Spotlight: Transitive Factors
Heroes of History: How Trading Cards are Transforming Learning in My Second Grade Classroom
By Jarrett Culotta
This year, I set out with an intentional goal to use transitive factors within my classroom— those dynamic elements that bridge concepts and strengthen connections. These transitive factors have proved to increase student engagement, deepen understanding, and foster a genuine love of learning. In my second-grade history class, this meant creating opportunities for ownership, creativity, and healthy competition. What started as a simple idea quickly evolved into one of the most exciting and meaningful parts of our curriculum: the“ Heroes of History” trading cards.
At its core, the trading card project helps the boys focus on key details, historical figures, vocabulary, and major events within our second-grade history curriculum. Second graders are still developing note-taking skills, and while traditional methods are important, I wanted something that felt more developmentally appropriate, personal, and engaging. The trading cards became a natural way to meet students where they are— helping them organize important information while allowing for creativity and ownership of their learning. After each lesson, boys create a trading card based on the key content covered. Each card includes details such as important facts about historical figures, vocabulary definitions, or summaries of major events. Boys are given templates to help them structure their information, but creativity is always encouraged. They can draw portraits, design symbols, or add backgrounds that reflect what they’ ve learned. These cards are then stored in personalized binders titled“ Heroes of History,” which the boys take great pride in.
But the magic doesn’ t stop with creating the cards. Once boys have built a small collection, the trading cards become tools for interactive games. Boys can play trivia games where they quiz each other u sing the information on t heir cards. Other options include rounds of“ charades,” acting out historical figures or vocabulary terms based on clues from their cards. Another option is to adapt the popular board game,“ Headbandz,” where boys hold a card on their forehead and give clues to get their partner to figure out the historical character or term t h e y’ r e