Lonesome Dove Discovery Adventure

Design for Mastery Kit

NEW

All grades Project 4 weeks

Lonesome Dove Discovery Adventure

Jonathan H

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

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Purpose

This project immerses students in an exploration of "Lonesome Dove" by connecting the novel to the history, economics, and geography of southwest Colorado. Students will engage in hands-on experiences, including field trips around Durango, CO, to deepen their understanding of the area's historical and cultural context. Through collaborative research and activities, they will build critical thinking skills and self-directed learning capabilities. By comparing and contrasting historical and literary narratives, students will develop a strong sense of identity and belonging within their community.

Learning goals

Students will engage in hands-on, project-based exploration of "Lonesome Dove," integrating field trips around Durango, CO to connect the novel's themes with the history, geography, and economics of southwest Colorado. Through experiential learning, they will conduct research to compare and contrast these contexts, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students will participate in collaborative research and writing tasks, enhancing self-directed learning and academic mindset competencies. They will reflect on their learning journey, utilizing feedback to deepen their understanding and sense of identity within their community.

Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7 - Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7 - Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of "how-to" books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7 - Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Competencies

Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a multimedia presentation that compares and contrasts the novel "Lonesome Dove" with the historical, economic, and geographic aspects of southwest Colorado, incorporating insights from field trips around Durango, CO. They will produce a written report synthesizing their research findings, incorporating diverse texts and perspectives. Additionally, students will design a visual timeline that illustrates key historical events and economic trends relevant to the novel and the region. Throughout the project, students will maintain reflective journals to document their learning process and insights.

Launch

Kick off the project with a field trip to Durango, Colorado, where students can explore historical sites and museums to gain firsthand insight into the region's history and geography. During the trip, students can engage in hands-on activities such as creating sketches or taking photographs that capture the economic and geographic features of the area. Back in the classroom, students can collaboratively build a visual timeline that links these experiences to themes in "Lonesome Dove," fostering connections between the novel and real-world history. Facilitate discussions that invite students to reflect on their observations and relate them to their own community, enhancing their sense of identity and belonging.

Exhibition

Students will present a multi-modal exhibition that includes a creative visual display comparing the novel "Lonesome Dove" with the history, economics, and geography of Southwest Colorado. To enhance hands-on experiences, students will participate in field trips around Durango, CO, to gather real-world insights and artifacts for their displays. Each student will contribute to a collaborative map highlighting key historical events and geographic features discussed in the project. Additionally, students will write and share reflective essays or narratives that demonstrate their understanding of diverse texts and their personal connections to the themes explored. The exhibition will be open to peers, teachers, and community members, fostering a sense of place and belonging while showcasing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Project Launch with Wildlife Representative - Engage with a Colorado Department of Wildlife representative to discuss the historical and ecological significance of southwest Colorado, sparking interest in the project's themes (45 min)	Introduction to Lonesome Dove - Read selected passages from Lonesome Dove to familiarize students with the novel’s setting and characters, setting the stage for cross-curricular connections (20 min) Group Discussion on Themes - Discuss how the themes of the novel relate to the history and geography of southwest Colorado, encouraging students to think critically and collaboratively (25 min)	Southwest Colorado History Exploration - Research key historical events in southwest Colorado using multimedia resources, fostering self-directed learning and critical thinking (25 min) Interactive Mural Creation - Begin designing a mural that represents the intersection of historical events and themes from Lonesome Dove, cultivating a sense of place and identity (20 min)	Economic Impact Workshop - Investigate the economic impacts of the wildlife and geography in southwest Colorado, integrating insights from the representative's visit (20 min) Diorama Planning Session - Plan the diorama that visually represents economic and geographic impacts alongside novel themes, promoting collaborative reflection (25 min)	Geography Mapping Activity - Create a map highlighting key geographic features discussed in the project, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation (30 min) Reflective Journal Writing - Reflect on the week's learning experiences and connections made through journal entries, using feedback to guide learning (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Group-created mural or diorama depicting themes from 'Lonesome Dove' and their connection to southwest Colorado's history, economy, and geography. 2. Reflective journal entry documenting personal insights from the launch event and initial research.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with Colorado Department of Wildlife for the representative's visit and ensure all logistics are in place. 2. Gather materials for mural/diorama creation, including art supplies, maps, and historical images. 3. Prepare interactive activities for wildlife identification and economic/geographic impact discussions. 4. Organize classroom layout to facilitate group work and collaborative discussions. 5. Provide students with initial reading materials and excerpts from 'Lonesome Dove' to familiarize them with the novel's themes.

Week 2	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9	Day 10
Activities	Exploring Geographic Features - Students will work in groups to identify and map the key geographic features of southwest Colorado, and discuss their significance in the context of 'Lonesome Dove' (45 min)	Economic Impact Analysis - Students will conduct research on how local wildlife affects the economy of southwest Colorado, using resources provided by the Colorado Department of Wildlife (45 min)	Historical Context Comparison - Students will read selected passages from 'Lonesome Dove' and compare them with historical accounts of southwest Colorado, creating a Venn diagram to illustrate similarities and differences (45 min)	Cross-Disciplinary Connections - In groups, students will create a visual storyboard that connects themes from 'Lonesome Dove' with economic, geographic, and historical insights gained so far (45 min)	Reflective Journaling and Peer Feedback - Students will write a reflective journal entry about their learning journey this week and participate in a peer feedback session to discuss insights and areas for further exploration (45 min)
Deliverables	1. A detailed storyboard showing connections between 'Lonesome Dove' and the history and geography of southwest Colorado. 2. An initial draft of the multimedia presentation segment related to geography and historical context.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with the Colorado Department of Wildlife to schedule a guest speaker for the workshop. 2. Gather resources such as maps, historical documents, and digital tools for creating storyboards. 3. Prepare guidelines and rubrics for peer-review sessions to ensure constructive feedback. 4. Set up a classroom space with access to multimedia tools (computers, projectors) for presentation drafts. 5. Provide a collection of supplementary materials on southwest Colorado's history and geography for student research.

Week 3	Day 11	Day 12	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15
Activities	Literary Character Analysis - Students create a character map to analyze the motivations and historical context of characters in 'Lonesome Dove' (20 min) Research Collaboration with Wildlife Experts - Collaborate with Colorado Department of Wildlife experts to gather data on local wildlife and its historical significance, integrating insights into character analysis (25 min)	Comparative Economic Study - Conduct a study comparing the economic impacts of geographic features in southwest Colorado to those depicted in 'Lonesome Dove,' using real-world data (30 min) Interactive Group Presentation - Prepare and present findings from the economic study to peers, incorporating visual aids and critical feedback (15 min)	Geographic Mapping Workshop - Enhance existing maps with detailed annotations on geographic features' impact on local economy, guided by insights from the novel (25 min) Cross-Disciplinary Connection Board - Collaborate to create a connection board linking geography, economy, and literature, promoting synthesis of diverse information (20 min)	Historical Event Timeline - Develop a timeline highlighting significant historical events from 'Lonesome Dove' and southwest Colorado, focusing on cause and effect relationships (30 min) Reflective Peer Discussion - Engage in peer discussion to reflect on historical connections and personal insights, fostering academic mindset (15 min)	Multimedia Presentation Development - Begin developing a multimedia presentation that synthesizes research findings and creative elements, using feedback from peers (30 min) Self-Directed Learning Reflection - Write a reflective journal entry on learning progress and plan next steps using self-assessment tools (15 min)
Deliverables	1. A draft of the multimedia presentation comparing and contrasting 'Lonesome Dove' with the history, economics, and geography of southwest Colorado. 2. A storyboard for the visual timeline that includes key historical events and economic trends.
Preparation	1. Gather and organize research materials, including books, online articles, and access to local archives. 2. Coordinate a virtual meeting with a representative from the Colorado Department of Wildlife and prepare questions for the Q&A session. 3. Provide materials for the creation of storyboards, such as poster paper, markers, and digital design tools. 4. Prepare guidelines and rubrics for peer review sessions to help students provide constructive feedback.

Week 4	Day 16	Day 17	Day 18	Day 19	Day 20
Activities	Final Research Synthesis - Collaborate in groups to finalize research findings on the novel 'Lonesome Dove' and its connections to southwest Colorado's history, economy, and geography, synthesizing all gathered data and insights (45 min)	Visual Timeline Creation - Work together to create a comprehensive visual timeline that integrates key historical events, geographic features, and economic impacts relevant to the project, using artistic and digital tools (45 min)	Multimedia Presentation Refinement - Refine the multimedia presentation by incorporating peer and teacher feedback, ensuring clarity and depth in the comparison of 'Lonesome Dove' with historical and geographic contexts (45 min)	Exhibition Setup - Set up the exhibition space to display the creative visual timeline, dioramas, and multimedia presentations, preparing to share insights with peers and community members (45 min)	Exhibition and Reflection - Present the final projects to an audience of peers, teachers, and community partners, followed by a reflective session to discuss learning outcomes and personal growth throughout the project (45 min)
Deliverables	1. Final Multimedia Presentation 2. Completed Visual Timeline 3. Reflective Essay or Narrative
Preparation	1. Ensure access to computers or tablets for finalizing presentations. 2. Prepare a space for the exhibition, including tables and display boards. 3. Coordinate with community partners and invite them to the exhibition. 4. Print and distribute peer feedback forms and reflection prompts. 5. Set up AV equipment for presentations if needed.