I’ll trade you Tecumseh for James Madison

Students create trading cards to study War of 1812

January 14, 2020

LOW-MS-history-trading-cards-BRF-2 — Kelsey Catrell works on her history trading cards

The trading cards made by eighth graders in Lowell Middle School teacher Darla Palmer’s social studies class might not fit the traditional “fun to collect” mold, but they do illustrate their understanding of a pivotal point in U.S. history.

Each student was charged to research the War of 1812, then design and create five trading cards based on what they determined were key events that led to and resulted from it.

“It’s a creative way for them to show me what they’ve learned,” Palmer said.

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Morgan Jarema

Morgan Jarema is a reporter and copy editor, covering Northview. She is a Grand Rapids native and a product of Grand Rapids Public Schools, including Brookside and West Leonard elementaries, City Middle/High School and Ottawa Hills. She found her tribe in journalism in 1997 and has never wanted to do anything but write. For 15 years she was a freelance journalist for The Grand Rapids Press, covering local schools and government, religion, business, home & garden and lifestyles. She and her husband, John, think even those without kiddos should be invested in their local schools and made to feel a part of them. Read Morgan's full bio