Lesson Overview:
Students will gain a sense of how individuals can impact history by focusing on legendary westerners during the period of westward expansion in U.S. history. In this lesson, students will research, in pairs, one legendary westerner. Each student pair will be tasked with scripting a television interview with the westerner, then performing it for the class. Students will also write an essay on four additional legendary westerners, outlining their specific contributions to history.
Length of Lesson:
Five to six 45-minute periods
Notes:
This lesson is particularly suitable for grade 4.
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- research people who contributed to the history of westward expansion.
- enhance oral communication skills through the use of interview techniques.
- sharpen reading skills through content reading.
- apply the writing process to playwriting.
- act as an interviewer or a legendary westerner.
- write an essay about the contributions of specific people to U.S. history.
Supplies:
- Props and costumes to represent a legendary westerner
Instructional Plan:
Researching Historical Figures
Review with students the term "westward expansion." Tell students they will research one important figure during the post-colonial westward expansion of United States territory. Pass out the Legendary Westerners handout to view a list of individuals important in U.S. history during this time period. Students, working in pairs, should research one legendary westerner. Allow students sufficient time to gather information using resources available in the library, computer lab, and/or classroom. The following resources will be helpful in this process:
Writing and Conducting an Interview
Tell students they will write a television interview with the person they are researching. Working with a partner, students should write a series of questions and answers that reveal the most important aspects of this person's contribution to U.S. history. Introduce key concepts about interviews. Distribute copies of the handout "Helpful Hints for a Successful Interview and review with students as they begin developing their interview questions and responses.
Because the interview will be performed for the class, you may also wish to inform students of good techniques in script writing. Refer to the handout Playwriting with Your Students for more information on helping beginning playwrights.
Allow students ample time to rehearse before performing their interviews for the class. Tell students to bring in props and costumes. The interviewer could be a modern-day journalist; the interviewee should be dressed in the clothing the character wore when he/she was alive.
Student pairs should perform their interviews in front of the class. While each pair is performing their interviews, the rest of the class should take notes. Tell students that they should pay careful attention to the interviews, because they will be asked to write about four important individuals (excluding the person they interviewed) of their choosing.
Commemorating Legendary Westerners
Ask students to write four paragraphs (one paragraph per individual) based on the following writing prompt:
The Postmaster General of the United States is planning a limited edition postage series honoring legendary westerners. She will be creating four new stamps for the series, and is asking the public to nominate the four westerners who should appear on the stamps. Write a proposal to the Postmaster General, stating which four individuals you would like to see commemorated on the stamps. You should identify the specific contributions of each legendary westerner, and explain how he/she had an impact on the nation's history. You should also explain why these four individual stamps would work together as a series, by describing the similar qualities or contributions among your selected legendary westerners.
Make sure students do not pick the individual that they researched earlier. Also point out that students must use a topic sentence with an introductory and concluding paragraph.
Assessment:
Assess student interviews using the criteria below. The students:
- demonstrate thorough preparation and research.
- include thoughtful questions in the interview, allowing the interviewee to
provide complex, detailed and/or interesting answers, (i.e., no "yes"
or "no" questions).
- design questions/answers that best highlight the westerner's specific
contributions to history.
- use language and mannerisms suited to the time period researched.
- recreate the historical time, place, or event with detail and accuracy.
Assess student essays using the criteria below. The essay:
- includes a topic sentence.
- includes an introductory and concluding paragraph.
- is well-organized.
- includes a minimal number of spelling and grammatical errors.
- includes specific details regarding each westerner's contribution to history.
- offers strong supporting evidence for each westerner selected for inclusion
in the stamp series.
- draws connections among the westerners selected, by describing the similar
qualities or contributions among them.
Extensions:
Students can assume the role of a pioneer who has just discovered a land
known only to the Indians. Have them create an improvisation describing their
discovery.
Allow students to explore the attitudes of Native American tribes towards
settlers. Have them write scenes expressing these thoughts.
Sources:
Print:
- Alter, Judy. Extraordinary Women of the American West. New York: Scholastic,
1999.
- Chambers, Catherine E. Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Road. George Guzzi.
Mahwah, NJ: Troll Communications, 1998.
- Miller, Robert. Reflections of a Black Cowboy. Illustrated by Richard
Leonard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1991.
Authors:
-
Bernard Franklin,
Thomas G. Pullen Arts Magnet School
Landover, MD
