• Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 6 subscribers
  • Views 859 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

If Historical Figures Had Instagram

Laura Massa

I’ve been following a Spanish comedian and actress who imitates famous figures from Spain. Lately, she has been posting short videos in which she portrays historical figures with humor, ingenuity, and strong narrative voice on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. I especially love her characterization of well-known women from history. This January she began portraying male figures as well, starting with Julius Caesar.

I think this format could be very appealing to students—either as an opening activity for a unit or as a resource to deepen and extend classroom learning.

Her name is Leonor Lavado, and while the language may make her work less accessible for some, I wanted to share it with this community as a possible way to spark greater interest and curiosity in the study of history. Is there anyone similar to her who creates content in English?

Amelia Earhart

Hypatia

Mary Shelley

  • I actually created a lesson awhile ago for students for Ibn Batutta. It was after I went on an epic trip across the Silk Roads that lasted two weeks, and posted every single day of my trip and that was my inspiration.  So, my students read about Ibn Batutta's travels, and they have to create posts as Ibn Battuta, or Ibn Battuta's companion.

    Here's the assignment

    PDF

  • What a great idea,  and  !  I'm about to do a unit on Revolutions in my class - perhaps students could be different Enlightenment philosophers or revolutionary leaders?  I could see such an activity crossing many regions and time periods, and getting at different perspectives in a really fun way.  

  • in reply to Carrie Emmerson

    Oh, that would be fun to do with Enlightenment philosophers, perhaps using a different social media format that allows for more exchange!  I had seen an assignment that had revolutionary leaders tweeting at each other and how would they reply. Well, X (formerly known as Twitter). Students are not as familiar with Twitter/X but perhaps using Snapchat? Or Threads? 

    The overall structure could lead to a lot of interesting interchanges, and yes, a lot of crossover!

  • Too cool you guys.  This might also be a fun way to share my travels with my students.  I don;t neeed then on my social media but I could use the template to share relevant experiences in a less formal "teachy" way.  

  • in reply to Angela Lee

     I love what you did with your travel and Ibn Battuta. In fact, I will be traveling with students to southern Spain and Morocco and one of the activities I want to do while there, is to let them read Battuta's graphic biography, which I recently found on the OER platform. 

    I perused your activity but the links are not active. Do you have them available to be shared?