Lesson plan of Historical Time

Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understanding Historical Time: The teacher should guide the students to understand the concept of historical time and the importance of its comprehension to the study of History. This includes the notion that historical time is a human construct that allows for the organization and making sense of past events.

2. Identification of Historical Periods: Students should be able to differentiate and identify the main historical periods, such as Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Modern Age, and Contemporary times. They should understand that these periods are delimited according to social, political, economic, and cultural characteristics.

3. Relationship between Historical Time and Daily Life: Students should be encouraged to reflect on how historical time relates to their daily lives. They should be able to recognize how past events shaped the present world and how the comprehension of historical time can help them to better understand the present.

Secondary Objectives:

• Development of Critical Thinking: The teacher should encourage students to question and analyze the information presented, promoting the development of critical thinking.

• Stimulation of Active Participation: The teacher should create a classroom environment that encourages active participation of students, promoting discussions and group activities.

• Promotion of Meaningful Learning: The teacher should seek connections between the content of the class and the reality of the students, facilitating meaningful learning.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Recalling Previous Content: The teacher should start the class by reminding students about some concepts and historical events that were previously studied. This can include discussions about the evolution of humanity, the formation of great civilizations and the transition from feudalism to capitalism. This step is crucial to establish the necessary foundation for the topic of historical time. (2 - 3 minutes)

2. Problem Situation 1: "Is Time the Same for Everyone?": The teacher can pose this question to the students, encouraging them to think about how different people and societies experience time in distinct ways. This can lead to a discussion about the relativity of time and the importance of a common time frame to the study of History. (3 - 5 minutes)

3. Contextualization: "The Importance of Understanding Historical Time": The teacher should explain the importance of understanding historical time, making connections with the real world. This can include discussions about how the comprehension of historical time helps us to better understand the present, make informed decisions, and appreciate different cultures and perspectives. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Introduction to Topic: "Historical Time and its Dimensions": The teacher should introduce the topic of historical time, explaining that it is not just a straight line from the past to the present, but has various dimensions. This can include a discussion about the different ways to measure time (chronology), the idea that time can be divided into periods (periodization), and the notion that time is relative and shaped by our perceptions and experiences. (3 - 5 minutes)

5. Problem Situation 2: "How does History Influence our Daily Lives?": The teacher can pose this second question, encouraging the students to think about how past events continue to shape the world we live in today. This can lead to a discussion about the relevance of History to everyday life. (2 - 3 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Class Debate "Time Doesn't Stop" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Group Division: The teacher should divide the class into groups of up to 5 students. Each group will be assigned to represent a different historical era (Antiquity, Middle Ages, Modern Age and Contemporary times).
   • Debate Preparation: Each group will have 5 minutes to discuss and prepare arguments about why their era is the most important in history and why the others are not as significant. They can use textbooks, class notes and online resources to substantiate their arguments.
   • Debate Execution: After the preparation, each group will have 3 minutes to present their arguments. The debate should be conducted respectfully and guided by the teacher.
   • Final Discussion: After all the groups have presented, the teacher should conduct a final discussion, highlighting the importance of all historical eras and how they connect to form historical time.

2. Interactive Timeline Activity (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Activity Presentation: The teacher should explain that each group will now be responsible for creating an interactive timeline on butcher paper, highlighting the main events and characteristics of their historical period.
   • Timeline Creation: Each group will have 7 minutes to create their timeline. They should include information such as: the name of the era, main events, historical figures, technological advances, and social changes.
   • Timeline Presentation: After creation, each group will have 3 minutes to present their timeline to the class. They should briefly explain the events and characteristics that they chose to include.
   • Final Discussion: After all the presentations, the teacher should conduct a final discussion, highlighting the similarities and differences between the historical eras and how they fit into the idea of historical time.

3. Reflection Activity: "History in our Lives" (5 - 7 minutes)

   • Reflection Questions: The teacher should propose some questions for the students to reflect on individually, such as: "How do events from your chosen historical era continue to influence the world today?" and "How can the understanding of historical time help us to better understand the present?"
   • Classroom Discussion: After one minute of reflection, the teacher should open the discussion to the class, allowing students to share their thoughts. The teacher should encourage a respectful and guided discussion, fostering the connection between history and the students' everyday lives.
   • Activity Conclusion: The teacher should conclude the activity by reinforcing the importance of historical time, periodization and the understanding of the past for the formation of critical and informed citizens.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes): The teacher should gather all the students again and promote a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions of each group. This will allow students to learn from the perspectives and approaches of the others, besides reinforcing the learned concepts. During the discussion, the teacher should ask guiding questions to stimulate reflection and deepen the understanding of the topic.

   • Guiding Questions:
     1. "How do the different perspectives of historical time presented by the groups connect and complement one another?"
     2. "What were the most interesting or surprising points you learned during the debate and the timeline creation?"
     3. "How can the understanding of historical time help us to better understand the present and make informed decisions?"
     4. "Which challenges did you face when trying to represent a historical period in a timeline? How did you deal with these challenges?"

2. Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should then make the connection between the practical activities and the theory discussed at the beginning of the class. This can include a recap of the main concepts of historical time and periodization, and how they were applied during the activities. The teacher should also highlight the skills and competences developed during the class, such as critical thinking, argumentation skills and the understanding of the importance of history to everyday life.

3. Final Reflection (3 - 4 minutes): To consolidate the learning, the teacher should propose that the students reflect individually for a minute about the following questions:

   • "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
   • "Which questions still remain unanswered?"
   • "How can you apply what you learned today in your everyday life or in other disciplines?"

   After the minute of reflection, the teacher should open the discussion to the class, allowing students to share their answers. This will not only help reinforce the learning but also allow the teacher to evaluate the effectiveness of the class and make adjustments if necessary.

4. Class Conclusion (1 minute): The teacher should close the class by thanking the participation of the students, reinforcing the importance of the study of History and encouraging them to continue exploring historical time. He/she should also remind students about the homework assignments, if any, and encourage them to bring any questions or doubts to the next class.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of the Content (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should summarize the main points discussed during the class, recalling the concepts of historical time, periodization and the relationship between History and everyday life. He/she should highlight the main ideas that emerged during the practical activities, such as the relativity of time, the importance of all historical eras and the influence of the past in the present.

2. Connection Between Theory and Practice (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should explain how the class managed to integrate theory and practice. He/she should emphasize how the initial discussion and the practical activities helped to illustrate and apply the theoretical concepts, and how the practical activities, in turn, helped to increase the understanding of the concepts. The teacher can also highlight how the skills and competences developed during the class (critical thinking, argumentation, understanding of periodization) are important not only to the study of history, but also to other disciplines and to everyday life.

3. Extra Materials (1 minute): The teacher should suggest some extra materials for students who wish to further their understanding of the topic. This can include history books, documentaries, websites, and educational online games. For example, the teacher can suggest that the students create their own timelines at home, including events and characteristics of different historical eras that they find significant.

4. Importance of the Subject (1 - 2 minutes): Finally, the teacher should reinforce the importance of historical time to everyday life. He/she should explain that the understanding of historical time is not only useful to the study of history, but also to the understanding of the world we live in today. For example, the teacher can mention how the understanding of historical time can help us to better understand the news, politics, culture, and society. He/she should also encourage students to reflect on how they can apply what they learned about historical time in their everyday lives.