History Stories | 1.1

History is all around us—and within us. One of the best ways to begin exploring world history is by first reflecting on your own story. Think about the moments in your life that stand out as significant events. What do you remember about them now? How did they make you feel at the time?

By connecting your personal experiences to the bigger picture, you’ll see how individual stories—like yours—are part of the larger human story we call history.

##Purpose

Kick off this world history course by thinking about something from *your* history.

[[☃ explanation 1]]

##Part 1

Start by taking a few minutes to write about a memorable event. This could be a really fun day from this summer, a big trip or adventure, or an important turning point in your life—it’s up to you.

It might also help to find a picture from a meaningful moment in your life and describe it. *Where was it taken? Who was with you? What made this moment stand out in your memory?*

Include as many details as you can.

[[☃ explanation 6]]

##Part 2

1. What does the phrase “History starts with you” mean to you?

2. How might this idea change the way you think about history?

[[☃ explanation 7]]

##Resources

You can complete this activity in a few different ways. [[☃ explanation 2]] or [[☃ explanation 3]]

What did you write? Share with a friend or classmate, or you can [[☃ explanation 4]]

##Purpose

In this activity, you’ll get a sneak peek at the big ideas in Unit 1 and share what you already know or think about them.

[[☃ explanation 8]]

Part 1

What do you think about learning history? Read the statements below and decide whether you agree or disagree.

Note: There's no right or wrong answer. But make sure to write these down! You'll return to the statements at the end of the unit.

1. Studying history isn’t relevant to my life.
[[☃ dropdown 1]]

2. There is only one story of our past.
[[☃ dropdown 2]]

3. An event looks the same in history no matter your perspective.
[[☃ dropdown 3]]

4. Memory doesn't play a role in the study of the past.
[[☃ dropdown 4]]

##Part 2

Write a brief explanation for each answer. For example: "I agree/disagree with this statement because..."

At the end of the unit, you’ll revisit this activity and reflect on how your thinking has changed!

##Resources

You can complete this activity in a few different ways. [[☃ explanation 2]] or [[☃ explanation 3]]

What did you write? Share with a friend or classmate, or you can [[☃ explanation 4]]

##Purpose

Connect the two videos you’ve watched in this lesson by imagining how each video speaker would respond to the same question.

[[☃ explanation 6]]

##Step 1

Review your notes and/or the transcript from the videos What Makes History Usable, featuring historian Bob Bain, and The Danger of a Single Story, featuring author Chimamanda Adichie. Identify the main idea of each video.

[[☃ graded-group 3]]

##Step 2

If historian Bob Bain and author Chimamanda Adichie were having a conversation about how changing perspectives changes our understanding of a narrative, what do you think they’d say?

[[☃ graded-group 2]]

##Step 3

1. Why is it valuable to examine multiple sources and perspectives when studying the history of our world?

2. How might relying on only one source give us an incomplete or even biased understanding?

3. What can we learn when we compare different voices, experiences, and points of view?

##Resources

You can complete this activity in a few different ways. [[☃ explanation 2]] or [[☃ explanation 3]]

What did you write? Share with a friend or classmate, or you can [[☃ explanation 4]]

There is only one way to see things, until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes.

-Pablo Picasso

##Purpose

Earlier, you reflected on a major moment in your life. Now, try seeing it through someone else’s eyes. How might their perspective shift the story?

[[☃ explanation 1]]

##Step 1

Review the story you wrote in the opener activity in this lesson about a big moment in your life. Think of another person who was there or who knew about this event and could tell the story (for example: a friend, a family member, a teacher).

Underneath your story, rewrite the event from the other person’s perspective. Think about how they might have experienced it, what they noticed, and how they may have felt.

[[☃ explanation 5]]

##Step 2

1. What are some of the differences between how you would tell this story and how someone else might?

2. Why are there differences between how the stories are told?

[[☃ explanation 6]]

##Resources

You can complete this activity in a few different ways. [[☃ explanation 2]] or [[☃ explanation 3]]

What did you write? Share with a friend or classmate, or you can [[☃ explanation 4]]