History Basketball
Make history into a game to break the pace from the normal cycle of
structured class lessons. Try history basketball.
Materials:
-2 lists of questions (one list is easy and the other is relatively hard)
-basketball
-Basketball hoop (or waste bin to use in place of a hoop)
What to do:
Choose two teams from the group and seat the teams at the front of the
room. The class itself can be divided into two teams if it is not too large.
Each team needs to choose a captain. Make it clear that you will accept final
answers only from the captain. Choose the starting team with a coin toss.
Play begins with the starting team (team 1) choosing a two-point shot (easy
question) or a three-pointer (hard question). Read the question to the team,
allow an appropriate time for an answer, and then after accepting the answer
given by the captain, tell them whether the answer is right or wrong. A right
answer scores either the two or three points, and then play moves to the
second team (team 2). For a wrong response, the opposing team may try to
answer for a one-point free throw. If the answer is still incorrect, give the
correct answer, and play moves to team 2, which then selects their shot and
attempts to answer another question for either two or three points. At any
point, if one of the teams is disruptive or speaks out of turn, you can award
a free throw (one or two points depending on the severity of the foul) to the
other team, and in this case, if you call the foul be sure to follow through.
Use a set time limit for the game. For example, try a ten minute game using
teams selected from a class. At the end of ten minutes, the team with the
highest score wins. Then select two more teams from the class and run
another 10-minute game. If the entire class is split into two teams, the
game can last an entire class period.
You can add some interest to the play by giving colorful names to the two
teams. Choose a panel of judges from the students to rule on whether nearmiss answers can be accepted. Use a buzzer or whistle to make calls or
signal time.
Source: http://www.graceproducts.com/tubman/games.html
(Here are two sample lists that you can feel free to use, and add more
questions as you see fit)
List 1:
-I can not tell a lie. This home was occupied by a Revolutionary War General.
Who was the president (the first one from 1789-1797) who lived in Mount
Vernon?
A: George Washington
-Who won the Revolutionary War?
A: The Americans
-Whom did the Americans fight in the War of 1812?
A: The British
-Which country was responsible for the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941?
A: Japan
-Which famous American is on the $1 bill?
A: George Washington
-Who is credited with discovering America?
A: Christopher Columbus
-In what city was the Declaration of Independence signed?
A: Philadelphia
-Who famously gave the speech “I have a dream?”
A: Martin Luther King, Jr.
-Who invented the lightbulb?
A: Thomas Edison
-Which country gave the US the Statue of Liberty?
A: France
-When was America founded?
A: July 4, 1776
List 2:
-Which was the first city in Japan where the Americans dropped the atomic
bomb?
A: Hiroshima
-What are the Wright Brothers famous?
A: inventing, building and flying the first airplanes
-Who said this famous quote: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”?
A: John F. Kennedy
-In what year did America land the first man on the moon?
A: 1969
-What began on October 29, 1929?
A: The Great Depression
-Who is the famous inventor and Apple Computers?
A: Steve Jobs
-How did Abraham Lincoln die?
A: Lincoln was shot while he was watching a play at Ford's Theater in
Washington, DC in April, 1865. A man entered the private area where he
was sitting with his wife and shot him. Lincoln died the next day from the
wound.
-Who did Texas win independence from?
A: Mexico
-Who was the famous free woman who helped escaped slaves flee to Canada
via the underground railroad?
A: Harriet Tubman
Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/en/ForChildren/US-History-for-Kids-18094.html