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U.S. HISTORY

TURN THE CLASSROOM INTO A TOWN HALL

In these classroom-based live-action role-plays, students take on the challenges of specific moments in U.S. history.  The software divides the class into groups, each with a different perspective on the situation. The class must then work together to figure out how to tackle the situation.

During a role-play students:

  • Consider history from multiple perspectives

  • Practice public speaking and debate

  • Collaborate to create democratic solutions

Each scenario can be played through in 60-80 minutes. Want to divide the session over two class periods? VOXPOP lets your class easily pick up where they left off the next day.

ROLE-PLAYS

The Shays Rebellion

The Shays Rebellion

1787

Who deserves a say in government? What are the legal limits of protest? The Shays Rebellion role-play offers a deep dive into the early days of the United States and the issues that led up to the Constitutional Convention.

The Nullification Crisis

The Nullification Crisis

1832

The Nullification role-play immerses students in the conflicts that led up to the Civil War: the economic relationship between North and South, the growing abolition movement, and the struggle for power between federal and state governments.

The Dorr Rebellion

The Dorr Rebellion

1841

The Dorr Rebellion role-play explores the battle to rewrite Rhode Island's Constitution. It asks: How do you reform the government? How do you balance power between rural and urban areas? Who should have the right to vote?

The Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike

1894

The Pullman Strike role-play explores a defining moment in American labor history. What is the proper balance of power between bosses and workers? How much influence should big companies have over people's lives?

The New Deal

The New Deal

1935

The New Deal role-play focuses on the Second New Deal of 1935. As students respond to the Great Depression and the failures of the First New Deal, they must tackle the question: How big a role should the federal government play in improving people’s lives?

The AIDS Epidemic

The AIDS Epidemic

1986

The AIDS Epidemic role-play explores the early days of the AIDS crisis. It asks: How should we treat an incurable disease? Who should be the face of the fight against AIDS? How do we balance civil liberties and public health?

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A ROLE-PLAY?

SET UP

Once you've selected a role-play, you can create a session and share it with your class. Put the classroom display on your shared classroom screen. 

A VOXPOP role-play can usually be run in one 60-minute session or split into two 40-minute sessions.

Teacher leading VOXPOP role-play.

TELL US WHAT ROLE-PLAYS YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE.

We're constantly working on new content for VOXPOP.  What would you like to see next?  What topics would you like us to cover?

Mind telling us a bit about yourself?  Understanding who our users are, helps us figure out what content we should create and how to properly level it.

IF YOU TEACH..

What grades do you teach?

Where do you teach?

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