The 60’s Decades in American History Project

Due Date: March 21 & 22 (Block Day)

Rationale: The 1760s, 1860s, & 1960s have been the most controversial periods of time in American History. The 1760s decade saw the French & Indian War and the beginning of British taxes and colonial protests. The 1860s saw succession, civil war, a presidential assassination, a presidential impeachment trial, and Southern reconstruction. The 1960s were punctuated by political assassinations, massive social demonstration, and war. Each of these decades nearly split the fabric of the United States.

Learning Objective: I can describe events of the 60s decades throughout American History detailing the largest conflicts that shaped American culture.

Activity: Students will create a poster organized chronologically and split by the decades of the 1760s, 1860s, & 1960s. Students will compile conflicts for each decade. They will include a short description of the event and pictures.

Details: Students will have two options for their project.

Option #1: Students will compile 8 events that took place in the 1760s, 8 events from the 1860s, and 9 events from the 1960s. Students will provide descriptions of each event. These descriptions will be handwritten, or they can be typed. Students will also include 2 pictures for the 1760s, 3 pictures for the 1860s, and 5 pictures for the 1960s. These pictures may be printed from computers or drawn & colored.

Option #2: Students will compile 7 events that took place in the 1760s, 7 events from the 1860s, 7 events from the 1960s, & 4 hypothetical events of the 2060s. Students will provide descriptions of each event. These descriptions will be handwritten, or they can by typed. Students will also include 2 pictures for the 1760s, 2 pictures for the 1860s, 4 pictures for the 1960s, and 2 pictures for the 2060s. These pictures may be printed from computers of drawn & colored.

Grading: Each event on both projects will count 3 points a piece. The events will be judged on factual accuracy. You can lose the 3 points for describing the event wrong or not including enough events. Example: You do the Option #1 and include 8 events for the 1960s. One of your events is described wrong. You would lose 3 points for missing one event and lose another 3 points for an event in which the description is incorrect. The total is 75 points for the events.

Each project option has 10 pictures. Each picture on both projects will count 2.5 points a piece. Pictures may be printed from the internet at your discretion or drawn and colored. Pictures must relate to your event. Drawn pictures must be neat. The total is 25 points for the events.