9th Grade  Project 1 week

Reconstruction: Unveil the Past, Shape the Future

Rev
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Purpose

Students will collaboratively create a detailed timeline of the Reconstruction era, focusing on key events and figures that influenced the social and political changes in the United States. They will engage in research, group discussions, and creative presentations to explore how Reconstruction policies and societal shifts impacted various communities. The project aims to deepen students' understanding of this pivotal period by connecting historical events to contemporary issues, encouraging critical thinking and reflection on the era's lasting effects.

Learning goals

Students will analyze primary and secondary sources to understand the key events and figures of the Reconstruction era. They will collaborate to create a chronological timeline that highlights significant social and political changes during this period. Through group discussions and presentations, students will connect historical events to contemporary issues, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a visual timeline that highlights key events and figures of the Reconstruction era, using both digital and physical materials. Each group will focus on a specific theme, such as political changes, social impacts, or economic developments, and present their findings through a creative medium like a digital presentation, a skit, or an interactive poster. The project will culminate in a gallery walk where students can explore and discuss each other's work, fostering a deeper understanding of how the Reconstruction era shaped the United States.

Launch

Begin the project with an interactive role-play activity where students assume the identities of key figures from the Reconstruction era. Assign each student or group a historical figure or group, such as a freedman, a Radical Republican, or a Southern landowner. Have them research their assigned role and present a brief skit or speech that reflects their character's perspective on Reconstruction. This will set the stage for understanding the diverse viewpoints and challenges of the era.

Exhibition

Students will create a visual timeline that illustrates key events and figures of the Reconstruction era, highlighting their impact on the social and political landscape of the United States. They will present their timelines in a gallery walk format, inviting peers, teachers, and family members to engage with their work and ask questions. Each student will prepare a brief oral presentation to accompany their timeline, focusing on how specific events or policies during Reconstruction influenced modern America.