OFFICE OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES Grades 11-12 + Credits: 5 ABSTRACT In Grades 11-12 +, the Life Skills History program is based upon modified curricula and alternative instructional approaches. The History of the United States curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 + will enable students to understand how past and present interactions of people, cultures and the environment shaped the American heritage. This knowledge will enable students to make good decisions about human rights and related issues so that they can function as informed citizens of their communities. The student will gain an insight into major events in US history that occurred from the American Industrial Revolution through World War II. BOE approved 02/04/2014
Grade and Course Grades 11 & 12+ Life Skills History Unit of Study History of the United States Description of Unit Students will understand that: Britain was a leader in the American Revolution Many factors promoted the Industrial Revolution including cheap labor, new inventions, technology and plentiful raw materials Industry and new technology have major impact on society s culture and standard of living First Industrial Revolution differed in causes, products and efforts from Second Industrial Revolution The US is a nation of immigrants People left their homeland for many different reasons. There were challenges and rewards for immigrants coming to the US European and Asian immigrants provided cheap labor and helped populate growing cities of the US. There was racial/ethnic segregation when immigrants came to America. There were different causes and effects of World War I. (effects led economic depression and a second war) War was inevitable because of alliances (friendships), growing militarism (people willing and wanting to fight) and powerful nationalism ( people loving their own country) American isolationism ( staying by itself) ended with the Great War Roaring twenties was a period of dramatic change due to American prosperity Roaring twenties was a period of advances in technology which had an impact on societal roles, life styles and culture. Roaring twenties had a dark side to the success and glitz and glory Roaring twenties was a period of renaissance---harlem Renaissance, Jazz Age and more leisure activities There were several causes and many effects of the Great Depression Franklin Delano Roosevelt s leadership ended economic downturn FDR s programs changed the role of government in America There were several causes that led the US to enter WW II (global economic problems brought dictators to power in Japan and Europe and Nazi s increased persecution of Jews) The significance of major battles and leaders of WW II are very important Because of America s contributions during the war, American status as a super power changed WW II had lasting effect on human rights for minority groups within America. The civil rights movement caused huge changes in American culture, politics and laws. The civil rights movement pushed many ordinary Americans into positions of leadership Great advances occurred in the areas of voting rights, equal housing and desegregation during the 1950 s and 1960 s While civil rights movement made great strides, true equality has not yet been achieved for all Americans.
Knowledge of the past helps one understand the present and helps us make decisions about the future. Unit Essential Questions 1. What factors led to the Industrial Revolution in Britain? 2. What important demographic, political and social changes accompanied the Industrial Revolution? 3. Do upper classes have the right to take advantage of lower classes for financial gain? 4. Is progress, at a price of human suffering, justified? 5. Who and what were the contributions of the men of the Second Industrial Revolution? 6. In what ways is the US a nation of immigrants? 7. Why might someone leave their homeland? (emigrate?) 8. What were some of the greatest challenges facing immigrants? What were some of the greatest reward? Was it worth it to become an American citizen? 9. How did the European and Asian immigrants provide cheap labor to help build America and populate the cities? 10. What is the Harlem renaissance? What is the Jazz Age? What does decadence mean? 11. What causes depressions? 12. Can government fix the economy? 13. How did FDR fix the economic downturn after the 1929 stock market crash? 14. What role did the US play in WW I, Great Depression, and WW II? 15. Why do nations go to war? 16. Why and how is the United States a world power? What does that mean? 17. How is power gained, used and justified? 18. What happened during WW II that made women s lives better? 19. How does the expression with power comes responsibility relate to WW II? 20. Who were important leaders of WW II? 21. What were the turning points (major battles) of WW II? 22. Who were the winners? Who were the losers? 23. Is history told by the winners? By the losers? 24. How does war impact society? (men, women and children of all races and ethnicities?) 25. Do wars ever have unintended consequences? 26. What gains did the movement make in desegregating schools and public places in the 1950 s? 27. What other goals did the civil rights movement strive for in the middle and late 1960? 28. In what ways did the civil rights movement evolve in the late 1960 s and early 1970 s? 29. What overall impact did the civil movement have? 30. Who are some of the leaders of the civil rights movement and what are their contributions? 31. How does an evaluation of past events help us make future decisions? Unit Objective Students will be able to acquire knowledge and skills to think about how past and present interactions of people, cultures, and the environment shaped the American heritage. These skills and knowledge will enable students to make good decisions about human rights and values as citizens in their communities. Content Standards ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.1, ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2, ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.3, ELA Literacy.RH.11-12.4, ELA-Literacy. RH. 11-12.5, ELA-Literacy. RH 11-
12.7, ELA-Literacy. RH. 11-12.9 Suggested Time Frame The suggested length of time for instruction for this unit 15 weeks. It is not expected that the concepts will be mastered in that time frame. The material will be revisited and reinforced throughout the school year. The topics are taught in grades 11-12+; therefore suggested time frames can be changed as needed. Suggested Unit Activities General Activities 1. Research factors that lead to the Industrial Revolution 2. Use BrainPop or Youtube to show videos of some of the inventors and their products. 3. Demonstrate an assembly line 4. Identify sources of industrial capital, such as stock and developing corporations 5. Assess impact of industrialization on population growth, working and living conditions and the role of women. 6. Research and interpret information about immigration patterns. 7. Compare and contrast European and Asian immigration. 8. Identify legacies left behind by early groups that we still observe today in development of towns and infrastructures. 9. Trace social services today to roots in earlier movements. It can relate to immigrant and/or to New Deal 10. Watch movies/ videos showing the changes in society during the Roaring Twenties 11. Compare and contrast the clothing, hairstyles, etc. of the teens and twenties in America to the styles of the previous decade. 12. Identify causes of Great Depression. 13. Research government regulations that were put into place to bring country out of economic turndown 14. List and describe the causes that led America to enter the second world war 15. Describe the outcomes of WW II 16. Use maps to locate major battles. 17. Use maps to locate areas in Asia and Europe that were unknown to Americans before WW II. 18. Research some of the leaders during WW II. 19. Identify important figures and political and social leaders in the civil rights movement 20. Research trends in American society that evolved during the civil rights movement. 21. Define words associated with the topics. Specific Activities 1. Use researched topics to prepare written report, Powerpoint presentation, collage, mobile or poster to demonstrate understand and to share information with the class. 2. Show videos so students can visualize matter being studied in class. An example might be video of Henry Ford s assembly line so that students can see an actual assembly line. 3. Listen to books on tape so students can see and hear data on topics the class is studying. 4. Use Venn diagrams to compare and contrast European and Asian immigration. 5. Use T charts to compare the immigrants who came through Ellis Island and those who came to America through Angel Island. 6. Research the names of streets, towns, bridges, etc. that are named after the immigrants who helped build or develop them such as Konner Avenue or the Etta Konner School in Pine Brook
7. Research social services that were instituted to help people after the Wall Street Crash. Determine which services the government still provides. Decide which ones are helpful and which could be eliminated. Write an essay defending the answer ( with help) 8. Debate the above issue. List services and select two that should be kept in place and one that could be eliminated. 9. Create a T chart listing the services and who and how each helped the public. 10. Join a General Education English class when they watch The Great Gatsby. LS students have already listened to parts of the book on tape. Have prepared questions from the teacher before the students go to the a. classroom. Review with Life skills students. Students are able to participate in classroom activity (done with Beowulf) 11. Find images of fashions, hairstyles, social activities, homes and careers from decade before the roaring twenties and the decade after. Create a montage. 12. Create a poster using images or Xeroxed pictures of the above. Label each decade. 13. Complete a chart showing items that are alike, items that are different. Compare to see if there are more similarities or more differences. 14. Create a project from research that demonstrates understanding of the causes of WW II and why the United States entered the war. 15. Analyze responses from Britain, France and the US to the aggressive regions in Europe and Asia. 16. Recognize the significance of Pearl Harbor. Write a paper answering the question Would America have entered the war if Pearl Harbor had not been bombed? Answer yes or no and the why or why not reasons should be in paragraph form. 17. Explain the turning points (major battles that decide who was going to win the war) by locating the battlegrounds on a map, telling how battle as won, how many lives were lost and the effect of the battle. 18. Create a chart to contrast the military campaigns battles that took place in Europe compared with those battles in the Pacific. 19. Explain the different meaning of cost. List the cost of war. 20. Create a booklet listing a describing the roles of important leaders during WW II. Divide the book into three sections---american, European and Asian 21. Watch WW II war movies and discuss if movie is fact, fiction or combination. Have students research facts already listed by the teacher. Encourage students to list themes from the movie. Discuss stereotyping, 22. Read, listen to and watch MLK speech and discuss with the class. Review vocabulary words they might not know before reading, 23. Read grade level texts about the life of MLK 24. Research other leader of the civil rights movement. The teacher has a list of leaders and after giving a brief description of the various leaders, allow the student to select one to research and to share information with the class. Student should include a photo, mounted on a piece of construction paper and large enough for the class to see. The student should use notes to speak in front of the class, speaking clearly loudly and slowly. 25. Read articles from various sources to gather information to create a timeline of the events that led up to the civil rights movement. 26. Create a time line depicting events from the 1950;s to the 1970 s in the civil rights movement. Suggested Unit Assessments 1. Teacher observation 2. Anecdotal records 3. Performance/participation in various class activities 4. Smartboard activities 5. Projects/presentations 6. Use of whiteboards 7. Paper and pencil quizzes 8. Worksheets 9. Questions and answers
10. Open ended responses Suggested Unit Resources 1. (www.corestandards.org/ela-literacy/rh 11-12 2. Ready to Go Lessons 3. Lessonplanet.com 4. Scholastic.com 5. Youtube.com 6. Brainpop.com 7. Quaia.com 8. Enchantedlearning.com 9. Proteacher.org 10. Superteacher.org 11. Edhelper.com 12. Time for Kids 13. Discoveryeducation.com 14. National Geographic for Kids 15. Scholastic News 16. Teachersdomain.org 17. Leveled Texts for Social Studies MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS