Re: stations

[Sliwkac2@aol.com]

I don't do a whole lot with stations (32 big clumsy 8th graders moving  
around a fairly small room is a recipe for disaster!) but I do use them  
occasionally.  My favorite is a series of activities to do with  slavery.  There are 10 
stations--let me see if I can remember them:
1.  The picture book "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt."   students read the 
book and then design a quilt square for the class quilt.   (Although i may 
have to rethink that activity after our recent discussion here  about quilts!)
2.  A short non-fiction essay (about 2 pages) on  abolitionists--students 
then write a letter as a northern abolitionist to  southerner explaining why 
slavery should be abolished.
3.  Listen to a tape of "slave songs" and then explain the hidden  message in 
the song.
4.  Write an extended response based on an argument that African  Americans 
should get compensation if their ancestors were slaves.
5.  Read a short picture book bio of Frederick Douglass and create a  sensory 
figure.
6.  Research any other abolitionist online and do a Venn diagram  comparing 
him/her to Douglass.
7.  Complete a crossword puzzle on slavery.
8.  Go to _www.puzzlemaker.com_ (http://www.puzzlemaker.com)   and create a 
wordsearch on slavery.
9.  Read another picture book on slavery (the name escapes  me) that offers 
info on the middle passage and the slaves' experience.   This book has 
discussion questions integrated into the book that students  answer.  
10.  Read a picture book "If you traveled on the Underground Railroad"  and 
then create a map showing a route you would take from Georgia to  Canada.
 
There are more activities at these stations that I'm not recalling at the  
moment . . . 
 
There are detailed directions at each station and collection envelopes  taped 
to the chalkboard for completed work. Students select a station with no  more 
than 3-4 at a station, then move to any other one when they are done.   It 
usually takes them about 20 minutes at each station. I run this for  three days. 
They love it and learn so much from it. 
 
I do something similar for Lewis and Clark and a review on the  Revolutionary 
war.
 
Carol