Progressivism & The New Woman
What did I hope to achieve?
A) I hope that students could know these 4 aspects/goals of progressivism and be able to see the impact, legacy, and perhaps current expressions of:
1 – Protecting Social Welfare
2 – Promoting Moral Improvement
3 – Creating Economic Reform
4 – Fostering Efficiency
B) In addition to the 'learning' of content, I wanted to add a moral/critical dynamic to the time period that we live in today. Specifically, this meant looking at organizations that are working for social justice and confronting attitudes about poverty. This also meant asking whether or not women are treated with the same respect as men.
C) Finally, I sought to push students to understand how to make an argument, distinguishing between a thesis and support.
Why did I choose to teach this particular unit, and why that way?
- This particular unit was chosen by my mentor teacher as part of the chronological sequence of events & themes in our US History class.
- The methodology of teaching this unit varied from reading from the book and handouts, lecture with powerpoint slides, watching video clips, listening to songs, taking sides in structured discussions and so on. I chose many methods because I want to develop a variety of skills, especially when looking ahead to 10 straight weeks of lead teaching. Further, I hope that varying lessons will keep the content fresh.
Schedule
Day 1 – Vocabulary Words & Slides – Handout Vocab/Concept Web worksheet, Hippo Campus Video
Day 2 – Slides: 4 Goals of Progressivism & Reading Chapter 9 Section 2 as a class & fill in the concept web
Day 3 – Video Clip: The Corporation, Sweat Shop Labor & in class worksheet on Social Ills: Smoking and Child Labor
Day 4 – Quiz & Music Friday, Prohibition (18th Amendment) & American History article, “The Tipsy Turvy Republic Of Alcohol”, and The Avett Brothers – “When I Drink”
Day 5 – Talking About Tayorism & the Assembly Line: Ford Model T Video
Day 6 – US History Assembly line: making 4th, 5th, & 6th hour Cola
Day 7 – Hip-Hop: Beyond The Beats
Day 8 – “” Continued
Day 9 – Mickey Mouse Monopoly Clip: Sexism, Strength and Dominance: Gender Roles in Disney Films & Article/questions on wage gap: “Woman Take Care, Men Take Charge”
Day 10 – Quiz & Music Friday, No Doubt – “Just A Girl”
Day 11 – Thesis Write, “Women get/don’t get equal respect in society because…”& Fish Bowl Discussion
Day 12 – Review of Slides, Hippo Campus Video, and Charlie Chaplin silent film as down time
