Social Studies Learning Activities

Scottsboro Boys Documentary: Using Primary Sources

Objectives

Students will determine between primary and secondary sources
Students will collect information related to the Scottsboro Boys trial
Students will use technology effectively to create media based on a historical event
Students will effectively collaborate with peers on a common goal
Students will create a map plotting important moments and locations of an event
Students will present a condensed pitch of their findings and project

Ohio Standards

W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
RH.9-10.3 Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.

Summary

Students are placed into groups and asked to do research on the Scottsboro Boys trial for a documentary that they will pitch to a “production company” (their classmates). This activity sits as a way of introducing the historical context and inspiration behind a vast portion of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. They will be asked to use primary sources as their basis for information.

Tasks are described in more detail on this informational website, which will also be shared with students as an introduction to this course.

Technology Integration

Students will be developing a digital portfolio using Adobe Spark Page, creating a website as a way of displaying their project. As part of the project, students will create:

A timeline of the events leading up to, during, and after the trial using Canva
An interactive map using Google Maps that will track the path of the train and mark the locations of the various trials
A short video using Spark Video to promote their documentary and use images/quotes from primary sources
A documentary “treatment” using Google Docs
A wall for compiling their research using Padlet

All of the deliverables students will be creating can be done on a mobile device, (1:1 iPads are available) although a laptop/desktop is preferred. The only deliverable that will require laptop/desktop in order it to be done effectively and efficiently is the interactive map.

Relative Advantage

Using technology available to them, students will be able to create multiple media to demonstrate their understanding of the trial, how to evaluate and use primary sources, and also allowing them to express creativity.

Length of Project

Day 1: Intro and research
Day 2: Research
Day 3: Begin building deliverables
Day 4: Deliverable building
Day 5: Vocab quiz/website
Day 6: Finish website and submit (due by end of class)
Days 7-9: Documentary pitching to classmates