Standard 4: Middle level Social Studies teachers plan developmentally appropriate instruction that expands the horizons of young adolescents beyond local communities.
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As a Social Studies teacher, I am fortunate in that I am given great flexibility in the multicultural learning that can occur in my classroom. In studying American History, it is impossible to ignore the many contributions made by the different cultural groups in this "melting pot" of a nation.
One of the biggest cultural studies we examined as a class this year was the exploration of slave life. The students read and reflected on quotes from Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, for a primary source examination of how harshly the African were treated. (The quotes can be found below.) We also listened (and sang along to!) slave spirituals and discussed the evolution of these songs into jazz and rhythm and blues.
As multicultural studies encompass more than merely an exploration of race, we also explore the lives of women and other ethnic groups. Channel 1 News is excellent for studying current events and frequently topics such as illegal immigrants and conflicts in the Middle East arise. The student journal about these issue and we often take time to discuss the matters further. In regards to women, every chapter we have covered has highlighted prominent women in history. We have also taken time to evaluate the lives of women during wars and their evolving role in society. Lastly, I try to eradicate stereotypical thinking in the students and try to show women in non-traditional roles such as early soldiers, pirates and spies.
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Slave Girl.doc Size : 29 Kb Type : doc |
