History tends to judge our past leaders as extremes: Benedict Arnold was a traitor! Abraham Lincoln was an American hero! As teachers, it’s tempting at times to present a world as black and white to our students: good or evil, friend or foe, hero or villain. Use these blank profile posters to help students dig a little deeper and see beyond the established narratives and into the real world of gray. 

• Students put any historical figure, system, or idea “on trial,” analyzing the feats and failures of history’s greats.
• Excellent for project-based learning in groups, independent activities, research skills, debates, or mock trial preparation.
• Comes in a tear-off notepad with 35 large color sheets, ready to pull and go! Students can easily fold or roll their page to continue it as homework.
• Great to use with our existing Hero or Villain? mini-posters!

Blank Profile Poster Set: ©2016. Set of 35. 11 x 17 inches. Middle school, high school.

Hero or Villain? Activity Packet

This 18-page downloadable packet provides over 20 activities and research topics. Students will analyze a historical person on their heroic or villainous attributes. They will complete a job resume, file a villainous police report, write a eulogy, debate with a partner over whose person is more heroic, and more!

Activity Packet Download: All levels. PDF, 18 pages.