by Greg Wimmer
bucket list. Without doubt, a term that is rarely associated with AP US History - unless, of course, it's on your own list. As I revamped my AP US course this summer, a la CollegeBoard, my focus shifted away from content and on to thinking and living America. I decided to create a project that pushed the students' chin out of the book, out of the classroom, and in to "America".
bucket list. Without doubt, a term that is rarely associated with AP US History - unless, of course, it's on your own list. As I revamped my AP US course this summer, a la CollegeBoard, my focus shifted away from content and on to thinking and living America. I decided to create a project that pushed the students' chin out of the book, out of the classroom, and in to "America".
On the first and second day of school, the students had a spirited discussion about the questions below:
- What is America?
- What is an American?
- What is the American experience?
- What is the American dream?
- What is the American bucket list?
At that time, most of our energy focused on the first four questions. I held the bucket list question aside, but purposely placed it in the original lot to gauge student response.
A few weeks in to class, we revisited the bucket list question. We also talked about the realities of a "bucket list" and the symbolism of the term. For example, the discussion focused on the saying "to kick the bucket". Is a bucket list simply the experiences we want to do before we die? Or, does it represent something deeper and more meaningful? The discussion carried over to the concept of 'filling up a bucket' - to recognize that we experience life and enrich our journey by actually doing! We reviewed the original list and noticed a problem - our goals were simply "go here" or "go there". The conceptual framework of "the bucket" needed to expand.
Using a simple Google form, students were given 15 minutes to go around school and elicit as many responses to the following questions:
Using a simple Google form, students were given 15 minutes to go around school and elicit as many responses to the following questions:
- What is one uniquely American thing every American should have on their bucket list?
- What is one uniquely York/South Central PA thing people should have on their bucket list?
We deleted duplicate items, categorized them in to trips and experiences. We also discussed a lack of list items that reinforced our class definition of "American values". So we created a brief list that connected to American values.
And that brings us here. The final product is an ongoing blog that highlights their adventures and ties in to various aspects of American life, culture, and history.
Every two weeks, two students will be feature bloggers on the class website. The remainder of students will continue to post on their own blogs.
We hope to announce a major event surrounding the project in the next few weeks.