YOU ARE HERE >
Main > Teacher Resources > JCC Survey Course
Steve Donlon
09 Project
Summary
Historical topics with greatest depth of
expertise: The Constitution and Westward Migration
1. General Overview of the Proposed
Project:
We propose to create opportunities for
students to explore local history and practice map-making skills.
The idea is that from classroom content covered during a marking
period, students will select a person, event, or landmark within our
region to connect with. Students will venture to their chosen site
(Ex. grave, battlefield, monument, etc) and record their visit with
a picture. Additionally, students will be expected to provide
driving directions, a hand-drawn map, and encouraged to provide
information regarding the significance of the site.
2. Clear Purpose and Objective:
Students will be able to appreciate the
role of our region in national history, utilize geographic concepts,
and create a product from which others can benefit.
3. Stakeholders: grade level, who will
benefit, who will participate in this project.
Eighth, Eleventh, and Twelfth grade Social
Studies students will benefit most.
4. U.S. History Content Area
All of United States History
5. Outline Describing Content
See New York Core Curriculum Guide for
Social Studies
6. Software to be used, internet
materials, contacts, etc.
Search engines
7. Level of Student Involvement
Student involvement will be on an extra
credit basis
8. Evaluation process (include students
when possible)
We are setting a goal of 25 original site
visitations, 75 follow-up visits by other students.
9. Timeline: how you envision the
project being carried out between start up and conclusion
We envision this project to begin upon
approval, begin with models created by Mr. Donlon and Mr. Turner,
and students creating their own until Spring Break 2009.
Steve Donlon
TAH Project
Reflective Piece
Alfred-Almond
Central School
This year in partnership with Burt Turner’s class we attempted to
have students go beyond the school walls and discovery history for
themselves. This entailed having students go to places of
historical significance and record their visit. Students were then
asked to provide a picture of them at the spot accompanied by a
short paper explaining the importance of the person or site and
driving directions that other students could follow. The goal being
that students would become more aware fo the historical significance
around them in particular, local history.
I
presented this project to my AP US history class and it was used an
extra credit opportunity for all four marking periods. For the
first marking period I instructed my class to go to Daniel Shays
grave (outside of Dansville). We had just learned about Shay’s
Rebellion. The students enjoyed the adventure of finding the
graveyard, most traveled with parents or friends and it worked out
very well. I had thirteen of eighteen students go to Daniel Shay’s
grave. Building off of the first marking period, I instructed the
students to find their own places of significance and record them
using the prepared format that Mr. Turner and I came up with.
Students were excited to do this and ventured off to many places,
local and out of state. I had the students place their pictures and
directions in a scrapbook and continued to collect them as the year
progressed. Student feedback was very good; they seemed to enjoy
going places and discovery history. I also placed “extra” pictures
that students had on the walls in my classroom, which prompted
discussions and questions from other students. I feel that
encouraged others to partake in the activity. I felt that by having
a prompted visit to Shay’s grave in the first marking period got the
students ready for the project and made them feel comfortable in the
process
A
problem that was encountered was that students sites; though
excellent, tending not to be local. Some were from Hornell and
around the area, but most were from places they students went on
vacation. This is good because students are seeking out places of
historical significance, but I wanted this project to bring local
history from the Alfred area out to the forefront. I will continue
this project next year and I will make rules for different marking
periods as to how far they can go for their sites. In particular I
may make it so that students have to stay inside of Steuben and
Allegany counties. I would like this to be more local history so
that students will do some research on local people who have made a
difference.
Overall this project was rewarding to me and my students. My
students in AP US history often ask about extra credit, and this has
been a great opportunity for them to get extra credit and learn
about American History. Our hope is that students will continue
after our class to seek out historical sites and visit them. This
is the type of tradition that keeps history alive, and if we can
continue to give our students the tools they will pass on their love
of history to their kids which keeps it alive.
|