Digital Textbook Assignment

 

Unit 1     Unit 2

Together as a class we will be building a digital textbook.  The purpose is to create an engaging, thought-provoking, and critical analysis of U.S. history that future students at Harwood and beyond may use to learn more about our tumultuous past. 

 

We will be on a tight schedule and it is expected that students will spend approximately 2-3 hours outside of school each week working on your textbook pages. 

 

We will be building 8 units and we have 16 weeks of school left. 

That means we have 2 weeks per unit. Each unit schedule will go as follows:

 

Week One

Tuesday & Wednesday - Lab days to enhance your text

Thursday & Friday - In-class presentation that relates to topic (activity, role-play, debate, film, etc)

 

Week Two

Monday - In-class presentation that relates to topic (activity, role-play, debate, film, etc) - Enhancements are due today!!! Homework is to start studying!!!

Tuesday - Lab Day - You will assess another group's work.  Homework is to start studying and review your evaluation.You may review your evaluation and challenge if desired.

Wednesday & Thursday -   Student presentations of key points (discuss main ideas and illustrate using multimedia - 5 minutes followed by Q&A and discussion)

Friday - You will take the unit test. (made up of 5 minute quizzes)

Next Monday - You will grade your groups questions and report grades.

 

On the first day of each unit you need to decide who will accomplish each task.  Note: If you have more than three people in your group than you can have more than one researcher:

 

A) Teacher

• Analyze the text and form 3-5 short essay questions that ask students to understand the main ideas. 
• Create good answers to these questions.
• Highlight key quotes and important passages and re-phrase using high-school level language.

B) Illustrator

• Illustrate the text with audio and visuals (speeches, maps, pictures, graphs, videos, slideshows, lyrics, games, interactives, virtual tours, recommended books, films, articles, websites, biographies etc. etc.  )
• Define key words or difficult vocabulary
• Format the page so it reads smoothly

C) Researcher

• Identify the important events, concepts, and people discussed in the reading and create glossary pages to further inform
• Recommend additional readings in magazines, journals, newspapers, websites, textbooks, 'Why We Fight Companion' or US vs. Them: A History of Intolerance in America or any other source.
• Enhance these glossary pages with audio and visuals (see above)

 

For each unit I may ask you to step up and try new technologies, assessment options, etc. 

You may work on future units in your spare time or if you want to get work done early. 

 

You will earn an individual and group grade 50/50.

 

Your total grade for each unit will be comprised of the following:

• Individual Grade 25%
• Group Grade 25%
• Assessment Grade 10%
• Test 20%
• Score 10%
• Class Participation 10%

 

Remember: You will be teaching each other.  I will be a guide on the side.  It will be easy to get a C and very difficult to earn an A.  Energy, enthusiasm, and hard work will pay off!

A - Do everything well and go above expecations - show you care deeply about your topic.

B- Do everything well.

C- Do everything and show up, or do almost everything very well.

D- Did the majority of work and met the minimum standard.

 

Unit 1 - American Empire (FP)  (Indian Wars, Mexican-American War, Spanish-American-Filipino War, Imperialist v. Anti-Imperialist)

• Zinn 7,8,12; Loewen 4

Unit 2 - The Unfinished Revolution - Part One (African-American and Women struggle for equality in the 1800's)

• Zinn 5,6,9; Loewen 5,6

Unit 3 - The Struggle for Economic Opportunity (class struggles and govt. response, political ideologies)

• Zinn 10,11,13; Loewen 7

Unit 4 - America Becomes a Superpower (FP) (WWI, Latin-American Interventions, WWII)

• Zinn 14, 16; Loewen ??

Unit 5 - The Unfinished Revolution - Part Two (Minority struggles for equality in the 20th century)

• Zinn 17, 19; Loewen ??

Unit 6 - Holding onto Power (FP) (Cold War Foreign Policy, Korea, Vietnam, Guatemala, Iran, Cuba, Iraq etc.)

• Zinn 18, 20

Unit 7 - Globalization (the Americanization of the world economy)

• Zinn 21

Unit 8 - America at a Crossroads (9/11, The War on Terror, The revolution continues)

• TBD

 

Final Exam will consist of questions from all these units and at least one essay that ask you to make connections between these units.  You will be given the final exam essay questions in advance.  

 

Good Luck and work hard - the knowledge you gain in the next 4 months will be very important!!