RAFTS

One of the strategies that might be useful for other history teachers are RAFTs. The acronym stands for Role, Audience, Format and Topic. Basically, the teacher chooses each for a paticular context in history and asks the students to do an assignment imagining that they are that person in history. They are scaffolding assignments. I've used them for a couple of years with positive results. Since my school may be moving to a 180 day cycle instead of a 90 day semester plan, my plan is to use them one a day as homework assignments. So far, I have been writing ten for each weekly unit in a semester (18 week, roughly). I am almost done with the list, but I thougth I could give a few examples for other teachers. Here are a couple from the first week:

1. You are an Aztec warrior. Write a prayer song to your gods concerning the Spanish invasion.

2. You are a Spanish Conquistador. Confess your role in an Incan slaughter to a Spanish priest.

3. You are English newspaper editor. Write an obituary for your readers about Pocahontas after her death in England.

4. You are a Puritan Separatist. Create a pamphlet for new converts attacking the Church of England.

5. You are guilty of witchcraft in Salem. Compose your last will and testament to your family concerning your verdict.

6. You are Nathaniel Bacon. Deliver a speech to your followers on the injustices suffered before burning Jamestown.

7. You are Pope, leading the Pueblo Revolt. Explain, in a secret message, your plan and reasons for attacking the Spanish.

8. You are an English Anglican minister. Write a sermon explaining your reasons for condemning Puritan Separatists.

9. You are Squanto, a Native American. As an old man, recount your adventures to your children before meeting Pilgrims.

10. You are you, a high school student learning American history. Write a note to a friend concerning what you’ve learned.

When I am done, I will publish the whole list on my website: http://www.engineofsouls.com/.