Our introductory World History class provides students an opportunity to study global history through active engagement and to develop a multi-faceted understanding of how the world works.

The textbooks used are the Story of the World series for elementary-aged students, and From Then to Now for intermediate-aged students.

The World History class is focused on discussion and debate, to better foster critical thought regarding global historical events and the communicative abilities to express that understanding and analysis.

Class activities include:

1. Comprehension exercises accompanying the textbooks
2. Interactive and creative hands-on activities
3. Individual and group research projects
4. Expository, analytical, and argumentative writing
5. Group discussion of class topics
6. Educational videos for context and storytelling
7. Debates and speeches
8. 
   

The program guarantees that students will:

• Gain broad and in-depth knowledge of global historical events
• Develop essential historical literacy and analysis skills
• Recognize causal relationships between people, places, and events
• Become confident in using historical evidence to construct arguments
• Learn to recognize bias, weigh evidence, and evaluate arguments to make informed, independent judgments
• Engage in conducting historical inquiries of their own
• Understand the experiences and perspectives of people of different backgrounds and with different roles in events
• Draw connections between the past and the present

The World History class is ideal for challenge and preparation for Social Studies and History classes in the BC provincial Dogwood curriculum. The curriculum is designed to give students a range of experiences to develop skills that will prepare them for further study in history and related disciplines.

Sample Class Agenda (1.5 hours)
Topic—The Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America

1. From Then to Now, Chapter 8: The Age of Industry (20 minutes)

• Teacher goes over the worksheet answers with students, as the students fill in the corrections themselves.
• Discussion of the chapter topic is facilitated between the students and the teacher
  

​2. Steam-Powered Invention Project (20 minutes)

• Students are introduced to the project, which is to design a piece of machinery that would run on steam power based on the information given to them in Chapter 8 and additional researched information.
• Class time is given to start on the project, which would then be presented the next class.
  

3. Video on the Industrial Revolution in Britain (20 minutes)

• Students watch video of the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
• Teacher periodically pauses the video to clarify points and discuss with the students, encouraging questions and thoughts.

4. Debate (30 minutes)

• Students are divided into two teams and given the topic: “The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid technological and societal development. Was the overall impact of the Industrial Revolution positive or negative?”
• Preparation: The two teams are given 10 minutes to prepare one argument for each member, supported by evidence learned in today’s lesson.
• Opening Arguments: Individual members of each team are given 1-2 minutes each to present their point. Opposing teams write down notes to formulate rebuttals during opening points.
• Counterarguments: Rebuttals are presented, two counterarguments 1-2 minutes each allowed for each team.
• Concluding Arguments: Teams are allowed to one reply 2-3 minutes long each to counterarguments.