Mobile Lesson Plan Using Apps:

SO WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD?

This lesson is modified from a lesson I use for current event sessions in a tenth grade world
history class. The original lesson idea is from Kelly Kozlan at www.digitalwish.com.

Overview:
Students will use a series of apps to research current conflicts/wars around the world to
determine why the conflict is happening, when it began, how it has impacted the United
States, and possible solutions. They will script a storyboard and create a newscast explaining
the conflict.

Purpose:
As a result of this lesson, students will understand that war and global conflicts impact
everyone. The students will also be aware of genocide. Collectively, the class culminating
activity will inform others of the war/conflict, its impact on the United States, and open
dialogue for possible solutions.

Apps Used: a brief description/review of these apps appears below
1. Google Earth used to show the location of the conflict on current maps
2. History: Maps of World used to show the origins of the dispute
3. Fact Book used to outline the basic elements of the conflict
4. Todays Document used to show the response of the United States to the conflict
5. Cloud On used for students editing MSWord on an iPad
6. YouTube used to publish newscasts

Course: Social Studies
Grades: 6-12th grade
Topics: Current Events, War, Genocide
Time: 5 class periods x 1 hour = 5 hours total may be nonconsecutive class periods;
I introduce the lesson and have students conduct research in the first two or three days, then
have the interviews occur outside of class within a two week time span. The last day of editing
and the due date usually occur somewhere in the third week.

NETS-S Standards:
Creativity and Innovation
Communication and Collaboration
Research and Information Fluency
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Technology Operations and Concepts
View Full Text of Standards
Standards:
Communication Arts
Speaking and writing standard English
Reading and evaluating nonfiction material
Writing formally
Participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas
Social Studies
Economic Concepts
Major elements of geographical study and analysis and their relationships to changes in
society and environment
Relationships of the individual and groups to institutions and cultural traditions
The use of tools of social science inquiry

The Big Idea:
Current world events impact everyone. Countries currently at war/conflict have a direct impact
on the United States. History plays an important role in understanding current conflicts.

Essential Questions:
Who is at war?
What groups are involved in the war?
Why is the country at war?
How has the war impacted the United States?
How has history impacted the war?
What are possible solutions for the war?

Evidence of Student Understanding (Assessment):
Student understanding will be based upon the completion of a newscast shared on YouTube
and graded according to the research and performance rubric that follows.

Lesson Preparation:
Prior to this lesson, students have a clear understand of digital camera skills, uploading videos
and video editing. All students have become proficient in performing regular research projects
navigating the Internet.

Grouping of Students, Required Materials, Access to Technology:
I am lucky enough to teach in a system which received a 1-1 Laptop Initiative grant. My
students each have access to laptops that travel to and from school each day. Therefore, I have
students complete this individually using these laptops. This could easily be adapted for a
computer lab setting by grouping students in pairs according to chosen conflict or level of
interest. Using these apps makes the research focused enough that four class periods with
computers and Internet access would be sufficient time to complete the newscast. The app
Cloud On may be used for students who use desktops at school, yet want to edit on personal
iPads.
Computers/Laptops/iPads
Microsoft Word
Movie Maker or iMovie
Internet Access

Lesson Sequence:
Anticipatory Set (30 Minutes):
-Show students the following videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=934Eh5EiU5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T5bMehkUXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy3nmHH6Lho
Ask students:
1. Did you know this was happening?
2. Why is this happening?
3. How do you think this is impacting the United States?

Step by Step Activities (4 Hours):
-The students will research countries at war/conflict.
-The students will choose a country at war/conflict.
-After teacher approval, the students will use the Fact Book App to research the origins of the
dispute, why the country is at war/conflict, how it is impacting the United States, and possible
solutions.
-Using the Google Earth App, students will locate the current area of conflict.
-Using the History: Maps of World App, students will identify historic maps that this conflict
references (border disputes, religious disputes, etc.)
-Using the Todays Document App students will research the conflicts impact on the United
States and any possible resolutions the United States has issued about the conflict.
-Students will conduct a video interview of three adults asking them the following questions:
Why do you think the country is at war/conflict?
How do you think this war/conflict has impacted the United States?
What are possible solutions for peace in the country?
-Using Microsoft Word or the Cloud On App, students will script the information into a
storyboard for the newscast they are creating.
-The students will then edit the research information into a newscast informing others of the
war in the country, why the war/conflict is happening, when it began, how it has impacted the
United States, and possible solutions. This newscast should include maps, written information,
video footage, and narration.
-The students will upload newscast videos by using the YouTube App.

Closing (30+ minutes, depending on class size/groups):
The class will share the newscasts and compare conflicts. The students will reflect on the direct
impact these events have on the United States, compare causes/results, and analyze whether
or not peace solutions are feasible.

General Review of Educational Apps: -descriptions are taken from Curriculum App Reviews
available at https://sites.google.com/a/itipohio.org/itip/resources/curriculum-app-reviews

Title: History: Maps of World
Publisher: Seung-Bin Cho
Available For: iPad, iTouch, iPhone
Cost: Free
Review: If youre in need of some quick maps for your World History class, look no further.
History: Maps of the World has a lengthy list of free maps for use in the classroom. If you have
the capability to display your iPad or iPhone on an overhead projector you can bring up maps
with the tap of your finger. The only downside is that because this app is free there are ad
banners that come up and distract from the visual appeal.

Title: Fact Book
Publisher: Urbian, Inc
Available For: Android
Cost: Free
Review: Great app that can be used to put the entire world into your fingertips. There is a lot
of information to be presented through this application such as geography, population,
government, and military. This is a great resource to use when comparing countries from
certain statistical categories. It shows updated rankings such as GDP. This app will even
display graphs that can be used to compare how countries stack up against each other.
This app presents a mobile version of the CIA World Fact Book, offering users quick and easy
access to CIA World Fact Book and United Nations data and statistics that covers a wide range
of conflicts. Students researching a foreign country will have simple and fast access to an
incredible amount of important information. Great for students doing a project on a foreign
country or introducing a new country in class.

Title: Today's Document
Publisher: National Archives and Records
Available For: iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, (Android version available)
Cost: Free
Review: There is no better way to study history than using the primary sources that historians
use to put together the story we teach our students. Today's Document is a free app that
randomly pulls primary sources from the National Archives database. This app is a great way to
teach students how to analyze primary sources. In addition to giving you a new document each
day, you can also use the browse feature to go to previous documents or use the surprise me
tab and get a random document. Anyway you choose, students will gain exposure to high
quality primary source documents. This is a must for any history teacher.

Title: Cloud On
Publisher: Cloud On, Inc.
Available For: iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone
Cost: Free
Review: Cloud on is a free app that allows you to create, view, and modify Microsoft Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint files directly on your iPad. There are many other apps out there that
allow you to do this but I have not seen one that is free. The documents you create are easily
shared to a Dropbox account (which you will need to set up). This is also free. This app could be
used in any class that creates documents. Awesome app for creating those digital portfolios.
Informational Newscasts Rubric