Category: Student Posts

I am currently teaching a class titled, “America and the Contemporary World,” a high school history class primarily for 11th graders. This lesson will fit into the context of the Cold War unit, where students should have a firm grasp on the conflict with the USSR and the United States’ foreign policy during the time. Through the lens of the events leading to the Vietnam War, this lesson will center on the essential question:

What is the purpose of government?

More specifically, this lesson will examine multiple forms of government and the role that the United States should play in foreign affairs. Our class will begin with an inquiry into visual propaganda produced by the United States during the time period. I will follow this “primer” with a short lecture on the division of North and South Vietnam and the leaders of each country: Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem. The lecture will focus on why the nations divided, Ho Chi Minh’s communist ideology in North Vietnam, and the U.S.-backed leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, in South Vietnam.

Process:

1. Split class into two teams – assign each team a half of the chosen propaganda image. After they analyze the image, lead a short discussion about what they saw to set the context for the lesson.

2. Introduce historical context for the lesson.

3. Offer brief introduction of Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem

4. Have students read provided articles and complete exit ticket. Use exit ticket as a guide for class discussion. Finish class with pointed essential question.

Resources:

Interactive Google Slide Show

Vietnam War Timeline – BBC

Articles Provided by U.C. Davis History Blueprint Program

 

Featured Image:  Left – Ho Chi Minh – Wikimedia Commons  //  Right – Ngo Dinh Diem – Archives.gov

Renaissance Art, Architecture and Literature
8^th grade social studies

Essential unit question:
How do certain elements of culture shape society?

Previous knowledge:
In the previous lesson, students were introduced to the Renaissance. Students learned why and how it began and the ideas behind humanism and individualism, and how these ideas shaped Europe. Students also learned that there were advances in the arts and sciences.

Learning target for lesson:
In this lesson, students compare and contrast pre- and post-Renaissance art, architecture, and literature, to further understand the ideas that shaped the Renaissance.

Process:
With a partner, students will look at a series of paintings, sculptures, buildings, and literature from the Medieval and Renaissance period. They will observe these pictures and create a chart (one chart per pair is fine).

	Medieval	Renaissance
Paintings
Sculptures
Architecture
Literature

After students complete the chart, have a class discussion on what they noticed.

Each pair will be assigned to read more information on either Art, Architecture, or Literature in the Renaissance from the textbook. We will then reconvene as a class, and each pair will share to the class what they learned about the topic which they read.

Closing activity for this lesson will be completing a Google Doc, in which students will write what they thought was the most influential part of the Renaissance and why. Students are encouraged to engage with each other within the Doc; to say if they agree or want to add on to someone’s statement, or perhaps have a rebuttal.

GOOGLE DOC HERE