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Western Europe in the Modern World
The Rise of Democracy
1.1 The Challenge of Ruling: Forminga Government
Students create a rulebook for their own government on a deserted island based on democracy or autocracy.
1.2 Debating the Ideal Form of Government: A Meeting of Minds
Students wear masks of historical figures to debate their views on the ideal form of government.
1.3 Experiencing the Fervor of the French Revolution
Students reenact three stages of the French Revolution and compare their experience with historical reality.
1.4 Creating a Storybook About the French Revolution
Students write an illustrated storybook that chronicles major events of the French Revolution.
The Era of the Industrial Revolution
2.1 The Rise of Industrialism
Students trace the developments of the Industrial Revolution from cottage industry to new technologies.
2.2 Investigating the Effects of the Industrial Revolution
Students compose an editorial proposing solutions to industrial problems and discuss historical responses.
2.3 Painting, Music, and Literature of the Industrial Era
Identify and compare neoclassical, romantic, and realist art to see how it reflected changes in life.
Colonialism: European Modernization Exported
3.1 The Scramble for Territory
Race to claim classroom furniture to reenact the European “scramble for Africa” of the 1870s.
3.2 The Quest for Empire: Analyzing European Motives
Examine 15 written and visual artifacts to analyze which European imperial motive each represents.
Challenges to Modernization: The World Wars
4.1 The First World War: European Tensions Ignited
Discuss images depicting prewar tensions, the outbreak of war, and its effects and outcomes.
4.2 World War II Events: Predicting European Responses
Assume the roles of foreign-policy experts and predict their country’s response to seven key events.
4.3 Recounting Stories of Resistance from the Holocaust
Dramatically recount stories of resistance and then create a Holocaust Wall of Remembrance.
4.4 Artistic Reactions to War and the Modern World
Analyze postwar paintings and create their own artistic response to the contemporary world.
Culminating Project
5.1 Designing a Museum to Evaluate European Modernization
Construct museum exhibits demonstrating whether European modernization should be praised or condemned.
The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
The Fall of Tsarist Russia
1.1 Mapping Russia’s Physical and Ethnic Diversity
Map physiographic features of the Russian empire and locate ethnic groups based on a variety of clues
1.2 Interactive Theater: A Day in the Life of Tsarist Russia
Create and participate in scenes of typical daily life in 19th-century Tsarist Russia.
1.3 Rock, Scissors, Paper: Understanding Marxist Theory
Feel the unequal distribution of capitalist wealth and the frustrations of the working class.
1.4 The Russian Revolution
Explore events leading up to and directly following the Russian Revolution of 1917.
The Soviet Union Under Stalin
2.1 Creating Visual Representations of Russia’s City of Steel
Illustrate life in 1930s Magnitogorsk and compare it with Stalin’s vision of the Soviet ideal.
2.2 The Purges Under Stalin
Experience the emotions of the purges under Stalin when they investigate a fictitious wrongdoing.
2.3 Investigating Perspectives on Soviet Daily Life
Write investigative articles to smuggle out of the Soviet Union and publish in a western newspaper.
The Cold War
3.1 The Roots of the Cold War
Discuss the tensions between the Soviet Union and the U.S. that developed into the Cold War.
3.2 Exploring Events of the Cold War in Europe
Illustrate a map and annotated timeline to analyze escalating events during the Cold War in Europe.
The Fall of the Soviet Empire
4.1 Interpreting Underground Soviet Art
Create poetic or graphic interpretations of an underground Soviet painting, poem, or song
4.2 The Unraveling of the Soviet Economy
Experience the failures of the Soviet economy that led to reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s.
4.3 Independence Movements: A Photographic Exhibit
Tour a photographic exhibit of independence movements in East European countries.
Culminating Project
5.1 Creating a Visual Metaphor to Evaluate the Soviet Era
Design a three-panel visual metaphor to explain to what degree life improved during the Soviet era.
Communist China and Modern Japan
Communist China
1.1 Designing Character Collages of Chinese Belief
Systems Create character collages of the Buddha, Confucius, and Laozi.
1.2 Exploring Continuity and Change in China Through Art
Compare and contrast paintings from the dynastic and communist eras to explore continuity and change.
1.3 Shifting Winds of Communist Policies
Experience the “shifting winds” as the teacher erratically changes directives during a class debate.
1.4 Communist Rule in Modern China
Explore a series of images depicting major political events in 20th century China.
1.5 Liu Ling: Writing Journals About Life in a Chinese Village
Assume the role of Liu Ling villagers to write a journal about life after the revolution.
Modern Japan
2.1 Adept at Adapting: Japan’s Genius over Time
Examine various creative adaptations of ideas and products that the Japanese have made.
2.2 The Rise of Modern Japan
Discuss images and create a series of comic strips chronicling Japan’s economic ascendancy.
2.3 Learning Japanese Values in the Workplace
Construct paper houses using two processes: modern Japanese and traditional U.S. business management.
2.4 The Student Perspective: Reporting on Japanese Education
Write an article for the school newspaper comparing and contrasting Japanese and American education.
Asian Cultural Connections with the United States
3.1 Charting Asian Immigration to the United States
Graph historical immigration patterns to draw conclusions about Asian immigration.
3.2 Analyzing Oral Histories of Asian Americans
Categorize Asian American experiences as uniquely Asian, uniquely American, or a blend of cultures.
3.3 An Asian American’s Story: Conducting an Oral History
Conduct interviews that document an Asian American’s experiences.
3.4 Interpreting Asian-American Artistic Expressions
Analyze and discuss contemporary paintings, music, and poetry created by Asian Americans.
Culminating Project
4.1 Asian Journeys: Creating Stories About Changing Times
Publish a storybook examining how life improved for Chinese, Japanese, and Asian Americans during the modern era.
Modern Latin America
Overview of Latin America
1.1 Discovering Latin America’s Diversity
Match visual images to Latin American locations and sumarize their discoveries in writing.
1.2 Mapping the Physiographic Features of Latin America
Discuss the extent to which the physiography of Latin America is diverse or uniform.
1.3 Graphing and Interpreting Demographic Data
Graph demographic data of 18 Latin American countries and create a matrix on the classroom wall.
1.4 Identifying Musical Traditions of Latin America
Identify five types of Latin American music and discuss African, European, and indigenous influences.
Case Study: Modern Mexico
2.1 Forming Social Pyramids from Past to Present
Create pyramids to explain the social hierarchies in four periods of Mexican history.
2.2 The History of Modern Mexico Through Murals
Examine murals by three of Mexico’s great artists to understand seven major periods of modern Mexican history.
2.3 An Evening in the Plaza: Sharing Perspectives on Migration
Explore the life of one of eight villagers in Purísima and then discuss their views in the town plaza.
2.4 Touring Mexico City by Bus
Write a postcard from sites on the Mexico City “bus tour” and summarize the excursion in a letter.
Case Study: The Brazilian Rainforest
3.1 A Conference on the Fate of the Brazilian Rainforest
Assume the roles of representatives of various interest groups to debate the use of rainforest resources.
3.2 Writing a Proposal for Resource
Draft a proposal to a Brazilian government advisory board on how to resolve resource-use conflicts.
Latin American Cultural Connections to the United States
4.1 Charting Latin American Immigration to the United States
Summarize and graph the historical immigration patterns of eight Latin American groups.
4.2 Meeting Latinos Who Bridge Two Worlds
Examine “scrapbooks” of six Latinos in the U.S. and summarize their stories on palm diagrams.
4.3 Interpreting Latino Artistic Expressions
Analyze and discuss contemporary murals, music, and literature by Latinos in the U.S.
Culminating Project
5.1 Creating an Annotated Mural of Modern Latin America
Design an annotated mural celebrating modern Latin America.
Modern Africa
An Overview of Africa
1.1 Discovering Africa’s Diversity
Write an acrostic poem reflective of the diversity in Africa.
1.2 Constructing a Timeline of African History
Match descriptions of eight key historical periods with corresponding maps and dates.
A Case Study of Nigeria
2.1 Creating Illustrated Spoke Diagrams of Precolonial Nigeria
Create illustrated spoke diagrams depicting aspects of life of three prominent ethnic groups.
2.2 Facing Colonialism: How Would You Respond?
Assume the role of Nigerians to determine how to respond to various events during colonial rule.
2.3 A Conference on Independence: Planning Nigeria’s Future
Design a political map, national flag, and pledge of allegiance for a newly independent Nigeria.
2.4 Analyzing Three Types of Nigerian Art
Identify and compare traditional, urban, and international art to learn about art in modern Nigeria.
A Case Study of South Africa
3.1 Understanding the System of Apartheid
Experience aspects of apartheid by participating in an activity that favors a small group of students.
3.2 Discovering the Roots of Apartheid in South African History
Examine major events in the history of South Africa to learn how the system of apartheid developed.
3.3 Writing Songs of Resistance to Apartheid
Assume the role of South Africans to compose songs of resistance to apartheid.
African Cultural Connections to the United States
4.1 Identifying African Traditions in American Music
Explore how four African musical traditions have influenced various forms of American music.
4.2 Discovering African Influences in American Culture
Write a letter to an African friend explaining which traditions have influenced American traditions.
Culminating Project
5.1 A Book About Africa: What Everyone Should Know
Author an illustrated book for American children that describes eight key aspects of modern Africa.