The students working in groups will research one of the Progressive Era reform movements for the purpose of writing, directing and acting out a play to describe it to the class.
California Academic Standard(s)
- 11.2.1 - Know the effects of industrialization on living and working conditions, including the portrayal of working conditions and food safety in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle.
- 11.2.9 - Understand the effect of political programs and activities of the Progressives (e.g., federal regulation of railroad transport, Children’s Bureau, the Sixteenth Amendment, Theodore Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson).
- 11.3.1 - Describe the contributions of various religious groups to American civic principles and social reform movements (e.g., civil and human rights, individual responsibility and the work ethic, antimonarchy and self-rule, worker protection, family-centered communities).
Time Frame
(5) 50 minute classes
Goal
The students in a group environment will develop critical thinking and presentation skills while understanding and describing the Progressive Era reforms of the early 20th Century.
Learning Styles
- Linguistic
- Auditory
- Social
- Physical
- Logical
Lesson Plan
Anticipatory Set (15 min)
The instructor will write a question on the board that states "If you were going to produce a play, what elements do you need to consider?" The instructor will give the students two minutes to think about an answer. The instructor will call on random students to provide their answers and write them on the board.
Direct Instruction (20 min)
The instructor will briefly discuss the Progressive Era and some of the reforms that came out of the era. The instructor will tell the students they will be performing a play for each major reform for the purpose of educating the class on the reforms. The instructor will tell the students that they will receive a quiz on the reforms after the plays are completed. The instructor will provide the students with the following handout:
Progressive Era Theatre
Working in a cast of four, you will be assigned one of the following Progressive Era reform topics:
- Muckrakers
- Settlement House Movement
- Suffrage Movement
- Prohibition Movement
- Child Labor Reforms
- Conservation Movement
- Business Regulation (Federal Reserve Act)
- Provide a detailed explanation of the reform
- Describe some of the key people associated with this reform
- Explain why this reform was important to the Progressive Era
- Demonstrate how this reform affects the United States today
Once the research is completed, each cast will assign a position for each member. The four positions include:
- Director - This individual will be responsible for managing every aspect of the play to assure its quality and completeness. This individual is responsible for making sure each person in the group is completing the task correctly and on time. This individual is responsible for directing the play so it is clear, accurate and entertaining.
- Writer - This individual is responsible for writing the play script. Taking input from the other cast members, the writer will make sure the script is clear, accurate and entertaining.
- Set Designer - This individual will be responsible for creating and gathering all props and background elements to make sure the play is more visually appealing and historically accurate.
- Lead Actor - While the play will include each cast member as actors, this individual will be the lead actor and responsible for most of the lines in the script. The lead actor will work with the writer and director to assure the lines are historically accurate, clear and entertaining.
Once the outline is completed, the script will be written. After the play is performed, the script will be submitted to the teacher.
Deliverables:
- Questions about the Progressive Era topic (4)
- Outline of Play
- Script for Play
- 10% - Questions
- 20% - Outline
- 30% - Script
- 10% - Set Design
- 20% - Performance
- 10% - Organization
Have Fun!
Guided Practice (120 min)
The instructor will place students in groups of four. The instructor will assign a Progressive Era reform for each group. The students will work together to complete the Progressive Era play.
Checks for Understanding (50 min)
The students will perform the plays about the Progressive Era reforms.
Checks for Understanding (30 min)
The students will complete a quiz about the Progressive Era reforms.
Direct Instruction (20 min)
The instructor will review the quiz with the class and discuss the Progressive Era reforms.