LESSON PLANS & TEACHING IDEAS ON WW1 & WW2

Today in Australia and New Zealand isANZACday.  A really significant day that is set aside to remember all of those that have died in wars so that we can live in freedom.

This week in my class we have been looking at the originalANZAC campaign at Gallipoli in 1915and doing a range of activities based around facts learnt about Australia's involvement in world war one.

For those of you that are seeking a more international flavour to high quality teaching resources I would recommend Mr. Donn's teaching resources forWW1andWW2.  There are a number of great activities worksheets and interactive tasks for students of all ages.  Enjoy.

GREAT SITES TO LEARN ABOUT TITANIC

It is really amazing howTitanicstill captures our imagination 100 years after she sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic in 1912.

I put this down to the fact that Titanic is firstly an amazing tale of man outsmarting themself through technology and industrial might. Then we have a secondary tale of injustice and arrogance when the absolute upper and lower crust of Edwardian society struggle for survival and equity in the middle of the ocean.

Shakespeare himself could not have scripted a better story with so many sub-plots of triumph and tragedy.

As a teacher there are limitless teaching possibilities which arise from Titanic via, history, science, math philosophy and literacy. 

April 14 will be the 100th centenary of the greatest maritime disaster in in history and we have compiled some great web resources below to share with your students and peers.  If you know of any others please let us know by adding a comment below.

Ultimate Titanic:  This is by far the biggest collection of Educational Titanic resources and should be the starting point for any teacher and student.  Their education section is very comprehensive.

NY Times learning Network:  Has some great teaching ideas to commemorate the 100th anniversary if Titanic.

National Geographic Titanic 100:  A very current and fresh collection of Titanic content with a large amount of input from James Cameron.

History Channel Titanic Interactive:  Students will enjoy exploring this.

Expedition Titanic:  Great interactive resources on Titanic

Amazing collection of Titanic information and Teaching Resources

Ultimate Titanic has appeared just in time for the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. It is specifically designed for teachers and students to learn about the most famous maritime disaster of all time.

There are a number of amazing images, videos and text based content that will definitely appeal to teachers and students without overwhelming them with irrelevant information on Titanic.

Best of all Ultimate Titanic must surely have the biggest collection of Titanic lesson plans and teaching resources based around the 1912 disaster covering all key learning areas and ages. The amount of content here would surely warrant an in depth unit on Titanic and all the hard work has been done for you. There is something here for everyone.

The Titanic is one of the most amazing industrial feats of all time wrapped up in a story that Shakespeare himself could not have scripted and still appeals to students and learners of all ages.

Students are still fascinated by the story 100 years on. Be sure to check out Ultimate Titanic Today.

The secret of teaching the Holocaust to students

I came across a great website full of content on teaching the holocaust to students. These activities have been developed for teachers to use as a guide. Their intent is to give teachers a framework to follow for use in a Holocaust unit of study. The philosophy behind these activities is based on constructivist pedagogy, brain-based learning and the awareness of the theory of multiple intelligences. It is hoped teachers will use them and build on them to fit the needs of students, taking into account their age, maturity, and ability levels.

It is strongly recommended that teachers read the Guidelines for Teaching the Holocaust published by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum before designing activities or using the ones we offer in A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust. The suggestions and cautions the Holocaust Museum offers are important and invaluable in delivering Holocaust instruction. The sensitivity of the subject matter requires careful consideration when designing curriculum and guiding students in presentations and research.

Access the holocaust student activities here.

Everything you wanted know about famous explorers

Enchanted Learning has a great collection and timeline of famous explorers throughout history. It is very easy to locate explorers by region or time period. This information is really pitched at primary / elementary students and very easy for teachers to gain an understanding of. Access it here.

Revolt! Comparing Historical Revolutions

BySARAH KAVANAGHandHOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO

Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesRevolutionary fervor in Petrograd (St. Petersburg, Russia), 1917.Go to related slide show »

Overview| What is a revolution, and how is it different from other kinds of revolts and conflicts? How do the protests in Egypt compare with historical revolutions? In this lesson, students work together to define revolution and engage in research to help them create infographics that represent various historical revolutions around the world.

Materials| Poster paper, markers, computer with Internet access and projector, copies of the handoutRevolt!(PDF)

Read More

NY Times Lesson Plan: The Future Is Now: Analyzing and Making Predictions

Overview| What did historical figures imagine our lives would look like today? How can we make informed predictions about the future? In this lesson, students consider and discuss predictions about life in 2011 that were written in 1931 by prominent thinkers of the day, and then draw on New York Times articles to develop their own predictions about the future.Read more…

Entire unit of work on Antarctica

Here is a great unit of work for those of you wanting to teach and learn about Antarctica.  It is pitched at year 5/6 students but there is plenty in it for all ages.

Download the PDF here.