Which Decade is the Best?

A few weeks ago, our E325 Social Studies Methods class participated in a really fun project involving the different decades of the 20th century. Students worked in groups to research their assigned decade and then later share the information they learned with classmates and other exhibit goers. Students were encouraged to dress in the fashion of the decade, play music that was popular during that time, and have artifacts from the period they researched. While researching, we interested in major historical events, fads, music, authors, s

candals, people, and fashion. This activity was a lot of fun and I truly believed we all learned quite a bit about

many of the decades. Some groups had food samples while others did a popular dance from their decade. In the end, people were asked to vote on

which decade was the best one to live in and the 1920's won.

This type of activity is highly engaging for most students. It teaches them so much more than worksheets and text books ever could. They become a part of the information they are learning and it becomes meaningful, authentic learning. This type of activity would be great for a 5th or 6th grade classroom, and possibly even 7th or 8th.