Famous Figures - FaceJacked

A Face Jacked Stalin

    If Joseph Stalin and Shakespeare were in the same room, what would they have to talk about?  What insight can be gained by putting historical figures in new situations? After some research and a bit of instruction these questions are a little easier to answer.

    This year our school was fortunate to have an IPad cart added to its repertoire of classroom tech tools.  Once we got past "playtime," we put our shiny black boxes to work. Having completed biographical wanted posters, the class possessed the foundation to put their chosen figures in to a more social situation.   

     A few intuitive steps later, the class had their famous figures FaceJacked.  They first took turns interviewing one another, discovering more about the personalities selected by their classmates.  Students were then encouraged to mingle about the room and talk to others in character.  It was slightly comical at first, the sight of 20 junior high students wandering around the room holding IPads over their faces but as students became more comfortable, meaningful conversations ensued.

    I remember hearing Queen Elizabeth question Hitler about his leadership style while in another corner Buddha and Jesus hotly debated the nature of world religion.  What seemed like a silly app at first turned out to be the source of a few chuckles and a large dose of meaningful learning. Thanks FaceJack.