French Revolution Protest Posters

Just wrapped up the long term impacts of the French Revolution on global history in AP World this week.  In order to help students recall the causes and impacts, they designed their own posters of protest for the revolution.  

The project also required students to write a short essay (with timeline) about the long term impact of the revolution on the reverse side.  

As usual, these kids did an amazing job and exceeded my expectations (hence this blog post!).

New Flags for Diversity

For several years, NBHS has purchased a national flag for each country in which our students were born. These flags are displayed in the school cafeteria.  We started this back in 2016-2017 with my AP World History class and have just kept it going ever since.  I am super proud of it.

Anyways, with new additions to our student body for the 21-22 school year, our school recently celebrated the addition of five new flags this year, with students representing countries from Latin America, to Western Europe, to West Africa. (Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Liberia, and Spain).  

North Buncombe is so proud of our diverse student body and always appreciates the opportunity to display a new flag to honor our students and their family histories.

Can't wait to add more next year!

Autopsy of an Empire {Make art with history}

I LOVE to incorporate art into any and all things in my classroom, whenever possible.  The process of using historical knowledge to design and implement artistic ideas can be such an effective method to learn.  And it is also fun!

A few years ago, I stole a great idea from several other teachers that included the "Autopsy of an Empire" project.  The students are assigned a major empire from the period of 1450-1750, and are to create a life-sized history of the personified empire. Due to the pandemic, we were unable to tackle this project last year, so it was great to bring it back this month.  Per usual, the students worked really hard on this one and produced fantastic work.  

Back in the Saddle {I love teaching school}

Returning to the classroom after a year away has just been incredible.  Wearing masks and following various protocols has been challenging of course, but just being in the classroom with smart, curious kids still fills my cup like few other things.  Having conversations that teach us new ideas, dancing together, dressing up in class, learning how to do hard things, and making art to grow has just been so refreshing.

In addition, for the first time ever, I have my son in my own class this year.  I have been teaching this class much longer than he has been alive, so it is really cool to have him in there.  

Many of his childhood friends are in this class as well (whom I have also known since they were tiny), and it has made for a constant free-flowing conversation everyday.  It is just cool to be in a room with smart kids with whom I share a long history.  As a result, we are functioning more like a family now, with a long history.  With this year's familiar group of kids, we get more of each others' references and it is making me a better teacher.  

I'm also back in the building with many of my best friends (fellow teachers).  I am a social animal, so being around these great dudes in the hallway keep me laughing and on my toes.

Here's to family in the classroom, in more ways than one.

Noah's cereal box biography project

Extra Credit to see UNCA's School of Athens

Introducing Mr Graham, International Man of History

New year.  New Intro video.

The Anthropocene Reviewed {John Green FTW}

It is not everyday that you find a book that speaks to you on so many profound levels.  But this past week, I started reading The Anthropocene Reviewed, by John Green, and it is incredible.  

I first discovered John Green when he started making his Crash Course video series on world history.  One of my students introduced me to them, and I have since used them almost weekly in my classes.  They are hilarious, informative, and so interesting.  From there, I discovered his books (YA fiction) - which I began to steadily read.  It became clear that not only are Green and I about the same age but also share a deep love of history, music, and soccer.

So I have been particularly anticipating this new collection (his first work of nonfiction), as it covers many of these shared subjects. And in true form, this book consists of a series of essays about the human experience basically.  The format of each essay is essentially a review of that particular experience, so it concludes with a 1 to 5 star rating.  It is at once hilarious, and also deeply heartfelt and poignant.  Anyways, I love every word of it.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I both laughed and cried while reading this.  

I give this book 5 stars.

2021 Wrapup {Lightning Bolt Edition}

It has been a strange school year.  Crazy schedules that shifted every few weeks.  But returning to in person school (for most students) in March turned out to be a great antidote.  If nothing else, I have been reminded how much I love being a teacher.  Getting to know these kids and diving in to all of the history together has been so much fun. 

We (once again) wrapped it up with some class hoodies, featuring our new classroom editions: lightning bolts.