This lesson is an overview of the people who created the America of the 20th century through the use of music, video and role playing.

Subject: American History
Topic: Industrial America
Grade Level: 8 

United States History and Geography: Growth and Conflict
8.12  Students analyze the transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the United states in response to the Industrial Revolution.
 

• 4. Discuss entrepreneurs, industrialists, and bankers in politics, commerce and industry.
• 5. Examine the location and effects of urbanization, renewed immigration, and industrialization.
• 7. Identify the new sources of large-scale immigration and the contributions of immigrants to the building of cities and the economy; explain the ways in which new social and economic patterns encouraged assimilation of newcomers into the mainstream amidst growing cultural diversity; and discuss the new wave of nativism.
• 9. Name the significant personalities and identify how they improved the quality of life. 

• The students will be able to identify five Ragtime personalities from this unit.
• The students will be able to computer research a biography of their character.
• The students will be able to speak as their character for 2 minutes.

Introductory Activity
Day 1

• Introduction of the unit including the culminating activity.
• Class discussion of the time period known as the Progressive Era or the Gilded Age.
• Character name selection and recording of the names.

Student Activities
Day 2 - 4 (can be extended up to 9 days)

• Research character and acquire costume and artifact.
• Use music from the play Ragtime to launch class discussions.
• View Schlessinger videos

Culminating Activity
Final Day

• Students are in character and costume the entire day.
• Students give a 2 minute presentation on their character.

Go to: Student Activity Page
  

• The videos can be viewed for pleasure, discussion and/or information or the students can complete a video Q&A sheet for a grade.

        Go to: Video Q&A pages
         Q&A in Microsoft Word

• The Oral Presentation is graded on a rubric.

        Go to: Oral Presentation Rubric
         Rubric in Microsoft Word

• Extra credit can be earned on Character Day.

        Go to: Extra Credit
             Extra Credit in Microsoft Word

 

Introductory Activity
front and back of the assignment page

Student Activity
general links

Culminating Activity
Rules for dressing up

Teachers Resources
 
 

School Name: Cain Middle School
School Location: 150 Palm Avenue   Auburn, CA  95603
Sylvia H. Haverberg 
Last Revised: May 12, 2001