Project At A Glance
Author:
Jen Peterson and Brett Peterson
Grade level, subjects:
11th Grade Humanities
Essential questions:
Was the conflict in Vietnam a selfish, colonial move on the part of the United States or was it a general effort to make the world safe from Communism or something in between? What are the essential elements of effective drama? What are the fundamentals of successfully putting on a play?
Duration:
8 weeks
Description:
Students will each research a historical topic, in this case the Vietnam War. They will begin by asking an essential question once they have been introduced to the historical time period through lectures, readings, and various forms of media and activities. Once they have researched and compiled the answer to the essential question in the form of a historian poster or primary resource guide to their play, they will begin writing. Their topic will be transformed into a dramatic script complete with well-developed characters, historically accurate settings and realistic dialogue. Scripts will be critiqued and revised by peers, and the best few scripts will be performed to an outside audience.
CA standards/domains:
U.S. History, World History, English Language Arts
Assessments:
In addition to a final performance and rehearsals with outside professionals and peers, authors used several rubrics to evaluate characters, scripts, ameliorations, journal entries and performances.
About the Authors
Jen Peterson is in her second year as a Humanities teacher at High Tech High International. Prior to HTHI, she taught two years at High Tech High. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her B.S. in Secondary Education - English with a certificate in Women's Studies.
Brett W. Peterson is enjoying his fourth year as a Humanities teacher at High Tech High, where he recently earned his intern credential, the first of its kind in the state of California. He is also a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA in History) and the University of San Diego (MA in History). Brett is also active with several organizations including GLSEN San Diego, which he chairs.