Agricultural Settlers of Weld County

INTENDED LEVEL: Middle Level - American History

FOCUS: Students will learn how to search for and use primary source material as part of their research. Students will learn about settlement patterns and diversity of agricultural workers in Weld County over time.


STANDARDS ADDRESSED:

History 1: Students understand the chronological organization of history and know how to organize events and people into major eras to identify and explain historical relationships.

History 4: Students understand how science, technology, and economic activity have developed, changed, and affected societies throughout history.

Reading 4: Students apply thinking skills to their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing.

Reading 5:Students read to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and technological sources.

STANDARDS ASSESSED:

History 2: Students know how to use the processes and resources of historical inquiry.
2.2 Students know how to interpret and evaluate primary and secondary sources of historical information.

History 3: Students understand that societies are diverse and have changed over time.
3.1 Students know how various societies were affected by contacts and exchanges among diverse peoples.

Information Literacy l: The information literate student accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Information Literacy 2: The information literate student evaluates information critically and competently.

Information Literacy 3: The information literate student uses information accurately and creatively.


ASSESSMENT:

Students will insert one picture from either Heritage Colorado or American Memory into a word processing document and type a one paragraph description of their picture.

Students will create a HyperStudio, PowerPoint, AppleWorks Slide Show or I-Photo Album presentation, using the Colorado Heritage and/or the American Memory at the Library of Congress, and other websites only if necessary.

Their knowledge of the agricultural workers of Weld County will be demonstrated in a ten-minute presentation which must include the following:

  • 12-15 pictures from the websites listed above
  • Student generated text identifying and describing the pictures
  • Add their knowledge learned about this topic from their research
  • Students need to be prepared to answer any questions asked by classmates or teacher about their presentation
  • (Optional) Students may present any personal artifacts collected during this unit

TIME:

Two 90-minute class periods for introductory lesson. 5 - 7 hours of computer time for students to create their presentations
2 - 3 hours of classroom time to share presentations.

MATERIALS:

POSSIBLE PROCEDURES:

Note: Before starting this lesson, students should have completed units on "Westward Expansion" and the "Settling of Colorado". Students should have an understanding of HyperStudio, PowerPoint, AppleWorks Slide Show, I-Photo Album, or other multimedia software that is available.

Analyzing Images

1. Bookmark the American Memory site and the Heritage Colorado site onto the student computers.

2. Give the students a Student Response Sheet and explain it will be used to assist them in analyzing the picture you will be giving them.

3. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4 students and give each group a copy of the picture described in the materials section.

4. Have the groups look at the picture and come to a consensus of what the picture is showing.

5. Have the small groups present their consensus to the whole group.

6. Explain to the students that the picture is the interior of a granulating machine at the sugar factory and they will be studying agriculture in Weld County.

Searching Databases and Selecting Images

7. Describe the assignment to the students: they will be searching for their own images that tell the story of agricultural settlement of Weld County. They will be presenting their findings in a multimedia presentation. They should take notes as they locate images and they need to be instructed to add the bibliographic information about the picture so they are in compliance with copyright requirements. It is a good time to teach them about "giving credit where credit is due" when using the Internet. Go over the assessment so they understand what is expected of them.

8. Instruct the students to access the American Memory site. At the this site the path to be followed to access the information about sugar beet workers in Colorado is as follows:

This will bring up many digital pictures which can be explored by the students and saved on the computer. Show students how and where to save images.

9. The students can then search the Heritage Colorado site for additional pictures to use in their presentations and save the images.

10. As an assessment of their work so far, have the students choose one picture and insert it into a word processing document. The students then need to type a one paragraph description of their chosen picture.

11. The students need to be instructed to add the bibliographic information about the picture so they are in compliance with copyright requirements. It is a good time to teach them about "giving credit where credit is due" when using the Internet.

12. BE SURE AND TELL STUDENTS TO SAVE THEIR WORK OFTEN!

Final Presentation

13. Students will locate digitized pictures from the Collections they've researched and insert them into their presentations.

14. Students will add text of historical facts from library research to support the pictures and add any other ideas or artifacts which will enhance their presentations.

15. Students will share and narrate their presentations with the class using the In Focus projector.

-Pam Tann, Kay Lenhart, Brentwood Middle School, Greeley, CO

 

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