The History Walk: Integrated Multi-Age Learning

Abstract

Third- and seventh-grade gifted students can help each other learn what life was like in the 1870s on the Texas Frontier. The Texas History Walk lets gifted students meet characters from the past and the inhabitants of the land where the students now live. The people of the 1870s were very diverse and the conflicts between these people determined who held power for the next 100 years. The struggle was between those who would range the land and those who would settle it, or as they saw it, improve the land. Students get to work together across grade levels to learn more about the interaction between people. Together they get to explore the diversity of the people who now live together in peace rather than conflict. The Texas History Walk allows students the chance to walk in the simulated drama camps of many different people. Younger students interact with actors (seventh-grade students role-playing characters of the 1870s) to find out why they live in Texas and what goods are available for sale or trade.