I like for my lessons to be engaging and use as many of the five senses as possible. For example when I use Primary Sources Networks of Exchange I print each source, cut it out, paste it onto different colored construction paper (representative of one of the areas of networks of exchange), and tape them to the walls. I turn on instrumental music (representative of one of the various areas within the networks of exchange), and if I can find scents for my plug in that are representative of one of the various areas then I will plug them in around the room. When they get there I give them instructions for our gallery walk and they walk around the room reading and taking notes while immersed in the “culture” of the networks of exchange. Does anyone have any engaging examples or ideas like this that I or others could implement?
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This sounds like so much fun Kamilah Williams! Especially the plug-ins!
I prefer to keep things very hands-on and immersive too. I used to have so many lessons that involved my favorite thing - FOOD - but it's become increasingly hard to do that since the pandemic and due to increased food allergies.
When I taught earlier world history, my favorite lesson was exploring cave paintings. I would darken the room and cover a wall with inside-out, crumpled-and-then-reopened, paper supermarket bags. I'd hang a few cave painting reproductions in there and let small groups navigate the room with a flashlight while they answered a few see/think/wonder questions.
In the 1750-Present course one of my favorite lessons is the Assembly Line Simulation, where I blast harsh machine sounds while the kids try to work on their task. Do you think they make a burnt-rubber-scented plug-in?
Which course are you teaching this year?
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This sounds like so much fun Kamilah Williams! Especially the plug-ins!
I prefer to keep things very hands-on and immersive too. I used to have so many lessons that involved my favorite thing - FOOD - but it's become increasingly hard to do that since the pandemic and due to increased food allergies.
When I taught earlier world history, my favorite lesson was exploring cave paintings. I would darken the room and cover a wall with inside-out, crumpled-and-then-reopened, paper supermarket bags. I'd hang a few cave painting reproductions in there and let small groups navigate the room with a flashlight while they answered a few see/think/wonder questions.
In the 1750-Present course one of my favorite lessons is the Assembly Line Simulation, where I blast harsh machine sounds while the kids try to work on their task. Do you think they make a burnt-rubber-scented plug-in?
Which course are you teaching this year?
