History Goes Live at PAA

Step into a World History classroom at PAA and you might think you’ve wandered into a newsroom instead.

Students are grouped into teams and handed a moment from history, one that once shaped the world and still echoes today. Their first task is to dig deep, researching the people, places, and consequences behind the story. 

Once the facts are clear, creativity takes over. Students transform their research into a polished news script, carefully written to inform, engage, and tell the story with accuracy and clarity. After earning approval from their teacher, it’s time to go live.

Chromebooks become cameras and teleprompters. A green screen turns the classroom into a studio. Two students step into the role of co-anchors, guiding the broadcast, while four others report from “the field,” bringing different perspectives and details to the story. Each student has a part to play, and the success of the broadcast depends on everyone showing up prepared.

As filming begins, confidence grows. Students adjust their delivery, support one another, and problem-solve in real time. History becomes something they inhabit, not just memorize.

By the end of the project, students haven’t just learned about the past, they’ve practiced collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. The classroom becomes a newsroom, the lesson becomes an experience, and students walk away having brought history to life in their own voices.