Lesson Title: Colorado Industries Now and Then
Grade Level:
Fourth Grade History
Focus of Lesson:
Students will use selected Internet sites to research an industry of a Colorado city today and compare and contrast it to times past.
Standard Assessed:
Colorado History Standard 1:5
Compare and contrast contemporary Colorado life and historic times.
Standards Addressed:
Colorado History Standard 2:1
Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and their origins.
DPS History Standard 7:4
Locate and observe historical data and information using a variety of research skills.
Colorado Information Literacy Standard 1
The information-literate student accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Colorado Information Literacy Standard 3
The information-literate student uses information accurately and creatively.
Assessment:
There are two assessments for this lesson, a project and a quiz. The quiz could be given as a pre-test and post-test, or just a post-test. A rubric will be given before they start the project so they will know what will be expected. Each student will use the rubric to do a final project self-assessment, and also to evaluate several other projects. Both of these are available in the Support Materials section.
Time:
Approximately (6) 30-minute class sessions: Making a timeline, a virtual field trip, how to read or print photos, search time, presentations and evaluations.
Materials/Teacher Preparation Section
- Each student will need a computer. They will need to know how to access the Internet and how to type in URL's.Fifteen cities have been chosen that have maps, photos, and Chamber of Commerce sites. Students could do other cities not on this list, but since this is an elementary project, you may want to avoid Canon City because of some of the prison photos, or Trinidad because of the gender operations.
- Handouts: Colorado Cities worksheet, Possible Industry Projects
- Answer Key for Colorado Cities worksheet
- Colorado Industries Now and Then Rubric
- A Rendezvous with Colorado History will be the text used. Chapter 11 covers industries. The 4th grade Jr. Achievement curriculum also supports this lesson.
Possible Procedures:
Part I
(30 minutes)
Construct a timeline of fifteen Colorado cities. This activity will be a model they can use to construct other timelines. It will also give them an idea about which part of the state was settled first. It may give them an idea about which town they will select.
1. Use the Colorado Cities worksheet to gather data.
2. Click on http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html to find the dates that the cities were established. Fill out the first column of the worksheet by inserting the exact date the town was established.
3. Transfer the information into timeline form by listing the earliest date on the first line of the right column and then writing the name of the city following it. Continue with that until all fifteen towns are in order by year.
Part II
(30 minutes)
This is a guided lesson using a very kid-friendly site to have the students feel comfortable reading maps and photos. It might give them ideas for their project, too.
1. Students will view the topics menu from the University of Northern Colorado Doing History Site to find out how to access the virtual field trips. http://hewit.unco.edu/dohist/themes.htm
2. Click on Virtual Field Trips.
3. Click on Georgetown's Historic Stores.
4. Click on a number.
5. Have them click on the photo and see the photo
in a larger size.
6. Have them click on the headings below the photo to find out what they can learn. Walk them through all four: About this stop, preservation, more, and close the window.
7. After they close the window show them that they can click on "next" to see the very next building, or go to Georgetown's Store Menu to select the number of their choice.
8. Give them time to use this site.
9. Then have them click on Doing History Topics Menu.
10. Click on Farmers & Ranchers.
11. Click on Market & Supply Towns.
12. Click on Factories & Mills. Click on next until picture number 4, Great Western Sugar. Then click on number 5, Kuner's Factory.
Part III
(30 minutes)
Show them how to find pictures, enlarge them, and view the details on the Heritage Colorado site. If you allow them to print a copy, you would teach them how to do that here.
Part IV
(60 minutes)
Students select a Colorado City from the Colorado Cities Worksheet and search primary sources to find out the industry in the town when it first began, and the industry that exists there now. Then they use their information creatively to design a project to share with the class. The Project Sheet is available in the Materials section, entitled Possible Industry Projects.
Part V
(30 minute class periods)
Students do presentations. They evaluate themselves using the rubric. I will also evaluate them using the same rubric. The Colorado Industries Now and Then Rubric is in the Materials Section.
- Cathey Bonnefoi, Teller Elementary School, Denver
