The Enduring Schools of Denver
Focus
The focus of the lesson is for fourth grade students to understand that Denver schools and their neighborhoods have changed over time, how they have changed, and why these changes occurred. Students will compare photos (acquired from a database and some that they take themselves) and information about the history of four Denver schools and their neighborhoods.
Standards Addressed
History 1:3- Students use chronology to examine and explain historical relationships
History 2:3- Students apply knowledge of the past to analyze present-day issues and events from multiple, historically objective perspectives
History 2:1- Students know how to formulate questions and hypotheses regarding what happened in the past and to obtain and analyze historical data to answer questions and test hypotheses.
Standards Assessed
History 4:1- Students understand the impact of scientific and technological developments on individuals and societies.
Reading and Writing 3- Students write and speak using conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling
Reading and Writing 5- Students read to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and technological sources
Assessment:
Students will present their information in a PowerPoint presentation. The assessment is a rubric for the presentation that will grade students on accurate and complete content, mechanics, and appearance.
Time frame:
Five or Six one hour sessions (session 3is an optional field trip)
Materials and teacher preparation:
John Fielder's book, Colorado: 1870-2000 (2 copies if possible)
Primary Source Analysis Guide (1 copy on a transparency, to be projected on an overhead projector and 1 copy per student)
Computer (1 per pair of students) with internet access and PowerPoint software)
Digital camera and parental permission for field trip (alternatively take photographs yourself and bring to class)
History of the Public Schools of Denver, by Kenton H. Forrest.
Other background information on the neighborhoods from the Denver Public Library, the Colorado Historical Society, and the Denver Public Schools website
Presentation rubric (1 copy per student)
Possible procedures:
Prior knowledge- Before starting this lesson, students must be able to do a PowerPoint project using a template. They must be able to search a database with key words, with guidance. Students should have some background knowledge of the history of Denver.
Session one-
Students will start by looking at John Fielder's book of comparative photographs. Model for the students how to use the Primary Source Analysis Guide to analyze photographs. Use the students responses from the Primary Source Analysis Guide to guide the discussion.
Introduce the lesson to the students: Similar to the book of comparative photographs, students will have old and new photographs of four schools in Denver, Steele, Dora Moore, Smedley, and Mitchell, to make a comparison of the changes in these areas. Students will find photographs of the early days of the schools on the internet, then gather information about the year they were built, who they were named after, and what the neighborhoods were like then. Students will take photographs of what these schools look like now. Students will use this information to explore ways their school neighborhood has changed, and the reasons for the changes.
Session two-
Students will learn how to access the Library of Congress American Memory and Heritage Colorado Database, using keywords to search the collections and find pictures of the four schools and their neighborhoods. Both of these databases access photographs from the Western History/Genealogy Collection of the Denver Public Library. Brainstorm possible keywords for the searches. Guide students to American Memory's "History of the American West" collection, Heritage Colorado, and Denver Public School History web site. Save pictures for the PowerPoint presentation.
Session three- (optional)
Students will go on a field trip to take digital photographs of the four schools and neighborhoods as they are today (Alternatively, bring in digital photographs for them to use).
Session four- Students will compare the photographs of schools as they were and how they are today, using the Primary Source Analysis Guide. They will use their background knowledge about the history of Denver from their fourth grade Colorado unit. They will also do preparation for the PowerPoint presentation, with each pair of students developing a storyboard. Students will use the rubric to decide what to include.
Session four- Students will work in pairs on the PowerPoint presentation. They will learn how to cite the photos and link to the metadata for the photos.
Session five- Students will work in pairs on the PowerPoint presentation.
Session six- Students will participate in a presentation and discussion of the projects, and then meet with the teacher to score their projects according to the rubric.
Peggy Obert, Schmitt Elementary School, Denver, Colorado
