This week, my World History classes tried something a little different. We did a historical investigation on Genghis Khan. Instead of just reading about him and answering questions on a worksheet, students became investigators. They researched his life, military leadership, and empire while gathering evidence to answer the question: Was Genghis Khan a brutal conqueror, a brilliant leader, or both?
One of my favorite parts was hearing students say that it felt like a real investigation instead of just another worksheet. That made me happy because that was exactly what I was hoping for!
The assignment was made using Google Slides templates, so students could easily add their research and evidence right into the slides. When they finished, they turned their work in through Google Classroom. This also made grading pretty simple for me. I could open each student’s slides and read through their investigation without having a stack of papers to sort through.
I know how hard it can be to keep students interested in World History, especially when there is so much content to cover. Sometimes changing how students approach a topic can make a big difference. Instead of just learning facts about a historical figure, they have a question to answer and evidence to help them decide what they think.
I’m working on more of these investigations, including Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. I think there are so many interesting people in history who would make great subjects for this kind of project.
If you’re looking for a way to get students thinking, researching, and having a little fun with history, maybe turning your next research assignment into an investigation is worth a try!
