The presentation discusses how active learning projects can empower English language learners. It provides examples of vocabulary building activities, varying levels of challenge, and non-traditional instructions and assessments. Attendees participate in an activity where they rewrite the Declaration of Independence from the perspective of their lives. Research shows active learning engages students and improves achievement for English learners.

1. California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners Lanore Larson

5. What are Active Learning Projects? Collaborative, constructivist lessons to challenge students to develop academic skills and content knowledge to solve authentic problems Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011

15. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners The beauty and power of the words and phrasing of the Declaration of Independence will inspire students when writing their own declaration.

16. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the Causes which impel them to the Separation.

17. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

18. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such form, as to them shall seem, most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

19. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same objectives is designed to reduce them under absolute despotism,

20. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such a government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient suffering of these Colonies;and such is now the necessity which causes them to change their former systems of government.

21. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

22. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has refused his assent to laws, necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws, of immediate and pressing importance. He has called together legislative bodies at distant places, for the sole purpose of tiring them.

23. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing his invasions on the rights of people. By refusing his assent to laws, He has made judges dependent on his will alone for their stay in office, and for the amount and payment of their salaries.

24. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent her swarms of officers to harass our people. He has kept among us in times of peace, standing armies. He has affected to make the Military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.

25. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has given his assent to legislation for quartering large bodies of troops among us. For protecting these troops, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders they commit on the inhabitants of these states. For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world.

26. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners For imposing taxes on us without our consent. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury.

27. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried. For taking away our charters, abolishing our laws and altering the forms of our governments. For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring to themselves the power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

28. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

29. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He is at this time bringing. armies of foreign troops to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, totally unworthy of the head of a civilized nation. He has made our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brothers, or to fall themselves by their hands.

30. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has tried to bring on the peoples of the frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for relief in the most humble terms.

31. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

32. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in general congress assembled, do, in the Name of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States:

33. Read-Around The Declaration of Independence 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

38. Ongoing neuroscience research has strongly supported constructivist teaching – students thrive when actively interpreting new knowledge creatively Active learning projects use brain research to engage every student Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011

39. Active learning projects engage Gardner’s multiple intelligences – ELLs are individuals Students quickly access content in areas of strength while developing other talents. interpersonal intrapersonal spatial kinesthetic verbal linguistic Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011

41. Call or email: For more ideas, visit the on-line community http://We.TeachInteract.com Lanore Larson [email_address] 310-839-2436 Active Learning Projects Empower English Language Learners 50th Annual California Council for the Social Studies Conference March 5, 2011