My AP World History students have worked very hard all year, and to enhance our understanding of world history we are traveling to Mesa Verde in May to learn more about ancestral Pueblo settlements and agriculture in the southwest 7,000 to 9,000 years ago.
My students come from a variety of diverse backgrounds but have one common trait - they love to learn about history, especially when they can relate it to their own lives.
At our large public high school, approximately 70% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch and for many students, taking an AP course during their sophomore year is challenging because they are still acquiring English as a second language.
My Project
On our trip to Mesa Verde, students will be learning from and talking with archaeologists, park educators, and guides about the history of indigenous peoples in Colorado and the American southwest. Students have some background knowledge of this time in history, but a more in-depth study and first-hand visit to these important historical sites is a unique experience that will be much more meaningful than viewing a documentary or reading an article. Mesa Verde National Park is on the international list of World Heritage Sites, along with Machu Picchu, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and many other important sites. My students will learn about the challenges that indigenous peoples in the southwest faced when creating their communities based on agriculture and hunting in an arid climate.
Throughout this school year, my students have grown so much academically.
While earning high grades is extremely important in high school, the skills of "learning how to learn" and how to think critically about our world today are equally important and will serve students well in their future endeavors. Visiting Mesa Verde will give my students an opportunity not only to put their knowledge of world history to use, but to learn more about their world and its achievements over time.
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