21st Century Learning with the Middle Ages

While studying about the Middle Ages, Jason Weaver's seventh grade social studies class made learning authentic by focusing on an essential question, "What makes someone successful?"  As students studied the different peoples and events of the middle ages, they searched to find examples and information  that demonstrate what it takes to be a success.  This study was also tied with the counselor's visits to enroll for the next school year by practically looking at what it would take to succeed in 8th grade and why that was important.

Students applied what was learned about success in the culminating project - an interview with themselves.  The project titled "Interviews with Success" asked students to imagine themselves 15 years in the future and picture what it is they'd like to be successful at by then.  Then, drawing on the lessons learned from their study of the Middle Ages, students "interviewed" their future selves by reflecting on what things would have contributed to their success.  The final interviews were shared in newspaper article style or with radio interviews, which were saved as podcasts.

This project incorporates all four pieces of the eMINTS Instructional Model of High Quality Lesson Design, Inquiry Based Learning, Classroom Community, and Technology.  Research shows that designing instruction with thinking skills intertwined with traditional core subjects allows the students to learn more than with a content-only curriculum.  In addition to this, when students see the connection between what they are learning and the real world, both their motivation and learning soar.

Click here to see an example of student projects.