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Topic: Vikings

What is exciting about this topic: Vikings are exciting because students usually think of them as wild warriors with horned helmets, but they were also explorers, traders, shipbuilders, and settlers who reached places like England, Iceland, and even North America. The topic challenges stereotypes and shows how cultures are more complex than they seem.

Warm up description: Show students a series of Viking images on the board.

1. Students write down what they think Vikings were like.

2. Then show a second set of images showing Viking ships, trade goods, farms, and maps.

3. Students discuss in pairs:

Were Vikings only raiders?
What evidence do you see?
What questions do you still have about Vikings?

Finish with a quick class poll:
Villains, Explorers, or Both?

Purpose of the warm up: The purpose is to activate prior knowledge, challenge stereotypes, and introduce inquiry thinking. Students start asking questions about perspective, which connects to NC Standard 6.H.1.3 about comparing historical perspectives.

What makes it effective: Visual images hook middle school attention. Students love debating “villain vs hero”. Think-Pair-Share encourages participation. Builds curiosity before learning real history.

Links to any media: https://youtu.be/Wc5zUK2MKNY?si=_SzIbfqfDCN0Gu7c

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The Vikings! - Crash Course World History 224

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Topic: The three branches of government

What is exciting about the topic: I personally have always had an interest in civics and how our government works, so it's always something I love to talk about. It also has great importance in general, our students will be the next generation of U.S. citizens, so it is important for them to learn how their government works. This will prepare them for any civil participation they will do in the future as adults.

A description of the Warm Up: Students will be presented a video (linked below) and while they watch it they will answer this question, “What are the pros and cons of having separations of powers?”. There will then be a whole group discussion in which various students would share their answer to this question.

What is the purpose of the Warm Up: The video would offer a short introduction to the three branches of government and the role it plays in the inner workings of the U.S. government. The question that would be asked of the students has the purpose of asking students to critically think about the separation of powers in our government. This question will also ask students to defend their answers with evidence from the video (or prior knowledge).

What will make the Warm Up effective: The warm up will have students critically think about why there is a separation of powers in the U.S. government and its importance in our democratic system. Also as mentioned previously, it can be a nice little introduction to the topic of the lesson.

Links to any media that is a part of the Warm Up: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances: Crash Course Government and Politics #3

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Topic: Trade and Globalization

What is exciting about the topic: getting to connect the things students use every day to the world around them, and how far these products and food come from.

A description of the Warm Up: students respond to the question "Think of one thing you used today and where you think it was made. Where do you think it was made, and how many places?” After this, have a whole group discussion with students about their responses.

What is the purpose of the Warm Up: to have students start to think about the things they use every day and connect it with the world around them.

What will make the Warm Up effective: having students connect the topic with something they use.

Links to any media that is a part of the Warm Up- no media used.

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Topic: Civics Literacy lesson on The Bill of Rights.

What's exciting about this topic: The Bill of Rights is interesting because it is the literal rights the students have. In teaching them, students will learn more about their individual rights and how that can impact them in the future.

Warm Up Description: Students will be given the first few minutes of class to try and find a recent news article and tie it into one of the first 10 Amendments. Students will then share out loud their news source and their justification for why it relates to the amendments.

Purpose of the Warm-up: This warm-up gives students the opportunity to read the news and share. Students can find articles they find interesting and find a way to relate them to the amendments. It also gives students a "in the moment" tie-in to the lesson.

What makes it effective: Students will want to find a news source that they believe in, which gives them a voice in the discussion. For example, if a student was very outgoing on environmental issues, they may find an article where protestors were arrested and can argue that it violates the First Amendment. By seeing the current issues with the amendments, it cements their importance in the students' minds.

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Topic: The Cold War, using a Crash Course video to introduce students to the major causes, events, and global tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after World War II.

What's Exciting about this Topic: I find the Cold War pretty fascinating because it was a war fought through ideas, threats, and influence rather than direct military battles. It also shaped much of the modern world, from international politics to technology, and it was full of tension, secrecy, and power struggles that still impact us today. There were also spies, and who doesn't love spy stories?

Warm Up Description: Students will be provided with a warm-up sheet. The first question will be answered before the crash course video: What do you already know or think about the Cold War? Then, students will watch the crash course video and answer the other five questions on the warm-up sheet related to the video. Here are the questions: 1. What was the main reason the U.S. and the Soviet Union became rivals after World War II? 2. What is “mutually assured destruction,” and how did it affect the Cold War? 3. How did the U.S. try to stop the spread of communism around the world? 4. What surprised you or stood out to you in the video? Explain why. 5. What is one question you still have about the Cold War after watching the video? After they finish, students will pair up and share their responses to questions #4 and #5, which ask them to reflect on what surprised them and what they’re still curious about.

Purpose of the Warm Up: I believe this warm-up gives students a strong foundation of knowledge to begin a unit on the Cold War. It also introduces some key vocabulary and events, sparks curiosity, and encourages students to think critically about a complex global conflict. It also activates prior knowledge and creates an opportunity for students to engage with new content in a way that’s visual, fast-paced, and discussion-friendly.

What Makes it Effective: I believe using the Crash Course video makes the topic more accessible and entertaining for students. The warm-up questions are designed to promote comprehension as well as personal reflection. And the Pair & Share at the end allows every student to participate in the conversation/discussion, even if they’re not comfortable speaking up in front of the entire class.

Link to the video: https://youtu.be/y9HjvHZfCUI?si=uQMaXTXd_To-5VGn

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USA vs USSR Fight! The Cold War: Crash Course World History #39

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Activity Link: https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-assessments/first-thanksgiving
Essential Question: What does the painting tell us about the first Thanksgiving?
(Re)sources: The First Thanksgiving 1621 by J.L.G. Ferris (1932)
Assessments: Short Answer Question
The painting The First Thanksgiving 1621 helps historians understand the relationship between the Wampanoag Indians and the Pilgrim settlers in 1621. Do you agree or disagree? (Circle one.) Briefly support your answer: