In year 7 I used Taboo Words as a starter, then we did some other activities, and finally, as a last task and plenary, students designed their own Taboo Words cards. This is a great opportunity to assess students thinking skills. It is great to observe what idea they connect to which event/person/place.
In this case, the context is an introduction unit on the transition between Middle Ages and Early Modern times. Here are some examples of the cards they designed:
As you can see, there are several concepts and several ideas connected to them. This activity helps them make that connection and, thus, learn that ideas/events/processes in history are not isolated from one another but rather linked by places/people/time/artifeacts/etc. It is very interesting, for example, how one student connect the Jews to the book they have read last year: Number the stars by Louis Lowry. This is not necessarily a historical connection but it suits the aim of the activity and it definitely suits the student.
I believe it is of utter importance to let students make their own connections and organize their own study, without imposing any of our own.
P.S.: Of course we played with these cards!
More activities that work, right here.
