K-12 Lesson Plans
The Tennessee Department of Education United States History and Geography Standards state, “the reading of primary source documents is a key feature of United States history standards.” Research conducted by Anna Stefaniak (2017) concluded that, “young people who learned about local history displayed increased interest in that history, greater place attachment, civic engagement intentions, and generalized social trust.” These lesson plans informed by artifacts housed in Special Collections provides K-12 educators with primary sources to use in their classrooms while meeting state standards and allowing students to reap the benefits of engaging in local history.
Civil Rights
The following lesson plans explores Chattanooga's local response to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States including the integration of the public school system and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and white backlash to black activism:
- Using local primary sources to study school desegregation in Chattanooga lesson plan and workbook
- Using local primary source to explore major milestones of desegregation and the integration of the University of Chattanooga lesson plan and workbook
- White backlash as a result of black integration in Chattanooga Public Schools lesson plan and workbook
Industrial Revolution
The Using Local Primary Sources to Explore the Impact of Inventions and Innovations of the Industrial Revolution lesson plan spans two days and covers the impact of the major inventors and innovators of the Industrial Revolution. The purpose of this lesson is to build upon students’ prior knowledge of analyzing primary sources, the Industrial Revolution, and Chattanooga history. Using primary sources students will identify major figures of the Industrial Revolution and describe their impact on Chattanooga and United States history. The lesson plans cover standard US.05 and is divided into the following plans and handouts:
- Industrial Revolution Part I Lesson Plan and Workbook
- Industrial Revolution Part II Lesson Plan and Workbook
Language Devices
The following lesson plans use poetry from local poet, Emma Bell Miles, and internationally famous Henry David Thoreau in order to explore various figurative language devices and point of view. These lesson plans are designed for two days of instruction and include educational resources such as instructional videos with corresponding handouts and slides as well as educational handouts. The lesson plans cover standards 11-12.RL.CS 4, 11-12.Rl.IKI.9, 9-10.RL.CS.4, 9-10.RL.IKI.9, 11-12.RL.CS.6, and 91-0.RL.CS.6 and are intended for grades 9-12.
- Figurative Language Study using the Poetry of Emma Bell Miles and Henry David Thoreau Lesson Plan and Workbooks
- Point of View Study using the Poetry of Emma Bell Miles and Henry David Thoreau Lesson Plan and Workbooks
Native Americans
The Effects of Federal Policies Concerning Native Americans lesson plan encourages students to examine federal documents and local artifacts to determine the effects of federal policies on the Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee. The purpose of this lesson is to build upon students’ prior knowledge of analyzing primary sources, Native American History, and Chattanooga history. The lesson plan covers standard US.02 and is divided into the following plans and handouts:
Urban Migration
The Using Local Primary Sources to Explore the Movement of People from Rural to Urban Areas lesson plan builds on students’ prior knowledge of analyzing primary sources, the Industrial Revolution, and Chattanooga history. Students will learn to identify major industrial centers in America and use primary sources to determine causes of rural to urban migration during the industrial revolution, using Chattanooga as a case study. By the end of the case study, students should be able to describe how industrialization influenced the movement of people from rural to urban areas. This lesson will also serve to encourage critical literacy and engagement with the community. The lesson plan covers standard US.06 and is divided into the following plans and handouts:
References
Stefaniak, Bilewicz, Michal, and Lewicka. “The Merits of Teaching Local History: Increased Place Attachment Enhances Civic Engagement and Social Trust.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 51 (2017): 217–225. Web.
Tennessee Department of Education. “Social Studies Standards.” https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/standards/ss/Social_Studies_Standards.pdf