Current Event Template - Make CONNECTIONS To History

This is how you level up current events in history class for real! This gets kids to do the important work of history class- applying lesson from history to the present world and current issues!

The template starts with students sourcing the article or news story (you can assign them a specific one or have them find their own) and then they summarize it by explaining the main idea and then important supporting details. In part two they make a clear connection to history (either from the unit you are currently studying or from any thing they've learned in history class - your choice). They explain the connection, complete a quick venn-diagram to identify similarities and differences and then students answer the 🔥 question and consider what lessons from history we can apply to this situation? And isn't that the reason we study history! 

Younger students will definitely need help with the last questions at first but can develop this essential skill after doing it a few times. And this will lead to great discussions in class as students share their different ideas about how history can help us 'solve' or handle this issue or event. This really makes history relevant and powerful and gets students to see history as a tool we use in the present world to inform our decisions and actions! BOOM!