The Reformers Carousel - 8th Grade U.S. History

Lesson Summary
The students working in groups will research the different reform movements during the period of the Second Great Awakening by completing different tasks in a carousel environment.

California Academic Standard(s) 

• 8.6.4 - Study the lives of black Americans who gained freedom in the North and founded schools and churches to advance their rights and communities.
• 8.6.5 - Trace the development of the American education system from its earliest roots, including the roles of religious and private schools and Horace Mann's campaign for free public education and its assimilating role in American culture.

Time Frame

One (50 minute) Class

Goal 
The students will develop organizational, writing and social skills while understanding the reform movements during the period of the Second Great Awakening.

Learning Styles

• Linguistic
• Auditory
• Social
• Logical

Lesson Plan
Anticipatory Set (10 min)
The instructor will write a question on the board that states: "What do you think it means to be a reformer?"  The instructor will allow the students two minutes to think about their answer.  The instructor will call on random students to provide an answer and write the answers on the board.

Direct Instruction (10 min)
The instructor will briefly discuss the reform movement during the period of the Second Great Awakening.  The instructor will provide the following handout:

The Reformers Carousel
Working in groups, you will research the following reforms:

• Temperance
• Prison
• Mentally Ill
• Education

For each reform, your group will complete the following:

• A brief Summary
• A reason why it is important then and now
• A visual depiction of reform
• Elevator speech - a one or two sentence description of the reform

Each person in the group will complete a brief summary for one of the following reform movements.  You will have five minutes to complete.  You will pass the paper clockwise to the next person in your group and they will provide the reason why it is important then and now.  You will have five minutes to complete.  You will then pass the paper clockwise again and you will write a visual depiction of the reform.  You will have five minutes to complete.  Lastly, you will pass it clockwise and write an elevator speech.  You will have five minutes to complete.

Once the paper is finished, you will hand it in to the teacher.

Modeling (5 min)
Using the computer and overhead, the instructor will show a completed paper for the Second Great Awakening and describe it to the class.

Guided Practice (20 min)
The instructor will place the students in groups of four.  The students will complete the Reformer Carousel paper.  (NOTE: For odd number groups that remain, you can add or subtract a reform to complete)

Checks for Understanding
The students will hand in the Reformer Carousel papers to the instructor.

Direct Instruction (10 min)
The instructor will lead the class in a discussion about each reform and its importance to the United States.