Teaching history is telling stories. After hearing a story I want my students to be able to think about history for themselves and not be told what to think. I like to tell my students,"Learn history so you can make history." They have innovative ideas and look at the world in new lights.
My students are from low to middle income families.
Some of my students do not have access to a computer at home and rely of computers at school for all their needs. Students have the skills to research historical data and our school has digital data bases with many historical materials for students to use but, no way to access the digital information. By having a laptop in the classroom different students could use the computer to research historical documents, people or events in an alternative way to reading out of a textbook. Students could read about historical topics that interest them. Instead of being told what to think they can think for themselves; a trait essential for success in our world today.
My Project
In an activity called “The Dating Game: World War II Leaders” students create a Facebook page for World War II leaders and then have to decide who could be friends with who. A computer would allow students to research interesting aspects of these individuals’ lives and make history come alive as part of their digital world. The few times I have borrowed a computer for the students to use to research for projects like this they are always laughing and excited about the information they find and are able to share with the class. There are other projects where students can look at the motives behind the Cold War or play the game "Hall of Fame/Shame" in this same way where they are finding the interesting information that our rich history holds. They are helping to write history with their stories and bringing in new perspectives.
I want my students to be able to understand and critically think about our history furthering their engagement with the class and our world today.
When they are the detectives and find information on their own they take ownership in the material. Not only do they learn when they are engaged, they are proud of their work, and ready to be an active member of our society!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Anderson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.