graphing exercise and an area to summarize what has been learned as a formative assessment. The wordsort activity has everything you will need. This is a great two day lesson and I have also included a brief video tutorial to guide you through the process. To save you more time, an answer template is also part of this package.

How do you teach reading in the content area? This popular question is answered by explaining how to do the Close and Critical Reading Activity. It is an engaging lesson from my literacy series and it is also referred to as Guided Highlighted Reading. This activity applies to key events that describe the factors of the American Industrial Revolution. This lesson is conducted in three parts: read prompts/highlight article, revisit prompts to discuss or correct any errors, and assess (ten question quiz). All parts can be done in one traditional class period. It has been a class favorite since it was started. Except for the highlighters, this item includes everything you will need: the teacher read prompts, article for students, quiz for students, answer key, and a video tutorial demonstrating how the activity is to be conducted. This activity also aligns easily to CCSS.

This project supports a book, Black Boy, by acclaimed author Richard Wright. Each year I use an audiobook to play a few sections to start each class during the first semester. It gives me a great opportunity to communicate my expectations pertaining to an appropriate class start and the benefits of being a good listener. By the end of the semester, my students have a scholarly book under their belt and a great narrative of a historic period in time provided by an age appropriate character. The project is divided into seven parts and does not include the book. Each part is represented on a rubric that guides students through the activity: email, professionally done, geography, history, notes, discussion board, and compare/contrast. Check out a student example by following this link: http://goo.gl/QEQ6G1 I have included the answer template, a video to coach students through the compare and contrast activity, and a summary describing Richard Wright.

How do you teach reading in the content area? This popular question is answered by explaining how to do the Close and Critical Reading Activity. It is an engaging lesson from my literacy series and it is also referred to as Guided Highlighted Reading. This activity applies to key events that describe the beginning of World War II from the invasion of Poland to America entering the war. This lesson is conducted in three parts: read prompts/highlight article, revisit prompts to discuss or correct any errors, and assess (timeline activity). All parts can be done in one traditional class period. It has been a class favorite since it was started. Except for the highlighters, this item includes everything you will need: the teacher read prompts, list of vocabulary terms, article for students, answer key, and a video tutorial demonstrating how the activity is to be conducted.

Do you need another approach to teaching reading in the content area? If so, I have just the activity for you. You Make the Read is a quick activity that emphasizes literacy and writing while learning about course content. It can be completed in one 50 minute period. First, students read the passage/article included in this lesson and they will write “yes” or “no” questions that focus upon the most important parts of the article. Next, students are given time to quiz each other (using the questions they have developed) before facing off against the champ…..you the teacher! The teacher finishes the activity by reading students his/her questions. Students can use the questions they made, not the article, to help answers the questions you read them. This engaging lesson from my literacy series is always a lot of fun and part of every unit. Everything you need is included with this lesson:-)

This assessment consists of 40 questions that focus on the United States during World War II. It ties in the fighting overseas as well as the efforts at home. Also include are questions about the holocaust, the Nuremberg Trials, and the Japanese Internment. All questions are in a multiple choice or matching format. An answer key is included too.

How do you teach reading in the content area? This popular question is answered by explaining how to do the Close and Critical Reading Activity. It is an engaging lesson from my literacy series and it is also referred to as Guided Highlighted Reading. This activity describes the why America became involved with imperialism. This lesson is conducted in three parts: read prompts/highlight article, revisit prompts to discuss or correct any errors, and assess. The assessment for this activity is to create a graph using a table of data and brief paragraph. All parts can be done in one traditional class period. It has been a class favorite since it was started. Except for the highlighters, this item includes everything you will need: the teacher read prompts, article for students, brief assessment, answer key, and a video tutorial demonstrating how the activity is to be conducted.