Timeline Event Plotting in 5 Stages
Event Plotting has an equivalency to both the 5 elements of literature using non-fiction text instead. Students explore both the historical context and socio-political impacts of the subject matter through a step by step timeline using primary sources.
Origin: A critical social problem exists that violates widely held values
Development: Small and scattered opposition groups do research, educate others
THE EVENT: Struggle or Turning Point
Short-Term Impacts: The problem is finally put on “society’s agenda.”
Legacy: Conclusions are drawn by students that may differ.
Thesis Conclusions Students will draw conclusions and create a thesis following this methodology. A spirited discussion and an opportunity to practice active listening and creative participation can be developed through the sharing and creation of poetry, skits, and plays based upon primary source material.
Performance Literacy
Performance Literacy engages the student in literacy development and content area exploration and is completely aligned to Literacy Core Curriculum Standards. Through the citing/usage of textual evidence, students utilize critical thinking skills to analyze and embrace literacy skills in two primary areas associated with storytelling: story development, in which students develop the skills to write original stories, poems, and other narrative events; and story delivery, in which students perform their narrative events in engaging, creative ways.
The History of 5 Stage Event Plotting Method
Motivated by statistics regarding low literacy rates of American students, particularly those living in urban and rural areas of the nation, History and Literature teacher Francine Gold created a method of teaching students how to write and perform original stories of historical events using primary source material. Ms. Gold’s work has been recognized both locally and nationally in a number of different venues. Her students have won several accolades at The National History Day Competition and beyond. [See Vimeo]
“History, is not the same thing as the past. History is the interpretation of the past.”
– Francine Gold, Historical Educator
TORCH THEATER.org 