Teacher: Mr. Bennecke
Prepare to have your minds blown…by history! In Mr. Bennecke’s World History class, you’ll be able to get a glimpse into the past, present and future as you learn how civilizations around the globe evolved to get us where we are now, all in a unique way that isn’t your elementary school history class. So put on your Viking helmet and get ready to set sail for adventure! (Although you might want to take a raincheck on the pillaging and murdering bit.)
Share a little bit about yourself.
Who am I? I am a normal teacher. How did I get here? That is a different story. I grew up in Chicago and eventually found my self wrestling at Iowa State and trained for the 2000 Olympics. I eventually moved to California and the Las Vegas and planted a church. Yep, I started my career as a youth pastor and then for a big switch I made a transition to run a casino. I was in Vegas, so why not. Then thanks to economic reasons, I became a stay at home dad for my two daughter (the third came later). Meanwhile, I went back to school online and got my masters in teaching. How did I wind up in Colorado? My wife’s family is here and I love to be outdoors so in two weeks we up and moved. I have been teaching here at JVA since 2013. Here is a little something else some people may like to know. I have an office downstairs. Next to my office is a bookcase – if you pull on “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” it opens to my favorite room. In there are three pinball machines and over 7000 comic books. I am who I am.
What does the class cover throughout the semester?
I always tell people I try to teach everything. US history will cover about 250 years of one country in two years. I cover about 12,000 years of the world in one year, so I cover a few things. I try to do a greatest hits of World History. We start in the beginning and until what I feel was one of the biggest events to change the world to what we know in 1492. Then, in the second semester, we cover the rest (including the future).
What will students learn in the class?
My hope is always that students learn ideas and thoughts that are different that what a normal textbook or Google would teach them. They can find dates of events on their phone but how are some views of nationalism bad and why did it help to start WWI? Does history repeat? If we don’t see other mistakes then it sure can. We can look at events in the world today and it can be very familiar if you know. All my students this year will be voting in the next presidential election. US history is important but the world has a lot more example for the good and bad. And seeing things from a world perspective is so important because the world is not just interconnected but really, really big.
What’s your favorite part of the class?
There are so many cool things. Honestly, I don’t even have a chance to teach everything I would like to. I only get to touch on early civilizations like Egyptians, the Roman Empire and the Vikings a bit. All that being said, I think I have heard a lot of positive feedback from kids that will say, “I never learned that when I was younger.” I love teaching the American Revolution from the perspective of England. It’s a little different and great for students to see. Also, I like my “choose your own adventure week.” There are three different topics and perspectives, and students get to choose what they want to learn. Also, don’t forget I love telling the truth about my historic mortal enemy… you will find out in my class.
What do you want others to know about the class?
My classes are different. Humor, fun pictures, weekly themes like Clash of the Clans and open and untimed quizzes. I have had a lot of teachers in my time, not all good. I want to be different. As Pink Floyd said, “we don’t need no education.” I don’t want to be another brick in a wall that makes people sad and lonely. I want people to have fun, laugh, and maybe in the end, you can learn a few new perspectives of this crazy cool world we live in, because if anyone is going to make it better it will be my students!
If you think history is a boring subject, Mr. Bennecke’s World History class might just prove you wrong! From engaging topics and perspectives to fun weekly themes and memes, this core class is unlike any other! Thanks Mr. Bennecke for your time.
