Civil War

Hello all...I'd like to get a sense of how people teach the civil war in middle schools. I see lots of different units that focus on 6 to 8 or even more individual battles. It seems like there is a lot more than remembering battle sites and who won which battle...any ideas?

Jury Duty

This post is a quick description of a method I call "Jury Duty." Basically you form groups 6-8 students called "juries" and a foreman (spokesperson) is elected. You then give them a fact pattern (good or bad, guilty or not guilty, for plaintiff or defendant, etc.) and have them deliberate. Key is ALL jurors MUST agree on the verdict (it must be unanimous). It is great for lively discussions and getting students to come to a consensus. Try it sometime.

Sharing teaching methods

I am in a masters teaching program and currently doing my student teaching. I set up this blog primarily for a class project but am interested in sharing various teaching methods regarding any topic that have worked for any of you. Please feel free to comment and/or share