History in a Treasure Box
                               By:  Bethany Willcock

Project at a Glance :

AP US History students will be analyzing history in Holland:  how it was created and whether or not it represents the history of ALL (museums, statues, books, etc.) and try to craft a new story with their findings.  
       
 
Driving Question:

How do we "make"  history in Holland?            

Standards:

• HS - 1.A, 2.B., & 2.C.

Team / Culture Building:

• Using a student aptitude test students will be grouped on various traits.​

Entry Event:

• Explore the history of Holland on a walking tour and visit the Holland Museum.​​​ ​

Stakeholders:

• History teachers in West Ottawa
• US History students
• Hope College
• Holland Museum
• West Ottawa Administration

Empathy Building:

• Students will create Empathy Maps based on local census data  

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

• Students will dissect the driving question and explore historical sites in Holland.
• Watch Confederacy video (Vox)
• LIsten to Ted Talk video - Adiche's Danger of a Single Story
• Virtual visit of the Jim Crow Museum
• Question and Answer session with representatives form the Pump House Holland Museums

Incubation:

• Using information gathered during the investigation stage students will use Padlet to document 100 Ideas in 10 Minutes of ways to show Holland's history
• Following the Idea Quota protocol students will use the Rip Slap Pass protocol to further develop potential solution ideas.
• Looking at different lenses students will answer the question - "Someone who is  _______ might say . . .".
• A 3 day brainstorming wall will highlight all ideas.

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Solution Building:

• After students have brainstormed ideas they will use the Dot Voting, $100 Test, and NUF Test to narrow down ideas.
• To further develop their solution they will draw their ideas on sticky notes, create prototypes and an elevator pitch to share their ideas with others

Critique and Revision: 

• Students will revise their solution ideas based on information from a Critical Friends discussion and Pluses + Deltas protocol.​

Authentic Audience:​

• History teachers in West Ottawa
• US History students
• Hope College
• Holland Museum
• West Ottawa Administration

Final Presentation:​

• Students will voice and choice in how they choose to present their final solutions to the authentic audience.

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Resources:

• Click here for teacher's full plan.​

Reflection and Feedback:

• Students will use Flipgrid, Letters to an Audience, and Social Media to gain feedback on reflect on their project.

Check out the teacher's Journey through PBL on Padlet . . .

Meet the Educator:
Bethany Willcock teaches Social Studies and English at West Ottawa High School in Holland, MI.  

​           "PBL allows students to take the lead in the classroom; this          promotes better thinking than anyone thought possible!"