Throughout the classes at Wesleyan, learning does not just happen through notes and PowerPoints. In both ninth grade world history, and eleventh grade British literature, students are given creative, collaborative projects that make the subject more engaging. Three standout assignments in the high school are the Job Fair, the Othello movie trailer project, and the mole project. These projects have become favorites amongst students and teachers. These projects not only deepen the understanding of the subject, but encourage teamwork, creativity, and confidence.
In ninth grade world history class, students step back in time and embody a historical figure of the past for the job fair project. Students are required to research their figure that could prepare for an interview. They also must prepare questions as they will be interviewing other historical figures for jobs. Each character is interviewing for a specific job that they would be qualified for. The creative side to this project is the costumes students come in with to embody their character. Voting is held at the end of the class to award the best interviewer, the best interviewee, and the best costume. Sophomore Poppy Brown said, “I really liked this project because it helped me learn the attributes that people who shaped history had as well as learn different requirements people need to have to work certain jobs.” The job fair project teaches students how to apply their research to specific questions they were asked, how to be professional with responses, and how to bring creativity into history class. History department chair and world history teacher Knoxie Roche said this project strengthens research skills and helps students practice job interview scenarios in a creative, low-pressure setting. Roche said, “This project lets students learn the skills of creating a resume, getting yourself ready for the real world, and practicing questions. Those are the skills we want them to take with them.” This project is not just for learning history but preparing you for real life situations that everyone will face.
In eleventh grade English, both honors and standard British literature classes participate in the making of a movie trailer of the play Othello by William Shakespeare. The students work together in groups to film a gripping preview of the tragedy by adding their own flair and creative touch to it. This project challenges students to work together and think critically about how to put the scenes together. Rather than having another lecture about themes and character analysis, students get to show what they have learned about key moments of the book and by acting them out in various costumes. It pushes them to move beyond surface level understanding and connect with the book through acting. Junior Catherine Neu said, “I enjoyed the Othello project because it was not like a regular project. It was a fun way to show what we have learned and allowed me to be creative.” Another junior Warren Cintron said, “This project helped me learn the content because I was directly involved with the story and was able to act it out with my classmates.” The Othello project is one that has been recognized by older students as a fond memory they shared when doing the same project before. Teachers have noticed the positive impact it has had on their classes. When asked what he hopes students get out of this project, eleventh grade English teacher Christian Brook said, “We teach rhetorical analysis in this unit so not only allowing students to learn what it is but to understand there are different rhetorical strategies and giving them a chance to explore that and try them out for themselves.” This project is equally educational and creative for students to work together. Brook said, “Students get to collaborate with each other and make a fool out of themselves. It creates a fun memory of high school.”
Both projects share a common goal: making learning active and keeping students engaged. Rather than memorizing terms and character analysis for a test, students get hands-on involvement with the material in meaningful ways. These assignments create experiences that students will remember long after the school year ends. By combining activity with academic rigor, these English and history classes are helping students develop skills that go beyond the classroom. By judging the enthusiasm from past and present students, these projects have become highlights of the year.
