Sample Lesson Plan

[The following lesson plan represents the model that we’ve used in Explorations and Perspectives for many years. It is from an Explorations class called Darkness on the Edge of Town: Understanding the Seventies]

SEPTEMBER 10 – CLASS TWO

1. KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK – How would you describe the political landscape of the United States during the Seventies? What forces were at work in shaping this landscape? Who were the key players?

2. BRIEF AGENDA FOR TONIGHT

  • CLASS BUSINESS
  • “GOOD AND BAD”
  • BRAINSTORMING: What Happened in the Seventies?
  • WORKING IN PAIRS: Nixon, Ford, or Carter
  • BREAK
  • IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS: Nixon, Ford, or Carter
  • CLASS DISCUSSION: Nixon, Ford, or None of the Above

3. TIME LINE

  • BUSINESS – 6:30 – 10 min. – TAYLOR leads this
    • Finalize plans for class to go to lecture by Bob Woodward, co-author of All the President’s Men
  • “GOOD AND BAD” CHECK IN – 6:40 – 20 min. – CHRIS oversees
  • BRAINSTORMING – 7:00 – 20 min.- TAYLOR leading. CHRIS recording.
    • What actually happened in the Seventies? Can we identify all the key events in the realms of politics, economics, social change, and culture (film, music, theater, art, and design)
  • WORK IN PAIRS – 7:20 – 30 min – CHRIS oversees. BOTH check in with the pairs.
    • Which of the three presidents who held office during the Seventies had the greatest impact? Why?
      • Break the class up into pairs by counting off.
      • Assign two pairs Nixon, two pairs Ford, and two pairs Carter
      • Each pair will prepare a five-minute presentation to be delivered after break
  • BREAK – 7:50 – 10 min.
  • IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS BY EACH OF THE SEVEN PAIRS ABOUT NIXON, CARTER, AND FORD – 8:00 – 35 min – TAYLOR oversees.
    • LAURIE makes sure that the projector is working and the Internet is up.
    • LAURIE also keeps time.
  • CLASS DISCUSSION — 8:35 – 20 min – BOTH LEAD. PLAY DEVIL’S ADVOCATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
    • Who was right? The Nixons, The Fords, or the Carters?
  • REMINDERS — 8:55 – 5 min. BOTH
    • Finish reading All the President’s Men.
    • Come to the screening of the film, Nashville, Wednesday night, 7:00, Tisch 304.
  • END – 9:00.