Seventh graders will will demonstrate understanding of issues and events in Texas history and eighth graders will demonstrate understanding of issues and events in U.S. history.

The student will use critical thinking skills to analyze social studies information.

This social studies lesson is for students taking Pre-Advanced Placement classes at the middle school level.

Students will analyze primary source documents via the Internet such as Travis's letter from the Alamo requesting help or Lincoln's Gettysburg Address using The College Board's Advanced Placement method of analyzing primary source documents referred to as APPARTS (Author, Place and Time, Prior Knowledge, Audience, Reason, The Main Idea, Significance).

During the process of analysis each student group will pay particular attention to character pillars embedded within the primary source document.

Upon completion of their analysis, student groups will create a report using technology applications of their groups' choosing such as MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Macromedia Fireworks, or even create a video using Windows Movie Maker, etc. 

Periodically, througout the academic year, after studying about significant events in history, students will be asked to analyze primary source documents to gain further understanding of the content.   To get the students engaged, they will be asked:

Wouldn't it make sense to have a strategy for use in analyzing the primary source document's message and context? 

Students taking Pre-AP classes wil be taught the Pre-AP APPARTS method and will use it throughout middle and high school in social studies.  

How about let's dig deeper into this document by using the APPARTS method or strategy?  They'll then be instructed as to which Internet Site (URL) to go to to perform their analyis depending on the document requiring analysis. 

How about it, should we get started? 

Students will gain ability to conduct research and analysis using the Internet while analyzing historical primary source documents at various websites.

They will then be put into groups to create reports using available software technology of their groups' choosing.

Emphasis of this lesson is on analyzing and synthesising historical information.

Student groups will analyze primary source documents in efforts to determine any and all character pillars embedded in the document while utilizing the Pre-AP APPARTS method of primary source document analysis.

Student groups will then compile their thoughts into a succint report following the APPARTS format.

Although this lesson is intended for Pre-AP classes, some student groups may not be as versed in using technology as other groups.  Each group (Flexible Grouping) will be allowed to choose their software application to create their analysis report.  However, in the event a group needs assistance, they will be given a PowerPoint template with the APPARTS format included in the slides to get them started.  Otherwise, student groups are free to choose from whatever available software the Internet Lab computers and/or the FMS CoWs, have available to create their report (Graphic Organizer).

Internet Lab desktop computers and/or Laptop PCs available on the FMS COW (Cart w/ 24 Computers on Wheels).

Teacher and/or Internet Lab Technician