RAFT (Role, Audience, Format and Topic) is a tool for demonstrated the mastery of content. Students are given one or two elements of the RAFT and are encouraged to choose the(ir) best way in showing their skill and knowledge development.
Students take on a particular Role (teacher, historical figure, leader of community group, inanimate object etc) and use a particular format (report card, song, mixed CD, letter, speach, powerpoint presentation) to convey information to a specific audience (student, newspaper readers, school principal, historical antagonist etc). The topic can be selected by the teacher or the student but the four elements will culminate with the student’s ability to show development.
It is differentiated as it allows students to show mastery in non-conventional forms as well as in the standard ways.
Recently, I had students complete assignments with these RAFTs:
THE GREAT WAR (CHY 4U)
| ROLE (option) | AUDIENCE (option) | FORMAT (option) | TOPIC- YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE OF THESE |
| Woodrow Wilson | Members of League of Nations (or non-members) | Reddit Forum | – Impact of Peace Treaties (be specific) |
| Georges Clemeanceau | Parties at the Versailles Conference | Powerpoint urging for the punishment of Germany | – Development of the League of Nations |
| WW1 Nurse | Her children | Scrapbook about the problems facing the Veterans in her care | – Great War Art re: Veterans (poetry, visual art, music) |
| Czar Nicholas | Russian Population | Apology letter about the failing to address population’s needs | – Short term consequences of the Russian Revolution |
| Lenin | Russian population | Mixed CD/iPod Playlist + letter explaining song selections | – treatment of Veterans by home country |
| Teacher | Student | test | |
| Veteran | 1920s Canadians | Painting re: suffering of Veterans |
Here’s what one of my students produced.
Steph Pearson 