Using Primary and Secondary Sources to Create an Educational Game
Created By:
Lori Todd
Title/Role:
Teacher / Library Science Student
Location:
Virginia
Grade Level:
6 Type of Lesson:
Lesson in a unit Type of Schedule:
Fixed Collaboration Continuum:
Moderate Content Area:
Social studies Content Topic:
Westward Expansion Scenario:
In accordance with the 6th grade Social Studies curriculum, the class will be studying the Westward Expansion of the United States. During the unit, the students will learn about Manifest Destiny, Lewis and Clark, various inventions, the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, plus the settlement of Texas and Florida. In preparation for the standardized testing, the students will create a prototype for an educational game about westward expansion. The requirements of the prototype include the use of at least 5 primary sources and maps. Using a LiveBinder created by the librarian, the students will be exposed to reliable sources to pull information for their game. They will also analyze one document from the LiveBinder. Once finished, each group will present their educational game to the rest of the class and it will be used as a review tool for the standardized test towards the end of the school year. Overview:
Students will gain background knowledge about Westward Expansion by working with primary and secondary sources curated in a LiveBinder.
What is the difference between primary and secondary sources? Final Product:
Westward Expansion Game Prototype Library Lesson:
Students will learn the difference between primary and secondary sources. Estimated Lesson Time:
120 minutes Have you taught this lesson before:
Yes Strategies for differentiation:
Teachers could modify this lesson by creating specific scavenger hunts or a web quest using the LiveBinder. Teachers could also assign this as an independent activity if students were up to the challenge or assign larger groups to complete it together.