Swashbuckling Adventures Article…

I agree with what the article “Swashbuckling Adventures on the High Seas” talks about.  I believe that Social Studies and Literature can be integrated together so that one lesson can meet two different subject areas.  Literature can get students interested in history without making them realize that they are reading history (if that make sense).  When you give a student a textbook and tell him/her to read a chapter on a subject they are going to have a mind set that it’s going to be a boring reading because it’s in the textbook.  However, if they are given, perhaps, a historical fiction book and told that it’s a good book that you recommend they read for fun they may just come back the next day talking about how much they have learned and what all they want to know more about.  It’s important to get students interested in both reading and history and there are many books out there that can do the job.  However, it is up to the teacher to find the activities that are fun, yet still educational to the point that students are learning the information throurghly.

One thing that I particularly liked that the article suggested were the Double-Entry Diaries.  I think that it’s a great idea to have students split the paper into two columns and use one side for factual entries and one side for responses, ideas, or questions.  However, a teacher does need to remember and realize the importance of modeling this technique.  Perhaps, instead of doing the whole thing right away the teacher could do the project along with her/his students; however, staying at least one step ahead.

History and Literature can easily be integrated.  I can’t wait to find out about some of the really good books that can help us put together more hands on lessons and get students excited about learning!  What about you?

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