APUSH Review - Hexagonal Thinking

Learning Target: I can explain how major events, people, and ideas from APUSH periods connect to each other and use those connections to build an AP-style argument.

Do Now, 5 Minutes

Question 1: Explain One Historical Connection Choose one pair of APUSH terms that you already know are connected. Term 1: ____________________________________ Term 2: ____________________________________ Explain the relationship between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgnDbQ1aM54

Sentence frame:____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________.

My answer:

Today’s Hexagon Challenge

Your group will build a hexagon map using APUSH terms.

When two hexagons touch, the terms must have a real historical connection.

Your group must:

1. Use all 12 required terms.

2. Add 3 accurate APUSH terms of your own.

3. Arrange all 15 hexagons.

4. Create 10 strong touching relationships.

5. Explain every touching relationship in writing.

6. Use your map to build an APUSH argument.

A strong connection cannot just say: “They are both from Period _____.”

A strong connection explains cause and effect, comparison, conflict, change over time, federal power, democracy, expansion, foreign policy, or sectionalism.

How to Explain a Connection: Use one of these sentence frames.

____________________________ caused ____________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________.

____________________________ led to ____________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________.

____________________________ was a reaction to ____________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________.

____________________________ increased conflict over ____________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________.

____________________________ showed a debate over federal power because ______________________________________________________________________.

Question 2: Explain Your Hexagon Relationships

As your group arranges the hexagons, explain each touching relationship. 

You must complete 10 relationship explanations.

Relationship 1

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 2

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 3

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 4

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 5

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 6

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 7

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 8

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 9

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Relationship 10

____________________________ connects to ____________________________ because

Question 3: Build a Cause-and-Effect Chain

Choose four connected terms from your hexagon map. 

Put them in an order that shows cause and effect.

Term 1: ___________________________________________

Term 2: ___________________________________________

Term 3: ___________________________________________

Term 4: ___________________________________________

Now explain the chain.

Sentence frame:____________________________ led to ____________________________, which contributed to ____________________________, which helped cause ____________________________.

My answer:

Question 4: Defend Your Strongest Connection

Choose the strongest connection in your hexagon map.

This should be the connection your group could best defend on the APUSH exam.

The strongest connection is between:

____________________________ and ____________________________.

This is the strongest connection because

This connection shows the APUSH skill of:

Circle one:

1. Causation

2. Comparison

3. Continuity and Change

4. Contextualization

Explain why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNYm40RmRzs

Exit Ticket, 5 Minutes

Question 5: Turn Your Hexagons Into an APUSH Thesis

Answer the prompt in one strong APUSH thesis statement.

Directions: Write one clear thesis that answers the prompt. Your thesis must use at least three terms from today’s hexagon activity. Thesis Frame: Although ______________________________________________________________________, the period from 1844 to 1877 ______________________________________________ because ______________________________________________________________________ and ______________________________________________________________________.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgnDbQ1aM54

Final Checklist

Before submitting, check each box.

☐ My group used all 15 hexagons.

☐ My group added 3 accurate APUSH terms.

☐ My group explained 10 touching relationships.

☐ Every touching side on our map has a written explanation.

☐ We completed one cause-and-effect chain.

☐ We defended our strongest connection.

☐ My exit ticket thesis uses at least 3 APUSH terms.