Growth and Change Graph Analysis Part I

Student Historians began a thematic assessment yesterday. I have implemented this assessment for a few years now, adding more specifics each year. This assessment requires students to examine examples of growth and change in early American History, from the Presidency of George Washington to the Missouri Compromise. 

Students ranked each of the events using a scale of -4 to +4 and explained their rankings. This is a sophisticated skill--they need to explain why, for example, a positive event that rated a 3 in their view wasn't a 4 but also wasn't an example of a negative change for the country. (They will also need to describe their positive events in terms of nationalism and the negative events will more than likely be examples of sectionalism, a concept that ultimately leads to the Civil War in the 1860s.) 

When rankings were complete students received a graph and plotted their points. The next steps of this project completely take me out of my comfort zone--students must use mathematical reasoning skills to analyze their graph. 

I ask them to explain their x and y axes and to analyze why their graphs aren't linear. I also challenge them to add in additional mathematical reasoning they've learned. This has been a successful challenge in recent years, I've no doubt they will continue to impress me with their knowledge and understanding this year.

Monday and Tuesday will wrap up the project utilizing their research skills gained through their National History Day endeavors earlier this year as they create their Spark Video analysis.

To be continued...

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