Student Engagement Strategies
Presentation
Political Cartoons
Political Cartoons are complex and interesting primary sources. They highlight important themes of the time, and also reveal cultural attitudes toward specific people and subjects. Political Cartoons also engage students in a primary source visually, allowing English Learners and Struggling Readers the opportunity to interpret in another way.
Storyboard
Storyboards allow students to summarize important events in a collaborative and creative manner. The students draw representations of figures and places and provide a short description of the chain of events. Storyboards can highlight individual people or larger themes. They help students think about cause and effect and change over time.
Political Cartoons are complex and interesting primary sources. They highlight important themes of the time, and also reveal cultural attitudes toward specific people and subjects. Political Cartoons also engage students in a primary source visually, allowing English Learners and Struggling Readers the opportunity to interpret in another way.
Storyboard
Storyboards allow students to summarize important events in a collaborative and creative manner. The students draw representations of figures and places and provide a short description of the chain of events. Storyboards can highlight individual people or larger themes. They help students think about cause and effect and change over time.
Communication
Think Write Pair Share
Students can deeply contemplate a question with a Think Write Pair Share. Students feel more confident sharing with the class after writing ideas and discussing with peers. Furthermore, responses are more detailed because students have already engaged in levels of critical thinking before whole class responses.
Students can deeply contemplate a question with a Think Write Pair Share. Students feel more confident sharing with the class after writing ideas and discussing with peers. Furthermore, responses are more detailed because students have already engaged in levels of critical thinking before whole class responses.
Graffiti Board
A Graffiti board requires students to silently write ideas or questions on the white board. After 5-10 minutes the board should be covered with students’ ideas. This activity is good in response to an emotional topic. It allows students to express their feelings and ideas.
A Graffiti board requires students to silently write ideas or questions on the white board. After 5-10 minutes the board should be covered with students’ ideas. This activity is good in response to an emotional topic. It allows students to express their feelings and ideas.
Organization
Human Timeline
Students are each given an index card with the date and description of an event. Students then write a more in-depth explanation of their event. Students line up in order and then share their description, making connections about cause and effect as the class moves through the timeline. |
Ranking
The Visual Ranking tool allows students to make ordered lists and see visual representations of what their classmates decided was most important. This can be used to organize ideas or give opinions.
The Visual Ranking tool allows students to make ordered lists and see visual representations of what their classmates decided was most important. This can be used to organize ideas or give opinions.
Collection
Document Analysis Template
These templates guide students in how to analyze primary sources. The templates show students how to find background information about the source and use that information to analyze bias and make inferences. |
Interaction
Simulation
Simulations can help students self-assess in a fun and engaging manner. Simulations are especially useful when reviewing for a map quiz or other geography related task. Simulations teach students how to utilize technology to immerse themselves into the material. |