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Thresholds

Bryan Dibble

So this isn't some power-packed punch, just a simple slides to cover thresholds.  Wouldn't be the same without David Christian's voice, so the 2 minute threshold vid is embedded.  But there is that talking point added about sharing a personal threshold, and with teacher explanation of the term "threshold" and the definition and such, you'll get a solid twenty minutes or more out of just what's here.  BUT- what I do next I think is important.  I have the students take a blank index card, put their names on it and circle their names or highlight their names.  At the end of my presentation, and showing them what each BHP threshold is, they stand up and find another kid in class, and if they feel ready, they recite the 8 thresholds in order without looking.  Yup, memorization.  Don't know how you feel about this, but in my experience there is too little of it sometimes.  I like when after my kids memorize the 8, they make that connection to the next phase knowing what's coming.  Studying new chemical elements means they KNOW Earth and the solar system are coming next, then life...and so on.  Really helps them make the jump, and I can refer forward and backwards anytime and they get it.  IF a student can recite them in order, the kid listening and checking them then signs their card.  Then they take their card to the next kid, and keep going trying to get EVERYONE to sign their card including me.  What's great about this simple activity is that the students who have a harder time memorizing are still getting to hear the 8 from every kid in the room.  Eventually they get it done themselves.  I give them about 15 minutes, which is NOT enough time to get everyone, so I can make it a fun challenge and competition.  In the whole activity, I can assess what they share with each other, and I have an index card to show me how many in my class can recite the thresholds.  

Thresholds Introduction Slides

  • Hey  ! This is a lot of fun and there's nothing wrong with memorization. Slight smile I love using the Threshold Name Game in Unit 1 to get students to know each other and the thresholds. I put students into groups of 8 (you may have one or two smaller groups and in that case a couple people just double up) and they introduce themselves to the group along with their threshold. EX: "Hi, i'm Kathy, and I'm Threshold One, the Big Bang." The next person would say "I'm Bryan, and I'm Threshold Two, the Stars Light Up. This is Kathy, and she's Threshold One, the Big Bang." And so on...

    I think it would be fun to combine these two activities. One thing I like about this is you can do it as a review throughout the year! It's a fun way to come back after school breaks and get students focused on the narrative. Thanks so much for sharing. Great way to actively engage students!

  • in reply to Kathy Hays

    The only reason I didn't use the Threshold Name Game is because I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT.  Really, three years in BHP, and it just dawned on me I've heard reference to it, but until you put in the link- no clue.  My teaching partner and I knew we'd get some mileage out of having the kids memorize them, but of course we had to take the extra time to make something up.  My work is becoming more streamlined as I learn about the strategies offered up in the forum.  I know I'm missing something else... uh, wonder what that is.  No, really, tomorrow I'll find something I could have used last week.     I won't go into detail, but I just used two awesome WHP ideas back to back that I picked up for my world history class.  Wouldn't have even had a clue without the ideas offered up by others.  

  • in reply to Kathy Hays

    Thanks for sharing your slides  ! I love the idea of working in some memorization skills in the beginning of the year. We do plenty of higher order thinking in BHP, but it is also important to exercise other lower order- yet very useful skills, like memorization. 

    Like Bryan, I also didn't know that the Threshold Name Game existed! Thank you so much for linking this in  ! What a fun way to remember the thresholds. I also like the idea of revisiting the activity as the year goes on! 

  • in reply to Adriane Musacchio

    I'll still be learning names two month from now.  I need the name game.

  • I love the threshold name game. I also have them say each other’s  names as they call out the thresholds. This year, I followed it up with threshold goal setting. It gave me a chance to talk about concepts while getting to know them. I gave them the choice of setting short term or long term goals.

  • in reply to Hajra Saeed

    I mention Goldilocks conditions so often, doing your activity would be sugar for the medicine!  This is a great activity to help them remember the term and everytime I repeat the term they think GOALS.  

  • in reply to Hajra Saeed

    I LOVE this application of the Threshold formula  It is such a great idea to ask students to apply these concepts to their own personal goals. Brilliant!