This Week in NHD: Theme Narrative

Tomorrow students will go to the Media Center for National History Day work. This year's theme is our focus. Here's our agenda:
  1. Noodle Tools app (approximately 5 minutes)
  2. Databases (from last week's Sway)
  3. Read the 2017-2018 NHD Theme Narrative and answer 6 short questions on Socrative (these questions are simple if you have read the information). Link: https://b.socrative.com/teacher/#import-quiz/30553462 
  4. Complete tasks left from last week's to-do list on Noodle Tools
The day is once again very technology-centered. Students will use many sites and apps (is that app-smashing??) and will explore the theme "Conflict and Compromise" in depth. The theme is two-fold this year and both parts must be analyzed and represented in projects. 

The National History Day organization has developed a Theme Narrative that gives students examples and breaks down the concepts of historical compromise and conflict. I've written a very short quiz on Socrative--all students will take the quiz during the hour. The questions are very simple if the student has read the information and I can very quickly scan answers to follow-up and re-teach any misunderstandings before students leave class. (I have paper copies for any students that may not have their iPads.) Students will once again create a short to-do list on Noodle Tools.

I'm very eager to get the students researching--one of my 5th hour Student Historians has selected the Arsenal of Democracy (WWII) as his project. I am so happy to see Michigan History represented and, as the granddaughter of a WWII Ford line worker and a Rosie the Riveter, I'm excited to see him utilize the archives at The Henry Ford (I also spent a lot of time at this archive developing my college Senior Thesis)! Understanding the theme deeply will enable research to be meaningful and fruitful for all students and keep them on track.

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