As a successful teacher, you know that students who are fully engaged in an experience absorb information at a deeper, more cognitive level. With this vision, we have spent the last several years working with educators across the country, developing and refining a teaching methodology based on the widely accepted theory of multiple intelligences, the philosophy of constructivism, and the transaction and transformation approach. This important work has resulted in our unique LEAP (Learning through Exploring and Actively Participating) approach to Educational Travel. The LEAP! program is a continually growing and evolving concept. LEAP's vitality comes from the contributions of educators, their students, and the NETC team. This newsletter affords a new way to keep you informed and exchange new ideas! We look forward to hearing your feedback and suggestions: feedback@netc-leap.com - Ilya Alshine NETC LEAP! does exactly what you hope to do in the classroom — which is bring education to life. Because then the students get involved, they are emotionally invested and it means something to them. It becomes authentic education as opposed to just a lecture in the front of the bus. It is real, it is something that they remember when they go home. - Clif Davis Teton High School Seize the Château is one of my favorite activities to help students understand the causes of the French Revolution. The day before the activity I divide the group into the various "estates" in France before the Revolution: the clergy, the nobility, the bourgeoisie and the peasantry. Of course everyone unfamiliar with the events of 1793 wants to be the King or Queen! I give them cards with an outline of their particular estate's situation, rights (or lack thereof) and general lifestyle. The students prepare by thinking about how they would be feeling if this were their lot, and the next day each group presents (in any manner they would like) their situation to the rest of the students. Taking on characters in this way helps students to appreciate how the people felt at that time (rather than applying today's values), and gives them a far greater appreciation of what happened and why.
The theme of the activity is the French Revolution. Students use role-play and discussion to learn about the social and economic causes of this historic event. Students then have the opportunity to discuss the rights or lack of rights of the various people and groups living in French society before, during and after the French Revolution. The first key to this activity is the use of role-play. Students role-play the various groups (clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, Parisian poor, peasantry) interacting with one another in order to better understand the positions held by the groups. The second key is the questioning techniques of a specially trained TD (Tour Director) that enables students to imagine themselves in the shoes of their respective characters. Having set the scene, the TD then proceeds to introduce some key moments before, during and after the Revolution. At each point the TD solicits student reactions to these events.
Experience Seize the Château! on these NETC programs: Paris et Les Alpes La Francophonie Allons en France Paris and Nice Le Tricolore L'Est France and Switzerland