Once I had categories set, it occurred to me that a jigsaw would be a good way to have students work with the information. But that implied a task for groups to do. I had come across the historical head strategy from a master teacher, James Percoco, whose work I was familiar with. (I attended one of his workshops at a National Council for History Education conference one year and use his books in classes I teach for pre-service social studies teachers at UC). Creating historical heads is a good way for students to analyze and synthesize information about a historical figure. And since all the information students use to do this task come from the Internet, there are elements of WebQuests incorporated also.
So that’s how I developed this lesson. I tend not to begin such projects with a preconceived notion. Rather, I explore what’s out there and let ideas unfold till something I like takes shape. It was an apt time to work on this project, with the 2008 election season at its peak, since Taft was elected 100 years ago. I noticed some changes and parallels between now and then. For example, in Taft’s day, there were no primaries and the candidate did not attend the convention. Rather Taft was notified of his nomination at home by a committee. Today’s electorate worried a bit about McCain’s health, while Taft was elected with several health problems. I’m sure you’ll be able to make more connections between the two elections. I hope you like the using the lesson.
Karen's lesson can be found at www.cetconnect.org/taft
Coming soon: Video on William Howard Taft featuring Ray Henderson, Chief of Interpretation at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Judge Mark A. Painter, author of a biography of the president, and Dan Hurley, local historian who curated the exhibits at the Taft National Historical Site.
So that’s how I developed this lesson. I tend not to begin such projects with a preconceived notion. Rather, I explore what’s out there and let ideas unfold till something I like takes shape. It was an apt time to work on this project, with the 2008 election season at its peak, since Taft was elected 100 years ago. I noticed some changes and parallels between now and then. For example, in Taft’s day, there were no primaries and the candidate did not attend the convention. Rather Taft was notified of his nomination at home by a committee. Today’s electorate worried a bit about McCain’s health, while Taft was elected with several health problems. I’m sure you’ll be able to make more connections between the two elections. I hope you like the using the lesson.
Karen's lesson can be found at www.cetconnect.org/taft
Coming soon: Video on William Howard Taft featuring Ray Henderson, Chief of Interpretation at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Judge Mark A. Painter, author of a biography of the president, and Dan Hurley, local historian who curated the exhibits at the Taft National Historical Site.
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