Baldwin High School, Baldwin NY
Explore how Britain’s 18th and 19th-century authors were inspired by gothic architecture to craft horror stories that metaphorically examined society's anxieties about the drastic changes caused by the Industrial Revolution to develop an interdisciplinary unit that examines the psychology of horror.
London is one of my favorite cities. This is me on Day 2 in London with the highlights of the day. I was in awe at the Crown Jewels, something I've never seen before. We weren't allowed to take photos, but the Koh-i-Noor diamond is breathtaking!
This is me on the Night Sleeper Train. I was dreading this night for months and very happy to get it over with at the beginning of the trip. This was a challenge for me, but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Once in a lifetime.
This was one of my favorite/unexpected places, Fowey. It was a cute seaside town with shops and restaurants. Daphne du Maurier lived across the water where she was inspired to write the short story, "The Birds" which Hitchcock made into a movie.
The day we spent in Stratford Upon-Avon was my biggest challenge because I either had food poisoning or a stomach virus. I pushed myself the extra mile (or several) to not miss out on the experience. It taught me to watch what I eat on a trip.
I was really impressed with York, especially the railroad museum. I wish I could bring my students to see the transformation of transportation and the impact of the Industrial Revolution.
I love Paris. We got to see the Pantheon and Musee de Cluny, which I haven't seen in previous visits to Paris. Seeing the Olympic preparation was eye opening, and we got to see some Olympic cyclists.
As a world history teacher for 12 years, I did not know much about the Vikings with the exception that they raided villages during the Middle Ages. One stereotypically thinks of the Vikings as ruthless, murderous pillagers. I did not realize the influence they had over York, or Jorvik. We went to the Viking Museum where we got to learn more about Viking culture and ways of living. We got to see an excavated village underneath the York streets and actual Viking artifacts; it was cool to see.
I learned that I am more resilient than I realized. I was apprehensive at first about going away for two whole weeks with a jam-packed itinerary but we rocked it - myself even with a stomach illness. I also learned that I am more open-minded than I realized. I am willing to try new things and new experiences. Normally, I would never be the first one down the basement to a creepy/haunted house-like exhibit in the basement of the Frankenstein Museum, but I was. I broke out of my comfort zone.
There is a positive unplanned/unexpected experience and a negative unplanned/unexpected experience. Paris, was an unplanned/unexpected experience from the original itinerary that was positive. I love Paris. I was there last summer, but this time, I did things I hadn't done before. The Pantheon was a highlight because I didn't realize all the important historical figures buried there (Voltaire, Rousseau, Braille). The negative experience involved a 40-hour stomach bug that hit me hard.
I want to do a case study on the Long Island Railroad/MTA and its impact on the neighborhood. We would visit the Transit Museum in Brooklyn to see the history of trains in NYC. We could visit Penn Station and Grand Central Station to see how they were constructed and changed over the years. We could use the transportation systems to complete this type of fieldwork. Once students realize the impact of trains on their own lives, they can then see how important they were in expanding west.
The 21st-century student looks for relevancy. This is why you have to make learning authentic. This year, I am teaching 11th-grade US History, which involves a more in-depth look at the Second Industrial Revolution that took place in the United States (the 1st one took place in Great Britain). I want to create an experience where my students compare and contrast the creation of the railroads in the US vs. Great Britain, including a piece on the modern-day. Can we have a US Eurostar?
This case study can be completed with multiple subjects. In social studies, we can study the historical significance of railroads. In math, students can analyze data and charts. In science, students can study the effects on the environment. In ELA, students can read personal narratives. Students can interview parents, etc. about how railroads impact their lives and bring in the family piece. We could present this research to the school at large as well as to members of the LIRR and MTA.