Change Makers
Friday, May 4, 2007
If you happen to follow the global Animal Rights movement, you might recognize the name of one of the two Change Makers above. These two names may, or may not, end up in middle school history texts in Australia and the UK, respectively, but Henry Spira and Ingrid Newkirk would be proud to be remembered for their passionate, informed activism.
The history of the U.S. is not lacking in Change Makers. Currently, the Social Studies classes are researching great Industrialists, each of whom influenced and changed the development of manufacturing, engineering and the economy in the late 19th or 20th century. Because each change was effected through an actual physical product (and often a dollar sign), each is relatively easy for students to understand. However, not all Change is so measurable, or even so identifiable. In Literacy, we are going to dig a little deeper.
We are pulling together various skills to assess our readiness for an Independent Project on Persuasion and change - by studying non-industrial Change Makers.
Each student has been assigned a person from U.S. history (about 1860-1970) who has led, and in some cases continues to lead, a movement for significant social, cultural, economic or political change. Some of these people failed; many succeeded; at least one had a dynamic short-term success that seriously backfired. In some cases, aspects of the change will test the student’s values and/or ethics.
Students are charged to demonstrate independent understanding of two years’ skill development in the following areas:
*research method: outline preparation, research questions, source selection, topic understanding and focus, focused attention to task
*note taking: Harvard Outline (use of application, formatting, note form entries, organization, subtopics
*content selection: correct recording, selection of appropriate and accurate information (not opinion), best image, appropriate quotation
*citation: using EasyBib or other tool for citation of Works Cited
*presentation: oral, rehearsed, fluent, confident, eye-contact (podcasting is an option for some students)
*timeliness: penalty for lateness in each of the 4 steps
*organization of multi-step tasks, time management: absolute due dates and all work done in class
*poster-making: content selection, neatness, visual appeal
We plan to film the 16 or so presentations made in each class. A CD of these Talks, in addition to the bound copies of the Posters, will form a Book of Change Makers that will be presented to the FMS Library.
Students will do the filming. Preparation of the Book will be done by a student as a final Independent Project. There are skills to be learned in everything!
