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Curriculum Spotlight: Current Events in 8th Grade History Class
By Jill Frazee, 8th Grade History
Class begins most days with two "town criers" reading the headlines and subheadings from the LA Times front page and California section. On Tuesdays, students "circle up" for a student led discussion on a current event of the moderators' choice.
Topics have spanned the Syrian refugee crisis, body cameras for policeman, race relations and the papal visit. Students come prepared with discussion generating questions and connections to things they've read or seen elsewhere.
Already students have come to identify expository versus persuasive articles and realize that the best discussions come from those with two sides to the story and the best questions can't be answered with a yes or no. Some students even complain when the article selected is too short!
I'm pleased to see these 8th graders becoming more self-aware about their role in a group discussion; do they tend to talk over others or are they gracious in ceding the floor to someone more hesitant to jump in? It's been an experiment and there are still some wrinkles to even out, but overall I'm excited to hear students more aware of the world around them and realizing the complexity of the many issues their generation will inherit.
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Class begins most days with two "town criers" reading the headlines and subheadings from the LA Times front page and California section. On Tuesdays, students "circle up" for a student led discussion on a current event of the moderators' choice.
Topics have spanned the Syrian refugee crisis, body cameras for policeman, race relations and the papal visit. Students come prepared with discussion generating questions and connections to things they've read or seen elsewhere.
Already students have come to identify expository versus persuasive articles and realize that the best discussions come from those with two sides to the story and the best questions can't be answered with a yes or no. Some students even complain when the article selected is too short!
I'm pleased to see these 8th graders becoming more self-aware about their role in a group discussion; do they tend to talk over others or are they gracious in ceding the floor to someone more hesitant to jump in? It's been an experiment and there are still some wrinkles to even out, but overall I'm excited to hear students more aware of the world around them and realizing the complexity of the many issues their generation will inherit.
Mayfield Junior School
405 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101 626.796.2774
Located in Pasadena, California, Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child Jesus is a K-8 Catholic coeducational private school. Our kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school experience best prepares students for high school education and beyond.
