ABSTRACT
Teachers who love teaching social studies and history enjoy having their students view what they are studying in myriad ways, such as through photographs, videos, websites, political cartoons, personal journals, timelines, and other media. The study of historical events allows students to delve into the deeper facets of understanding as they interact with the content. Students must do more than merely explain their thinking and provide examples. Gifted students often have a strong sense of justice; many frequently view events as “right or wrong” or “black or white,” and think there is no gray area. In this example lesson students are asked to view and read about multiple situations of conflict related to the Westward Expansion and the settlement of the United States. Students’ conclusions will vary, yet all perspectives must include supporting evidence and/or rationale. As students work through this series of lessons they will be provided with the extension lesson, “Conflict.”.
