Provide a metaview, lifting students into a wider view of the concept. Use another medium (not reading or writing) to connect students' personal knowing to the concept (i.e. visual arts, music, movement, metaphor, etc.) Involve learners in reflective production that blends the emotional and the cognitive.

Student Role Play

Objective:Students will identify with the plight of the millions of Americans whose lives were affected by the Great Depression.

Activity: Make copies of Student Handout #1 and cut them into strips so that there is one person per strip. When class begins give one strip to each student. Form groups so that there is a student with each person in each group.
When students are in groups tell them that they are going to participate in a discussion about the problems faced by people during the Great Depression. Encourage them to contribute to the discussion from the point of view of the persona they have been assigned. Each group should appoint a scribe and one member to be a moderator to bring up each topic and keep the group on task.
The group should address the following:
1) Survey the group to create a list of the situations faced by each of the members.
2) Determine who is responsible for the problems of the people in the group
3) Suggest solutions to the problems of the people in the group.
While student groups are meeting walk around the room monitoring the groups to make sure they are on task and staying in character. When the groups have completed their tasks conduct a class discussion to get a sampling of who each group felt were responsible for peoples problems and their proposed solutions