Lessson Portfolio

In an inquiry-based lesson, students spend three days understanding and analyzing Manifest Destiny's impact on Native Americans and America at-large. At the end of the three days, students are tasked with answering the essential question: Is it still "progress" if it comes at the expense of others?

A role-playing lesson where students re-enact the Salem Witch Trials. Students are given a randomly assigned role and told there is a secret witch in their group. It's up to them to figure out who. However, there's a big twist at the end that gets students thinking about how the Salem Witch Trials could have happened.

A 7th Grade Social Studies lesson kicking off the Native Americans unit. It focuses on the first people to settle in the Americas and has students take the roles of archaeologists analyzing primary and secondary sources. Students also look at the different theories regarding how humans first arrived to the continent.

Students analyze how the relationship and rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton led to the creation of America's first political parties. Students read  a secondary source on Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, and fill out corresponding graphic organizers. As a class, they then listen to and analyze Cabinet Battle #1 from the Hamilton Musical.

A 1-week unit on the foundations of the Greek and Roman Empires, as well as their respective forms of government (democracy, oligarchy, republic). Students will be asked to complete a real estate ad for either Sparta or Athens, an MCQ analyzing the Twelve Tables, a Gallery Walk on the Mediterranean Sea Complex, and more.

A 1-week unit examining how the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty gained, consolidated, and lost power. Students will complete a digital museum walk of Roman art and architecture, a jigsaw activity concerning the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty, as well as a CRQ focused on the Fall of Rome.

A 2-week unit covering the United States' involvement in World War 2, and how the war impacted various groups such as women, African Americans, Latinos, etc. Students will complete an in-depth study on George Takei's graphic novel They Called Us Enemy, and they will participate in a whole-class debate on the Atomic Bomb.