This document discusses how mock trials and role plays can increase critical thinking and writing skills in history students. It provides examples of having students conduct a mock trial of Christopher Columbus where they analyze evidence and take on roles of witnesses. Another example is a Renaissance Faire talk show where students dress up and discuss topics from the perspectives of historical figures. These activities help students internalize content and relate history to current events in an engaging way that meets their developmental needs.

1. What Would Galileo
Say to Christopher
Columbus?
CCSS Conference 2012
Ruth Luevanos
Pacoima Middle School

2. Why do Mock Trials and Role Plays?
► Increase critical thinking
► Increase writing: variety, content and scope
► Help students internalize content
► Cater to developmental needs of students
► Connect to history in a personal way
► Relate activities to current events
► Create meaningful learning experiences

3. Increase Critical Thinking
► Mock Trials and Role Plays get
students to use higher level
thinking skills.
► They are analyzing, inferring,
applying, comparing and
contrasting.
► They are interacting with content
and reading in a meaningful way.
► Let them highlight content and
make notes.

4. Increase Writing
► Doing mock trials and role plays in history
provides opportunities for students to
engage in different types of writing.
► Persuasive essays
► Transcripts/trials
► Journals/diary entries

5. The Trial of Christopher Columbus
► Content from Bill Bigelow’s adaptation of the Howard Zinn
project.
► Make copies of materials to put in a file for each group.
► Reinforce cooperative group rules: stay on task, everyone
participates.
► Give students one period to prepare for trial and choose
witness.
► Trial will take anywhere from 2 periods to 3 periods.
► Follow up with writing activity: trial transcript, verdict,
persuasive essay, newspaper article, tweet, blog, facebook
posting.
► Relate it to other historical events: What if Hitler had been
put on trial? What evidence would have been used? What
witnesses would have been summoned? What would they
have said?

6. The Renaissance Faire
► Start with scrapbook research project.
► Offer extra credit for dressing up or coordinate with drama
teacher for costumes and support.
► 2 Formats: talk show panel or party/mixer
► Make sure students are prepared. Include it as part of their
research paper grade.
► Be ready to deal with issues that may arise. (unprepared
students, erroneous facts, controversial issues)
► Follow up with extension activity for students. For
example, write a script for a new reality show featuring 2
or 3 of the people on the talk show panel.

7. Let’s Do It
► Ask 2 or 3 other people these questions:
► Who are you?
► What do you do for a living and where were you
born?
► What was your childhood like?
► What is your greatest accomplishment?
► What do you think of the Inquisition and the
Church?
► What do you think of the Humanist movement?
► Who would you like to be friends with? Why?

8. Creating Memorable Learning
Experiences While Meeting
Student’s Developmental Needs
► What do students say?
► Teens and pre-teens are beginning
to question and analyze
► This is an opportunity to apply
knowledge, not just recite facts.
► Still talking about this many years
later.

9. How to Contact Me:
► Ruth Luevanos
► Pacoima Middle School, Pacoima, CA
► raluevanos@sbcglobal.net