Themes of Courage
Wendy Johnson
11th grade
Kuna School District
Content Area Objectives Addressed:
Students will finalize their research presentations on a change in their school, community or workplace. Students will explore the themes of courage by studying about the Vietnam War and reading Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried.
Technology Objectives Addressed:
Students will create PowerPoint presentations and/or a brochure in which they explain their research. They will use the technology to help them persuade an audience of their choice why their solution is the best for the problem they tackled. They will also be using email to verify the attendance of the people they invited to attend their presentations.
Activity Description
What was the process that your students went through to complete this lesson?
Day One:
Students will write a journal in which they describe a time in their life where they were courageous or a time where they lacked the courage to act.
Students will share the journal and the teacher will make the connection from their stories to the centers they will be working on.
Teacher explains centers and where they exist in the room. Then teacher presents short PowerPoint on tips for creating presentations.
Students complete one center.
Day Two:
Students complete a journal about a time that they were sorry for something they did and never had the courage to apologize. They will apologize in the journal.
Students share their journals with a partner.
Students will complete the center activities.
Here’s the student handout:
The Courage to Do What’s Right:
Studying the Past and Working Towards Making the Future Better
You will be working in a group of five to complete the tasks at each center and will have approximately 25 minutes at each center. Each of you will be responsible for a job in your group. You will need one person to take on the role of each of the following tasks:
Group Leader Scribe Big Ben Connector Chatty Cathy/Chuck
Information Center (at desks): find out the facts about the Vietnam War
Discuss as a group what you know already about the Vietnam War. Did anyone in your group have friends or family members who fought in Vietnam? What were their experiences?
Read articles from Writing Magazine entitled “The War on the Evening News” and “The Words at the Wall” about the history of the Vietnam War. There is also a map of the location so you can see where Vietnam is located.
When you have finished reading the articles, the scribe will write down five things that you discovered about the Vietnam War.
History Center (at computer #5 with tape player at front of the room): experience what it would be like to have been alive during the time of the Vietnam War
Listen to the music of the time as indicated on the copies at the center. While you are listening to the words, peruse the Life magazines from the time.
When you have finished experiencing the culture of the time, discuss these two questions (your scribe should jot down your observations as well as participate):
In general, how did the young people of the time feel about the war? Cite evidence from the music and magazines to prove your answer.
In general, how did the older generation feel about the war? Cite evidence from the music and magazines to prove your answer.
How, if at all, do you imagine popular culture influenced attitudes about the war?
Reading Center (at desks): read the story The Rainy River from Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried about his experiences on learning that he was drafted to fight in Vietnam. It is written in stream of consciousness (remember this word from the beginning of the year?). You might choose to read aloud or to yourself. When you are finished reading (you probably won’t finish in the center) answer the questions as a group and define three vocabulary words from the reading.
Tech Center (at computers 1-4 & 6: one computer per presentation group): finalize letters of invitation if necessary and begin creating your presentations on your proposed change. As you create your presentations and/or flyer, keep in mind your purpose and audience as well as draw from your research and cite your sources correctly. If time permits, check your email.
Note:
The Vietnam War information is a new topic for them.
The research activity began first semester with the traditional research paper on a school, community or workplace reform issue (as explained on my website). Then this semester students are working on the second part of the project: getting the word out!
How did you monitor student progress?
While students were working in the various centers, I walked around to each
group to make sure they were on task and to help them answer questions if they
hit roadblocks.
Students also had previously completed storyboards and outlines of their PowerPoint presentation and/or brochure.
Was there a template or an example that
students were expected to follow?
For the PowerPoint, I gave them some tips to putting together their slides.
They could create their own idea of how it would look—it just had to be
effective for their intended audience.
How much time did you dedicate to this
project?
The research project as a whole took about 2 months total: one month for the
traditional research paper and one month to get ready for the presentation. For
these particular centers, it took two, 90-minute class periods
The information on Vietnam took two days and set the stage for the upcoming reading groups on Coming of Age in America.
How was the final product presented?
1. Vietnam
Center Info: Students answered
questions for me to check.
2. Research Presentation:
Presented via PowerPoint using
the laptop and projector
Who was the audience for the final product?
Students invited people who were somehow related to the topic they were
presenting. For example, a student who did a project on “Why Kuna School
District needs crossing guards at the elementary schools” invited the
superintendent, building principals and the PTA presidents from the elementary
schools.
Learning Issues
What prior knowledge was required on the part
of the students in order for them to be successful in this project? (include
curriculum and technology knowledge)
Students had to know how to find information and cite their information
correctly using MLA format.
Students already knew how to use their email accounts and login to the network. Some students already knew how to use PowerPoint to create a linear presentation; I helped those that didn’t know. (It was easier to help those that didn’t know in centers.)
Resource Management
What was the student to computer ratio?
Well, I have 48 juniors total in 2 classes and I have 6 computers.
But I have 20-25 students in a class.
How did you schedule your students’ computer
time?
Centers: I made two technology centers so that students would have more time
on the computers. If students don’t finish their presentations, they will come
in during tutorial to finish.
What was the location of the computers and
other technology equipment used by students?
On counters at the back and front of the room.
How would you suggest beginning teachers
obtain computer resources for their students? (Knowing some of your strategies
would be valuable for our pre-service teachers.)
Grants!
Participating in projects like this one (we received a laptop in this program).
Take classes and educate yourself on what’s available
Rate the level of access for students to use
computers/other technologies as they needed
--high, medium, low
High if teachers structure class time appropriately so every student can use
the technology. Plus, they can come in before and after school.
Rate the level of supervision required for
students during the project, specifically for computer and other technology use
–high, medium, low
High—the teacher’s job is to supervise, ensuring that students are using
the equipment appropriately and effectively.
Materials
What hardware was required for your project?
I used all 6 of my computers, but could modify the lesson for fewer if
necessary (it would just take more time).
Some kids also used the digital camera to supplement their projects
Projection device
What software was required for your project?
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Publisher
Internet access
Pegasus Mail
Anything else?
Magazines, music, The Things They Carried novel
It is SO helpful for each student to have his/her own school account!
Assessment
What kind of assessment did you use for this
project? (Include a copy if you can.)
Peer, self & teacher
What categories did you assess? (I.e.:
content, screen design, depth/breadth, etc.)
See rubric.
Other
What did you like best about this project?
Student interest and involvement: students chose topics that they were
interested in and completed real research for a real project—a project that
some of students had immediate impact on ensuring its success and
follow-through.
What did the students like best about this
project?
Being actively involved in the problem-solving process.
Rank the level of student involvement in this
project –high, medium, low
High: every student completed the activities and every student completed
their presentation. (It helps because the audience isn’t just the teacher
and/or other students in the classroom.)
Rank the level of student interest in this
project –high, medium, low
High: again, they chose their topics so they were in control
Medium for the Vietnam info—they liked the story and the music/magazine
Would you teach this lesson again?
Yes