7th Grade Introduction To History Lesson Plan (History)

Topic: Introduction to History

Objectives & Outcomes

• By the end of this lesson, students will be able to explain the significance of historical events and figures and their connection to the present day.

Materials

• Handout with definitions and examples of key historical terms
• Pictures of historical events and figures
• Whiteboard and markers

Warm-up

• Ask students what they know about history. Write their responses on the whiteboard.
• Discuss the common misconceptions and inaccurate ideas that students often have about history.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of historical thinking and explain that it involves using evidence and reasoning to make sense of the past.
• Discuss the three main types of historical evidence (documentary, material, and oral/aural) and how they can be used to investigate the past.
• Introduce the topic for the unit of study and explain why it is important or interesting.

Guided Practice

• Lead the students through a series of interactive activities designed to introduce them to the key concepts and methods of historical thinking.
• Ask the students to work in small groups to analyze and interpret a set of historical documents, using the skills learned in the direct instruction.
• Have the groups present their findings to the class and discuss their reasoning and conclusions.

Independent Practice

• Give the students a project-based assignment that requires them to use the skills and methods of historical thinking to analyze and interpret a historical problem or issue of their choice.
• Encourage the students to use a range of historical sources and research techniques to gather and interpret their data.

Closure

• As a class, review the key concepts and skills learned during the unit.
• Ask the students to share their project-based assignments and discuss the historical problem or issue they researched and how they applied historical thinking to solve it.

Assessment

• Formative assessments can take the form of student presentations, project-based assignments, or quizzes on the key concepts and skills taught in the unit.
• Summative assessment could be a written or oral exam on the unit's key concepts and skills, or a project-based assignment where students must apply their knowledge to solve a historical problem or issue.