Summary
History courses are filled with people who have "made" history. In this lesson, students will analyze historical figures and make connections about their places in history. Students will research a world historical figure of their choice and examine their impact during their historical period, as well as their relationship to other historical figures. This lesson can be used in any history course, but it is best suited to introduce key historical figures at the beginning of a unit or to review key historical figures at the end of a semester.
Essential Question(s)
Do people make history, or does history make people?
Snapshot
Engage
Students participate in a Tell Me Everything activity about world historical figures.
Explore
Students each choose a historical figure and begin completing a KWHL chart about that person.
Explain
Students research their historical figures to finish the KWHL chart.
Extend
Students create posters to profile their historical figures.
Evaluate
Students participate in a Gallery Walk, revisit their KWHL charts, and submit their posters and KWHL charts.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
KWHL Chart (attached, one per student)
Historical Figure List (attached, one copy)
Hat or other container (optional; for drawing names)
Historical Figure Profile Template (attached, one per student)
Historical Figure Profile Rubric (attached, one per student)
Markers, colored pencils, crayons, pens, pencils, etc.
Posters
Student devices with Internet access (optional)
Sticky Easel Pad (optional)
Engage
Begin by displaying slide 4. Ask students to get out a piece of paper to participate in a Tell Me Everything activity. Give students 1 minute to write down the name of every famous world historical figure they can think of.
After the time is up, display slide 5 and give students an additional minute to write down everything that they know about the people they included in their lists. Invite students to discuss their lists with a partner.
Display slides 6 and 7 and ask students if any of these people (slide 6: Desmond Tutu and Augustus; slide 7: Catherine the Great and Shaka Zulu) were included in their lists. If students say no, ask them why not.
Explain to students that there are a number of famous figures who played important roles in world history, and it will be the students' job to become experts on ONE famous world historical figure.
Explore
For the Explore activity, each student will need to select a single historical figure to learn more about. Feel free to use the attached Historical Figure List as a starting point and add other historical figures as you see fit. Or, engage students in a brainstorming session to build your own class list. After finalizing the list, you can choose to cut out the names and have students each draw a historical figure at random from a hat or another container (slide 8), or you can allow students to select which historical figure they'd like to research.
Once students have each selected a historical figure, tell them that they will use a KWHL Graphic Organizer to help them as they learn more about their figures.
Display slide 9 and pass out copies of the KWHL Chart handout. Have students write the name of their historical figure at the top of the chart.
Ask students to fill in the "K" column with everything they know about their historical figure. Allow 3–5 minutes of writing time.
Display slide 10. Ask students to fill in the "W" column with everything they want to know about their historical figure. Give students an additional 3–5 minutes for this part of the activity.
Display slide 11. Ask students to fill in the "H" column with ideas about how they might find the information they listed in their "W" column. Tell students that this will serve as an action plan as they research their historical figures.
Explain
Using their KWHL Charts (specifically the "W" and "H" columns) as a reference, students will now consult their history books and/or appropriate online resources to research the information they identified in the "W" column.
Display slide 12. As students research, ask them to take quality notes about their findings and write down where they found the information. In their notes, students might include the following information relating to their historical figures:
Notable accomplishments
Education
Connections to other historical figures
Interests or hobbies
Contributions to their field
Interesting facts
Extend
Give each student a sheet of white paper or pass out copies of the attached Historical Figures Profile Template.
Display slide 14. Students will fill in the required information that they found during their research and draw in any images and symbols that they associate with their historical figures.
Quote: Which quote would best reflect the historical figure? If students find that their figures have many quotes attributed to them, suggest that they select one that they find particularly interesting or meaningful.
Fast Facts: What are five key pieces of information about the historical figure? Students should highlight these using brief bullet points.
Historical Importance: Why is the figure important in the scope of history? Students should write a quick sentence or two explaining why their historical figure is important.
Six-Word Memoir: Instead of having students write longer biographies of their historical figures, have them create concise "memoirs" of their figures that sum up their historical importance in just six words.
BFF: If time travel were available, which other historical figure(s) would this historical figure get along with the best? Why would they be friends?
Worst Enemy: Who would the historical figure despise the most in all of history? Why would they not get along?
Image: What does this historical figure look like? Students should draw a picture in the large oval.
Symbols: Based on students' research, what four symbols would they most associate with their figures? Students should draw these symbols in the small square boxes.
Evaluate
Ask students to post their projects on the wall to prepare for a Gallery Walk activity where they will view their peers' work. Give each student several sticky notes, and have them grab a pen or pencil.
Display slide 16. As they move around the room to view the projects, encourage students to use their sticky notes to provide feedback or praise for other students' projects.
Once students have rotated back to their own projects, give them time to review the feedback and make any changes that they see fit.
Display slide 19. Have students return to their KWHL Charts and fill out the "L" column with what they have learned about their historical figures.
Have students turn in their KWHL charts and research notes. Consider providing formative feedback about their research techniques and providing suggestions that can aid them in their next research project. A Historical Figures Profile Rubric is attached, which you can use to assist with grading students' projects.
Resources
Effinger, S., & Widdicombe, L. (2008, February 25). Say it all in six words. Ms. Effie's Lifesavers. https://mseffie.com/assignments/six_words/six_words.html
K20 Center. (n.d.). Gallery Walk/Carousel. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f505a54d
K20 Center. (n.d.). KWHL Graphic Organizer. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f505dd47
K20 Center. (n.d.). Six-Word Memoirs. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/7b4de59085f566aa097814b8c002b98a
K20 Center. (n.d.). Tell Me Everything. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/baee4e90c5fa1a7060ca04dd8b001ea4
K20 Center. (n.d.). Sutori. Tech Tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/2172