History's Mysteries
Step 1
Choose a topic with your group:
1. Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
2. Who sank the Luisitania?
3. What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
4. Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
5. Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr.?
6. What happened to Amelia Earhart?
7. What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
8. Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?
9. What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
10. Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
Step 2
Pre-research -- answer the basic questions (who, what, when, where, etc.) about each topic to get an overview.
You may work with your group, but every student must do their own handouts/writing!
Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/pearlharborattack1.htm
Who sank the Luisitania?
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpwwi2.htm
What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/roanoke-colony.htm/printable
Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/20/national/main584668.shtml
Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr. and why?
http://history1900s.about.com/cs/martinlutherking/a/mlkassass.htm
What happened to Amelia Earhart?
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/conspiracy/q0299.shtml
What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
http://www.unmuseum.org/triangle.htm
Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/1227842
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/jimmy_hoffa/1.html
Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0504/Times-Square-bomber-probe-Did-Faisal-Shahzad-act-alone
Step 3
Questioning Skills
"Small" question:
Example: How many people were killed on Sept. 11, 2001?
-- Just facts
-- One answer; easy to find
-- Can be answered in one sentence
-- Not much thinking required
"Big" question
Example: Why do people want to believe conspiracy theories about 9/11 and other events?
-- Can't just "Google it"
-- Could write a whole paper or even a whole book about it, not just one sentence
-- Must gather facts, then analyze them
-- Requires critical thinking
http://www.ctap4.org/infolit/questions/good_questions.doc
http://www.ctap4.org/infolit/questions/sample_questions_maya.doc
Now write your own "big" questions -- about your chosen topic -- on the handout. Start your research.
Step 4
Conspiracy Theories
Presentation
Top 10 Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories that Were True
Step 5
Finding Information
Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl2.htm
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/himpearlharbor2.htm
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who sank the Luisitania?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.historywiz.com/lusitanianote.htm
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown-browse?id=J1009b
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.examiner.com/x-6495-us-intelligence-examiner~y2009m8d22-best-jfk-assassination-video
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.life.com/image/85755034/in-gallery/24651/life-exclusive-the-day-mlk-died
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to Amelia Earhart?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.ameliaearhart.com/about/historicalphotos.html
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/the-bermuda-triangle-4547/Overview
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.biography.com/articles/Jimmy-Hoffa-9341063
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6208201n
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
Book/encyclopedia: NOT APPLICABLE (too current)
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1986429,00.html
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Step 6
With your group, make a Poster with all of these parts:
-- Timeline
-- Photo
-- Facts about the event
Step 7
With your group, make a presentation about your topic.
A. Go to mlkdocs.info
B. Login with a group member's username/password
C. Go to "Create New" button. Choose "presentation".
D. Add slides. You should have:
One title slide
One slide for each of your "big" questions
At least one slide about conspiracy theories
At least one slide stating your opinion
A TOTAL of at least 6 slides
Scroll down for examples of completed presentations from last year!
Step 8
Oral presentation
With your group, give an oral presentation on your topic.
-- Everyone should participate and present one part
-- Speak clearly and slowly!
Choose a topic with your group:
1. Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
2. Who sank the Luisitania?
3. What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
4. Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
5. Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr.?
6. What happened to Amelia Earhart?
7. What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
8. Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?
9. What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
10. Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
Step 2
Pre-research -- answer the basic questions (who, what, when, where, etc.) about each topic to get an overview.
You may work with your group, but every student must do their own handouts/writing!
Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/pearlharborattack1.htm
Who sank the Luisitania?
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpwwi2.htm
What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/roanoke-colony.htm/printable
Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/20/national/main584668.shtml
Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr. and why?
http://history1900s.about.com/cs/martinlutherking/a/mlkassass.htm
What happened to Amelia Earhart?
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/conspiracy/q0299.shtml
What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
http://www.unmuseum.org/triangle.htm
Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/1227842
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/jimmy_hoffa/1.html
Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0504/Times-Square-bomber-probe-Did-Faisal-Shahzad-act-alone
Step 3
Questioning Skills
"Small" question:
Example: How many people were killed on Sept. 11, 2001?
-- Just facts
-- One answer; easy to find
-- Can be answered in one sentence
-- Not much thinking required
"Big" question
Example: Why do people want to believe conspiracy theories about 9/11 and other events?
-- Can't just "Google it"
-- Could write a whole paper or even a whole book about it, not just one sentence
-- Must gather facts, then analyze them
-- Requires critical thinking
http://www.ctap4.org/infolit/questions/good_questions.doc
http://www.ctap4.org/infolit/questions/sample_questions_maya.doc
Now write your own "big" questions -- about your chosen topic -- on the handout. Start your research.
Step 4
Conspiracy Theories
Presentation
Top 10 Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories that Were True
Step 5
Finding Information
Did the U.S. government know about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl2.htm
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/himpearlharbor2.htm
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who sank the Luisitania?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.historywiz.com/lusitanianote.htm
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to the Roanoke colonists?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown-browse?id=J1009b
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who killed John F. Kennedy Jr., and why?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.examiner.com/x-6495-us-intelligence-examiner~y2009m8d22-best-jfk-assassination-video
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.life.com/image/85755034/in-gallery/24651/life-exclusive-the-day-mlk-died
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to Amelia Earhart?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.ameliaearhart.com/about/historicalphotos.html
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What really happens to ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/the-bermuda-triangle-4547/Overview
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.biography.com/articles/Jimmy-Hoffa-9341063
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Is there any truth to the September 11, 2001, conspiracy theories?
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6208201n
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Did the Times Square bomber act alone?
Book/encyclopedia: NOT APPLICABLE (too current)
Web sites: Try http://school.nettrekker.com first
Primary source: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1986429,00.html
Magazine/newspaper article: http://news.google.com/
Step 6
With your group, make a Poster with all of these parts:
-- Timeline
-- Photo
-- Facts about the event
Step 7
With your group, make a presentation about your topic.
A. Go to mlkdocs.info
B. Login with a group member's username/password
C. Go to "Create New" button. Choose "presentation".
D. Add slides. You should have:
One title slide
One slide for each of your "big" questions
At least one slide about conspiracy theories
At least one slide stating your opinion
A TOTAL of at least 6 slides
Scroll down for examples of completed presentations from last year!
Step 8
Oral presentation
With your group, give an oral presentation on your topic.
-- Everyone should participate and present one part
-- Speak clearly and slowly!
Rubric (how we will grade your project)
| history.doc |
Handout (assignments you need to finish)
| historymysteries2.doc |
Examples of PowerPoint Presentations
| pearl_harbor.ppt |
| the_assassination_of_john_f.ppt |
| san_francisco_earthquake.ppt |
