JFK case study
An inquiry unit where students investigate changing interpretations of the Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) over time.
Through close study of the enduring mythology surrounding JFK and his leadership during two major foreign crises, students comprehend the vast variation in historical perspectives on JFK’s leadership, personal qualities and impact on the United States. Students focus on the impact of the historian’s relationship to their subject, on the influence of new evidence and on historian’s context on the construction of history. They progress from teacher-directed learning into a student-directed approach that sees them constructing their own understanding of JFK histories.
Focus questions
- How does the historian’s relationship with their subject influence the construction of history?
- How does the discovery of new evidence influence the construction of history?
- How do the events and politics of the historian’s own context impact on the construction of history?
This resource includes a glossary of terms to support student learning.
Syllabus
Please note:
Syllabus outcomes and content descriptors from History Extension Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2017