Our unit on the Cold War happens to coincide with the NCAA Basketball Tournament (March Madness), so we will be using a bracket tournament format to determine which event or program from the Cold War (1945-1991) was the most influential. This will be a group project. You will be assigned to work in one of four “regions.” Within those “regions,” you will need to form smaller teams to accomplish the work. There will be tasks along the way as we narrow the field to the final two events/programs. The instructions for this project are outlined below.
The project will not focus on the BEST event or program, but rather the one with the most INFLUENCE on the Cold War. All dates listed are subject to change.
Task One: (February 21-26) With your group, you will be choosing which event/program should move on to the next level. Concentrate on the impact that event/program had on history. Your regional group should divide the events/programs evenly among all members. Each member then is responsible for investigating the assigned events/programs and writing summaries of them. We will have three days in the computer lab for you to thoroughly research the topics. In your summaries (which will be turned in using Google Docs and compiled for the whole class), please include the following:
Task Two (Round of 64): (February 28) Meet with your regional group and discuss each program/event in a pairing. Then as a group, decide which one moves on to the next round. At this point you are only narrowing the field from 16 events/programs to 8 in your assigned region. As you decide which ones will move on, you may wish to consider the following:
Task Three (Round of 32): (March 6) Meet with your regional group again and discuss the 8 remaining events/programs in your bracket. Decide which four you will be moving on to the Sweet 16. Again, you will need a written statement as to why each one is moving on. Then with your group prepare a presentation on those four events/programs. Each member of the group must help to present one of the four events/programs on March 11. In addition, please submit a one page flyer or information sheet on each event by March 6 to be photocopied for the other groups.
Task Four (Sweet 16): (March 10-12) Group presentations on 16 remaining events/programs will be made. These are 2-3 minutes. As these presentations are made, you will need to take notes on each. Then you will meet with your group again to discuss which events/programs should move on to the Elite 8. Be prepared to answer questions from other groups as they decide which event/program to move on. We will have a whole class discussion on each of the 8 bracket pairings with a class vote. Whichever event/program gets the most votes will move on.
Task Five (Elite 8): (March 18) Groups will look for new information to be presented regarding the remaining two events/programs in their brackets. Class members will ask questions about each of the 8 remaining events and then a whole class discussion will take place. A class vote will decide the Final Four. Groups will make a poster to be turned in on March 19 promoting their remaining event as the most influential event/program of the Cold War. The poster should highlight reasons that it deserves to go to the finals.
Task Six (Final Four): (March 21) Be prepared to answer questions on your event/program and provide any additional information to support your event/program in moving to the finals. A class vote will decide the final two that will be in the championship.
Task Seven (Championship): (April 9) Members of the class (and possible guests) will be asking questions of the two remaining groups. It is your group’s task to be prepared to discuss why your event is the most influential. We will have a final class vote to decide the champion – the most influential event/program of the Cold War. This will be done through Poll Everywhere. If you do not have a cell phone, there will be an option for paper voting as well.
The project will not focus on the BEST event or program, but rather the one with the most INFLUENCE on the Cold War. All dates listed are subject to change.
Task One: (February 21-26) With your group, you will be choosing which event/program should move on to the next level. Concentrate on the impact that event/program had on history. Your regional group should divide the events/programs evenly among all members. Each member then is responsible for investigating the assigned events/programs and writing summaries of them. We will have three days in the computer lab for you to thoroughly research the topics. In your summaries (which will be turned in using Google Docs and compiled for the whole class), please include the following:
- Summary of the event – who, what, when, where, why
- Global and regional impact
- Recommendation as to whether they should move on compared to their bracket pairing and why.
Task Two (Round of 64): (February 28) Meet with your regional group and discuss each program/event in a pairing. Then as a group, decide which one moves on to the next round. At this point you are only narrowing the field from 16 events/programs to 8 in your assigned region. As you decide which ones will move on, you may wish to consider the following:
- Intended consequences (positive or negative) of an event/program which had an impact on the world or a particular region (including the US).
- Unintended consequences (positive or negative) of an event/program which had an impact on the world or a particular region (including the US).
- The legacy of that event (how and why is it remembered)?
- What influence did that event have on other Cold War events? Did it cause something else to happen?
Task Three (Round of 32): (March 6) Meet with your regional group again and discuss the 8 remaining events/programs in your bracket. Decide which four you will be moving on to the Sweet 16. Again, you will need a written statement as to why each one is moving on. Then with your group prepare a presentation on those four events/programs. Each member of the group must help to present one of the four events/programs on March 11. In addition, please submit a one page flyer or information sheet on each event by March 6 to be photocopied for the other groups.
Task Four (Sweet 16): (March 10-12) Group presentations on 16 remaining events/programs will be made. These are 2-3 minutes. As these presentations are made, you will need to take notes on each. Then you will meet with your group again to discuss which events/programs should move on to the Elite 8. Be prepared to answer questions from other groups as they decide which event/program to move on. We will have a whole class discussion on each of the 8 bracket pairings with a class vote. Whichever event/program gets the most votes will move on.
Task Five (Elite 8): (March 18) Groups will look for new information to be presented regarding the remaining two events/programs in their brackets. Class members will ask questions about each of the 8 remaining events and then a whole class discussion will take place. A class vote will decide the Final Four. Groups will make a poster to be turned in on March 19 promoting their remaining event as the most influential event/program of the Cold War. The poster should highlight reasons that it deserves to go to the finals.
Task Six (Final Four): (March 21) Be prepared to answer questions on your event/program and provide any additional information to support your event/program in moving to the finals. A class vote will decide the final two that will be in the championship.
Task Seven (Championship): (April 9) Members of the class (and possible guests) will be asking questions of the two remaining groups. It is your group’s task to be prepared to discuss why your event is the most influential. We will have a final class vote to decide the champion – the most influential event/program of the Cold War. This will be done through Poll Everywhere. If you do not have a cell phone, there will be an option for paper voting as well.
March Madness Brackets | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
File Type: | xls |
Task One: March Madness | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task Two: March Madness | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |