Description

Looking for an engaging way to explain historical concepts? Tired of giving lectures on complex historical topics? Do you have high energy students looking for an outlet? Ask yourself: which will students remember more: a lecture on the Boston Tea Party or that time Timmy, the Captain of the football team, came to class and threw tea bags in the classroom as part of an act? (He cleaned them up afterwards).

At Mano Koa Enterprises, we have developed an interactive lesson strategy which enables students (especially the high energy ones) to do the teaching for you with Historical Theater: a hands-on bodily kinesthetic activity which expresses complex points of view during an historical time period.

Historical Theater activities provides classrooms with an active and engaging way to tackle issues in the past while creating memories that students will carry on years after the class. Students are encouraged to come in class appropriate costumes (even if it's just a scribbled mustache or speak with an accent) and commit to their roles with class appropriate improvisation. Since all historical theaters are intentionally designed to portray differences in race, gender, political philosophy and/or socioeconomic status, AP US History students get the added benefit of sharpening their Point of View skills on the Document Based Question portion of the test.

This omnibus contains 15 different historical topics, including 5 bonus mini-historical theaters pertaining to pivotal Presidential elections.

These historical topics include:
King Philip's War
The French and Indian War
The American Revolution
The Constitutional Convention
The Election of 1800 (Jefferson v. Adams)
The Election of 1828 (Jackson v. John Q. Adams)
The Mexican American War
The Old West
Gilded Age Business
The Spanish American War
The Annexation of Hawaii
The Progressive Era
Election of 1912 (Taft v. Roosevelt v. Wilson)
The Great Depression
The Decision to Enter World War II
The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb
The Civil Rights Movement
The Vietnam War
The Election of 1980 (Reagan v. Carter)
The Election of 2000 (Bush v. Gore v. Nader)

Every one of these historical theater includes the following.
A series of scripts detailing each character's life, philosophy, personality and argument for each of the theater's topic.
A graphic organizer for the audience to keep track of each character's argument.
A visual aid and classroom management tool intended to structure the theater.
An FAQ sheet explaining to teachers the finer points of grading the assignment and tips for moderating each character's behaviors.

Not sure you want to buy? No pilikia (Hawaiian for "problem")!
Try Mano Koa Enterprises' FREE Historical Theater on the American Revolution and feel free to access our COMPLEMENTARY omnibus collection of samples on this page.

Mano Koa Enterprises is dedicated to providing culturally responsive teaching tools that resonate with both teacher and student. The hands-on techniques used in these historical theaters have been known to create memories with students that will last long after they graduate.

Have fun and break a leg!