Term
Fall 2025
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Betsy Parish
Content Expert
Jordan Julian
Abstract
This capstone project addresses problematic elements of high school World History education, specifically textbook-centrism and the exclusion of marginalized voices. The current pitfalls of textbook-centered history often include a perpetuation of a narrow, Eurocentric narrative that fails to represent communities of color. Textbook-centrism in history classes has also contributed to student disengagement with the historical past and offers few opportunities for students to practice desperately needed critical thinking skills. The central research question addressed in this capstone is: How can we teach high school history classes using diverse perspectives and primary sources to develop students’ critical thinking skills? The final product of this capstone is a unit-length curriculum intended for a high school world history classroom focusing on the World Wars period. The primary method employed was curriculum design and development. This involved creating complete, adaptable, and ready-to-use lesson slideshows, and primary source lab activities that deliberately de-center the traditional textbook approach to history classrooms. The curriculum prioritizes instruction based entirely on primary sources that offer varied perspectives, notably those of historically marginalized communities. The unit includes structured activities for comparative source analysis and evidence-based short-response writing to develop both historical empathy and advanced critical thought among students. The end result of the project is completion of unit that provides history educators with a practical model to simultaneously improve student critical thinking through primary source analysis and ensure that students feel represented in the historical narrative.
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Curriculum
Recommended Citation
Katzung Hokanson, Brandon R., "Teaching Holistic History with Purpose: Developing a New Curriculum for a Unit on the World Wars" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1158.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1158
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects