History in a Bag

Researching American History after the Civil War

Purpose/Objective: You will explore an item of interest in American History that occurred after the Civil War and report what's learned to the class using a bag covered with and full of primary sources, visuals, and artifacts.

Product:

Your final product will be a bag full of and covered withprimary sources, visuals and artifacts (or copies) from the time period/event you research. You will describe your event using the bag and its contents and use these to help you make your presentation interesting and meaningful. Use the questions as a guide to the types of information you will need to present to the class.

Topics:

Reconstruction and the New SouthThe End of the West/Indian Wars

The Gilded Age and American BusinessImmigration and Ellis Island

The Great MigrationPopulism and Progressivism

Spanish American War/US ImperialismIndustrialization

The Social GospelYellow Journalism/Muckracking

Presidential AssassinationsWorld War I

The Roaring 20sThe Big Bands

Harlem Renaissance Racism and Xenophobia in the 20s Prohibition/Organized Crime Hollywood - Movies in America

The 1930sSuffrage, Women, and Feminism

The Great Depression/Dust BowlThe New Deal

World War II - EuropeWorld War II - Pacific

Rise of TelevisionCold War

The 1950sKorean War

The 1960sYouth Culture/1960s-70s

Vietnam WarWatergate

The Civil Rights MovementMexican American Experience

The Space AgeTerrorism and the U.S.A.

Zoot Suit Riots911

Requirements:

You will be required to provide the following during your presentation:

  1. 3-5 artifacts that portray the time period or event.
  2. 3-5 primary sources that concern the event or time period.
  3. An explanation of how this event or time period influences us today.
  4. A map of the area affected by the event showing longitude and latitude, or a table or chart showing data that represents an effect of the event.
  5. A bibliography in MLA format.

Presentation:

Your presentation will be of your topic using the bag that you create to tell your story. It can be a shopping bag, a grocery bag, a lunch bag, etc. It must be at least 8" x 10". No store name can be visible. The bag must be large enough to accomplish the following:

  • Your name must be visible somewhere on the bag.
  • The title of your topic must be visible somewhere on the bag.
  • All four sides of the bag must be decorated.
  • The bag must contain at least five artifacts or physical objects that represent some aspect of your topic: a song, picture, map, model, literary piece, newspaper clipping, etc.
  • The bag must also contain at least five primary sources that represent some aspect of your topic: a quote, essay, headline, legal record, etc.

Procedures and Deadlines:

You will be given one full day to research. The rest of your research must be done on your own. Your project is due no later than Monday, June 3 2013.

Grade/Evaluation:

This is a project/test grade. You will be graded as follows:

  • Name & Title/Topic on Your Bag______5 Points
  • Map, Chart, or Table______10 Points
  • 5 Artifacts Present and Discussed______25 Points
  • Required Questions Discussed in Full______25 Points
  • 5 Primary Sources Present and Discussed______25 Points
  • Bibliography in MLA Format______10 Points
  • Extras – bag covered neatly, etc.______10 Points EC