Hernán De Soto Students work on a choice board to explore the reaches of the explorations of Hernán De Soto in Latin American and in the United States. It would be appropriate for elementary school social studies explorers’ study. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks.
RAFT is a writing strategy that helps students understand their roles as writers, the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing, and the topic they’ll be writing about.
RAFT – De Soto | RAFT – 1810-1860
Native Leaders The task to identify and understand the sequence of events for two indigenous leaders using digital story telling tools to capture the main ideas and a Venn Diagram to synthesize the information. It would be useful for very young learners because the dialogue is limited. It is appropriate for low level ESOL/Spanish students such as Novice-Mid.
The Leadership Debate Students take on different roles in a combination of a skit/role play/debate to express ideas about two different leaders from a variety of perspectives. The debate would be appropriate for middle grades social studies examining independence movements. It would also be suitable for ESOL/Spanish students at the Intermediate-mid proficiency level with appropriate preparation or more spontaneous at a higher level such as an Advanced Placement Cultural Comparison.
The Tribes Students collect data and examine two tribes, one from the United States and one from Latin America. Students create a book with a comparison of the two groups based on student-selected information to illustrate and teach to younger students. This activity would be appropriate for students studying Native American or Latin American groups in social studies. It is also appropriate for ESOL/Spanish students of Intermediate-mid proficiency.
1860-1865 Students choose activities that explore the experience of the state and people of Tennessee during the Civil War. These activities would be appropriate for middle school social studies classes or high school social studies classes. The history/geography activity would be appropriate for ESOL students or advanced elementary students.
Research Activity 1868-1898 Students work on an investigative project on the first 3 main universities in Tennessee: Fisk University, Vanderbilt University and Blount College. After extensive investigation on the Internet and possibly by visiting the schools in person, students will create a compare and contrast diagram and present it to an audience (teacher or peers). It would be appropriate for middle school or high school social studies or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks if resources can be found in Spanish.
1868-1939 Storyboard Activity Students will research the rise and fall of one of the many dictators and presidents of South America/Central America. Students will then create a storyboard of the timeline using digital storytelling tools. Students can also turn the researched information into a fable or moral story using hand-written or digital format.It would be appropriate for middle school or high school social studies or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks if resources can be found in Spanish.
Research Activity 1900-1939 Students research the political and societal positions of the countries of Spain, Mexico, the countries of Latin America and the countries of South America before and during World World I. Students can then transfer their researched knowledge to a written essay or an oral presentation. It would be appropriate for middle school or high school social studies or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks if resources can be found in Spanish.
1940-1970 Research, presentational and interpersonal activities (3) available during this time period. These would be appropriate for elementary school or middle school social studies explorers’ study or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks.
Presentational Activity 1970-2000 Students research the biography and poems of Pablo Neruda. In groups of 2-3 they choose a poem to research, translate, memorize and present. Presentations can be live or use digital media to record. (Garageband, Audacity, etc.) It would be appropriate for middle school or high school social studies or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks if resources can be found in Spanish.
Interpersonal writing activity Students research and read newspaper and blog account of the 2010 floods in Nashville. They then write the diary of a student their age on the day of the floods and combine them with their classmates into an EverNote portfolio. It would be appropriate for middle school or high school social studies or language arts class. It would also be appropriate for ESOL or Spanish students. Language learners at the Intermediate-Low proficiency level would be able to complete the tasks if resources can be found in Spanish.
