Emotions of history

Life skill related:

Empathy

Methodology:

Focus group

Materials made by students to be displayed in class

Subject:

History

Age/Grade:

Middle school

Timing:

120 minutes

Choose and prepare a number of historical figures with descriptions of their major exploits/actions (positive and negative)
Divide the class into groups, max. 3 members
Each group chooses one character
Internal discussion of the character

Each group chooses a character and works out what emotions, feelings and motivations prompted the character to perform the actions;
Each group discusses what the character may have felt during the various phases (victory, success, rejection, fall, excommunication, etc.);
Each group identifies with the character and tries to imagine what emotion they would have felt if they were in their place;
Reflection on how they would have acted if they had been in their place;
Exposure to the class of the work done through posters with images and writing.