Essential question for World History
Based on an analysis of world history, can humans create a just, sustainable, complex society?
In other words: Can we create a better future for ourselves by using our knowledge of the past?
We learn more about ourselves and the world we live in by understanding where we come from and how we have changed over time. Knowing about the variety of people and the problems they faced through the ages will give us a better idea of who we are and what we can do today.
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In order to explore our essential question, we use supporting questions to help direct our investigation and answer our essential question completely and accurately. These supporting questions will be the essential questions that we explore in each unit of our class.
1. Human Environment Interactions Unit
Essential question: Can modern civilization coexist with a healthy planet in the long term?
Focus – Technology/world population/sustainability – Case studies: Mayans, Tokugawa Shogunate, Industrial/green Revolution
2. Human Economic Interactions Unit
Essential Question: Is extreme poverty a natural human condition or is it a product of society?
Focus – Economics/class divisions – Case studies: Feudal systems, European colonization, slavery, capitalism/communism, information age
3. Human Social Interaction Unit - Conflict
Essential question: Can modern society limit the destructiveness of war?
Focus – Warfare – Case Studies: French Revolution, World War, Cold War
4. Human Social Interaction Unit - Culture
Essential Question: Do the “best” ideas and ways of living become the most successful?
Focus – Variety of daily life through time and space – Case Studies: Renaissance, Enlightenment, rise of mass media, multiculturalism/global culture
5. Citizenship, Continuity and Change Unit
Essential Question: Has the rise of popular government led to more responsible government?
Focus - Government, administration, politics, law – Case Studies: Absolute monarchy, Enlightenment/Reformation, constitutional government, civil rights/liberation movements
Global Issues Social Action Project
Students will examine a modern issue of their choosing using a historical perspective and present their work in a public forum. They will analyze the issue they select using the essential question of the class.
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A question about questions: How do we answer essential questions?
Answer: by using historical thinking which will determine what we look for when we answer our essential question and any supporting questions.
Using historical thinking to answer essential questions
When we answer our essential questions, we can't just list what we think happened and when. Like a detective, we need to create an interpretation of what happened, how it happened and why. To do this we must analyze and evaluate evidence in order to connect events to other events through time.
Using historical thinking, we need to analyze the different perspectives among those who made history as well as those who record history and remember it. Also we need to identify what was unique about the people and places throughout time as well as what has remained the same.
Below are questions that will help guide our answers to essential questions:
1. What changed and what stayed the same?
What unique circumstances shaped events through time? What has led to change and what has helped things stay the same?
2. What are the different perspectives, now and then?
What are the different points of view of those involved in past events? How do different points of view influence our view of the past?
3. How can we use historical sources and evidence?
What evidence do we need and how do we use it? What evidence is accurate and relevant? How do we evaluate primary and secondary sources?
4. How do we share our interpretation of past events and their consequences?
How can you convince others of your analysis of past events? How can you evaluate the historical analysis of others?
Analysis of historical events
1. Is it accurate? What are other interpretations/perspectives?
2. What changed and what stayed the same?
3. Did the event make a difference? How?
4. Was the event fair/beneficial to all concerned?
5. Did the event build good will or lead to conflict?
In other words: Can we create a better future for ourselves by using our knowledge of the past?
We learn more about ourselves and the world we live in by understanding where we come from and how we have changed over time. Knowing about the variety of people and the problems they faced through the ages will give us a better idea of who we are and what we can do today.
____________________________________________________________________________
In order to explore our essential question, we use supporting questions to help direct our investigation and answer our essential question completely and accurately. These supporting questions will be the essential questions that we explore in each unit of our class.
1. Human Environment Interactions Unit
Essential question: Can modern civilization coexist with a healthy planet in the long term?
Focus – Technology/world population/sustainability – Case studies: Mayans, Tokugawa Shogunate, Industrial/green Revolution
2. Human Economic Interactions Unit
Essential Question: Is extreme poverty a natural human condition or is it a product of society?
Focus – Economics/class divisions – Case studies: Feudal systems, European colonization, slavery, capitalism/communism, information age
3. Human Social Interaction Unit - Conflict
Essential question: Can modern society limit the destructiveness of war?
Focus – Warfare – Case Studies: French Revolution, World War, Cold War
4. Human Social Interaction Unit - Culture
Essential Question: Do the “best” ideas and ways of living become the most successful?
Focus – Variety of daily life through time and space – Case Studies: Renaissance, Enlightenment, rise of mass media, multiculturalism/global culture
5. Citizenship, Continuity and Change Unit
Essential Question: Has the rise of popular government led to more responsible government?
Focus - Government, administration, politics, law – Case Studies: Absolute monarchy, Enlightenment/Reformation, constitutional government, civil rights/liberation movements
Global Issues Social Action Project
Students will examine a modern issue of their choosing using a historical perspective and present their work in a public forum. They will analyze the issue they select using the essential question of the class.
_____________________________________________________________________________
A question about questions: How do we answer essential questions?
Answer: by using historical thinking which will determine what we look for when we answer our essential question and any supporting questions.
Using historical thinking to answer essential questions
When we answer our essential questions, we can't just list what we think happened and when. Like a detective, we need to create an interpretation of what happened, how it happened and why. To do this we must analyze and evaluate evidence in order to connect events to other events through time.
Using historical thinking, we need to analyze the different perspectives among those who made history as well as those who record history and remember it. Also we need to identify what was unique about the people and places throughout time as well as what has remained the same.
Below are questions that will help guide our answers to essential questions:
1. What changed and what stayed the same?
What unique circumstances shaped events through time? What has led to change and what has helped things stay the same?
2. What are the different perspectives, now and then?
What are the different points of view of those involved in past events? How do different points of view influence our view of the past?
3. How can we use historical sources and evidence?
What evidence do we need and how do we use it? What evidence is accurate and relevant? How do we evaluate primary and secondary sources?
4. How do we share our interpretation of past events and their consequences?
How can you convince others of your analysis of past events? How can you evaluate the historical analysis of others?
Analysis of historical events
1. Is it accurate? What are other interpretations/perspectives?
2. What changed and what stayed the same?
3. Did the event make a difference? How?
4. Was the event fair/beneficial to all concerned?
5. Did the event build good will or lead to conflict?