humanities – Page 3 – Connect Charter School

iPads in the History Classroom – A Teacher Reflection

-by Jody Pereverzoff, Grade 7 Humanities This reflection is based on the Pre-Confederation Canadian History Unit, Determining Historical Significance (reference Determining Historical Significance and Determining Historical Significance Part II) This unit required students to work individually, as well as collaboratively, to demonstrate their understanding. The discussions were thoughtful, and rating the events using the historical… Continue reading iPads in the History Classroom – A Teacher Reflection

Determining Historical Significance Part II

– by Jody Pereverzoff, Grade 7 Humanities In this unit, students discussed and evaluated events in Canada by rating them using the historical significance criteria found on the website: Historical Benchmark Society. They then created timelines to demonstrate their evaluations and get a better sense, visually, of how each event was connected. This blog focuses… Continue reading Determining Historical Significance Part II

Steve Jobs, Modern Day Renaissance Man?

-by Margaret Leland, Grade 8 Humanities Teacher I found it curious the day after Steve Jobs died that I overheard some of the students wondering who the image on our Apple start page was and, moreover, that they didn’t take the time to investigate. After all, that’s what we do at CSS. I then thought… Continue reading Steve Jobs, Modern Day Renaissance Man?

Student Responses to a Digital Textbook Continued

-by Dave Scott, Grade 8 Humanities This post is part of a four-part series exploring the curricular potential of digital textbooks or what I am calling “Integrated Inquiry Resources.” Read the first blog here for an introduction to the ideas that informed this project as well as the inquiry resource itself. And then a second… Continue reading Student Responses to a Digital Textbook Continued

Student Responses to a Digital Textbook

Over the last week the media has been awash in news stories surrounding Apple’s unveiling of their new iBooks 2 application for the iPad. This free App provides a user-friendly platform allowing anyone with an Apple computer to create their own digital textbook specifically tailored to the educational needs of both their students and their… Continue reading Student Responses to a Digital Textbook

Digital Textbook Inquiry Tasks for the Renaissance

by Dave Scott What follows is post number two of a four part series on the curricular potential of digital textbooks. These posts are the result of an action research study I have been involved in as part of a research initiative at Calgary Science School to encourage innovation and reflective practice within an inquiry-based… Continue reading Digital Textbook Inquiry Tasks for the Renaissance

Determining Historical Significance

-by Jody Pereverzoff, Grade 7 Humanities Students in grade 7 Humanities are currently completing an assignment called 8 Events Leading to Confederation, adapted from the website http://historicalthinking.ca/. Historical Significance Unit Inquiry Question: What event is the most significant event in Canada pre-confederation?This unit opened with a discussion on the difference between ‘the past’ and ‘history’.… Continue reading Determining Historical Significance

Demonstrating Understanding through Pixton

-by Dave Scott, Grade 8 Humanities This term the Grade 8 Humanities team has been experimenting with creative ways for students to demonstrate their comprehension of key concepts and ideas surrounding the Italian Renaissance. Informed by Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding by Design, we are interested in shifting the focus of learning from students memorizing isolated… Continue reading Demonstrating Understanding through Pixton

Creating Graphic Novels 2.0

Over the last few weeks grade eight Humanities students have been working hard to author their very own graphic novels based on a list of selected short stories including Alice Munro’s Day of the Butterfly and Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter. Inspired by Larry Lessig’s Ted Talk arguing for the revival of our creative… Continue reading Creating Graphic Novels 2.0

Poetry that Moves

Guest post by University of Calgary student teacher, Lisa Nguyen I cultivated a love for poetry at a young age, but for many people it is an inaccessible genre that is tedious to read, nonetheless teach. Although it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I’m convinced poetry appreciation and creation relies on effective communication. If a… Continue reading Poetry that Moves