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Zionist
Century - Programming and Activities - Building the Foundations
Studies in the History of Zionism
The Jewish National Movement from 1917-1939
Activity Suggestions
by Nili Kadary
Activity Ideas
1. Working the Review
As this is a review activity for original units 17-25, it is recommended
that a time slot be set aside to cover the essence of the content presented
above.
- Participants can build a time-line marking off the entire period
into major sections, for example - 1917-1922; 1923-1930; 1931-1939,
and dividing into a corresponding number of groups.
- Using visual aids -- such as:
- the chart below [for variation only - also for Activity #2];
- sections from "The Pillar of Fire" [abridged on video];
- "Toldor" chart of Jewish History;
- Martin Gilbert, atlases of Jewish History;
- photocopied illustrations from this era;
- "Exodus", by Leon Uris [the book!];
-- the educator hones the focus required by sifting the data with the
group.
- The assignment which follows is for the sub-groups [one per historical
division], which are given index cards and asked to make notes on major
events and pin them along the time-line. Illustrations should be coordinated
with the written notes.
- Obviously, if this can be processed in a more sophisticated manner,
on a computer spreadsheet or with graphic software, more time will be
required.
- Conclude with a review of the relative importance of each event and
discuss how the Jewish population must have felt under the British Mandate
at various periods.
Variation:
- To save time, use the partly filled chart below to enable participants
to focus on major figures and issues. The second activity will be unecessary.
- A complete chart also follows.
Independent Work - Following the Content
Once the time-line has been created and reviewed - but _without the use
of the chart - proceed in a second session as follows.
- Divide participants into a number of groups, around five in each,
and assign each group a completely blank chart with columns as below.
- Each group has to complete [depends on the time available for the
session] an A-Z or a Top Ten of the major personalities and concepts
of this period.
- When the charts are posted, participants should take note of different
emphases - or oversights - and these should be discussed.
The blank chart looks something like this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
| Person | Concept | Term | Details |Dates
-------------------------------------------------------------------
^ | | | | | !
1-10 | | | | | !
or | | | | | !
A-Z | | | | | !
===================================================================
etc.
Independent Work - Investigative Reporting and Policy Paper -
Project Work
The goal is to allow a comprehensive review of the reality during this
period, *not* to recreate the original reporting or decisions.
The assignment:
To create two major types of "documents" - news or documentary reports
in any medium; a British policy paper around the situation in Mandate
Palestine/Eretz Yisrael during the late 1920s and the 1930s, particularly
with a view to the unrest in Arab-Jewish relations. There is also the
possibility of creating a group of Jewish inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael
who have to create their own public relations "documents"...
How many of each you actually create [any or all of 3 White Papers; Video
report, newspaper front page, internet news bulletin, radio news or round
table; protest songs, posters, handouts, underground newspaper headlines]
will depend on how many groups of about 5 participants you can constitute!
To do this effectively:
It is important that there be research and discussion time in each group
as well as time to prepare the final product. As groups can either interview
or read documents, maps, accounts, and view films, this is a major project
for which resources should be organized systematically!
Note on volume of work:
Groups need to work on significant reports only - about one per person
- before sitting down to prepare their product, and should be advised
not to exceed this.
Roles:
Each group should understand whom they represent and operate on a common
sense basis, rather than with any particular bias. The British "Commissions
of Inquiry" are not to be instructed to take any one side, but are reminded
that they are not Jewish and therefore not necessarily partisan to the
aspirations of the Yishuv inhabitants!
To help groups focus, we have prepared an outline document below:
Name of your Group:
Assignment:
Historical Date:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
List of major figures / agencies involved in the crisis:
List of those you wish to interview / investigate:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy the following for each interviewee / area of investigation:
Name of person or agency:
Role or position:
Importance or relation to event:
Their statement on event:
Key factors or their recommendations:
Assessment of veracity:
Conclusions:
Conclusion:
- Present all the documents/products and discuss the major issues which
emerge.
- In the case of the White Papers, compare with the reality above.
Lighthearted Ideas for Evenings
- A quiz with different quiz question cards for each competing group.
- "Say that Name" - contestants from two teams mime names or titles
in turn to their own team. Score: 3 points for under 30 seconds; 2 points
for under a minute; 1 point for under 2 minutes.
- Sketches, charades or shadow mime different scenes....
- Groups make several different bingo / lotto boards, filling them in,
with the explanation on the board and the figure or title on the cover
pieces. The caller also needs a complete set of all the cover pieces,
a hat or box - and a chart to check answers.
Editor: Yossi Pnini; Gila Ansell Brauner: Internet Editor
Internet Version: The Pedagogic Center
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