The next two days you'll be in one of three work groups prepping for your POLs. We've divided your day into three two hour blocks for which there will be worksheets, brief instruction and explanation, and then small assignments to help you move through your preparation.
We're going to start today, however, with a debrief of Model Senate...Here's the plan
Starter - Journal on the following questions...
- What are your three biggest takeaways from the Model Senate project?
- What specific contribution did you make that you are proud of during the exhibition
- Appreciate! Call out someone for doing something awesome – what did you see someone else do that you thought was really interesting, unique, or thoughtful?
- What is one question you have about the US Government (or Senate in particular) after running through our Model Senate?
- As we were ending committees on Thursday and going to dinner, the following story was on National Public Radio. At the same time, delegates from around the world were negotiating a framework for a global agreement on climate change in Lima, Peru (they actually agreed on something!) Check out one of these two stories. In what ways has this semester changed or enhanced your perspective of stories/headlines/issues like this?
You'll discuss the answers to these questions in pairs and then as a whole group.
I'll give you some observations from the faculty.
We then want you to fill out this Google Form to give us formal written feedback on the project.
Please take your time with this survey, as this data is extremely useful to us as we track answers to these questions from year to year, and use student perceptions to enhance our instruction. Please provide feedback in a way that is constructive.
- Example 1: My teacher is bad because American government is boring and I hate it.
- Example 2: I struggled with Model Senate because it was unclear how these issues are relevant to my life. As a way to address this in the future, I would recommend...
Consider the usefulness of the two examples for us as teachers. Now move on to take the survey:
We'll then transition into preparation for POLs. By the end of the day on Monday, you should have your thesis and decided what you'll use for evidence in your presentation. By the end of the day Tuesday you will have built your POL page on your DP, scripted your presentation, and have rehearsed it.
Here is the overall handout explaining your POL assignment (including the framing questions).
Here are your work groups for the next two days
Here is the student panel you are a part of, named after the appropriate Star Wars episode.
Here is order of the presentation, including which student panel will hear which students' presentation.
Homework
Keep working on your POL presentation and dreaming of sugar plum fairies.