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Description
OVERVIEW
In this lesson, students will identify the main idea of select primary sources and determine each source’s unique point of view on various topics related to Reconstruction.
LESSON TIME
This lesson will take approximately 45 – 60 minutes.
Exact times may vary based on the specific needs of individual classes.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
- What are some of the primary sources historians use to understand the Reconstruction era, what topics are covered in these sources, and what are the different points of view on each topic?
Teacher Tools
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Lesson Plan, Teacher Guide, Sources
Downloadable/editable versions of this lesson plan, including a step-by-step guide through the lesson. When applicable, a list of primary sources used in the lesson is also included.
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This ready-to-use classroom slideshow contains the warm-up exercise, the daily objective, the “We will / I will” statements, and the essential question for the lesson.
It guides the class through the assignment providing larger versions of images, visual representations of the directions, and supports for reading and answering questions including sentence stems for in-class responses. It concludes with the exit ticket.
Student Activities
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Warm-up & Exit Ticket
In this printable warm-up / bell-ringer activity, students will consider various opinions and points of view on the best course of action to take to rebuild the South and Reunite the country after the Civil War.
In this exit ticket, students will record observations and analysis about one primary source they examined in the day’s lesson. Students summarize the source, explain the source’s point of view, and determine the tone of the source.
The Warm-up and Exit Ticket document includes two warm-ups on the front of the page and two exit tickets on the back of the page. This formatting reduces the number of copies needed, as teachers will cut each printed page in half. Each student will receive a half-page with the warm-up on the front and the exit on the back.
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Primary Source Excerpts
This printable material, contains ten primary source excerpts that students will use to complete the assignment. Sources include the three Reconstruction amendments, a portion of the Texas Black Codes, military and news reports on violence in Texas, an article on women’s suffrage, an interview from the Slave Narrative Project, a speech given by an African American Texas state senator, and a firsthand account of the conflict between Anglos and Indians at Adobe Walls.
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Grade Level Worksheet
In this printable assignment, students will read a short passage introducing the major themes of the era and identify six statements which correctly identify the main ideas and topics covered in the unit. They then choose six out of ten available sources and identify the topic or topics of each primary source excerpt from a list of options. Last, they create a short, constructed response about the main idea of each source.
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Foundation Worksheet
In this printable assignment, students will read a short passage introducing the major themes of the era. Key information is presented in bold. Students identify six statements which correctly identify the main ideas and topics covered in the unit. Two answer choices are eliminated. They then choose four out of ten available sources and identify the topic or topics of each primary source excerpt from a list of options. Last, they write the key words or phrases from each excerpt that relate to the topics covered in the material.
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Advanced Worksheet
In this printable assignment, students will read a short passage introducing the major themes of the era and create a short, constructed response to summarize the major themes and topics of the unit. They then answer short, constructed response questions about the author, topics, and main idea of six out of ten of the available primary source excerpts.
Sources
Previews and links to sources referenced in this lesson.
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The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897
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“McKinney Messenger. (McKinney, Tex.) Saturday, March 16, 1872.”
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The Texas Almanac for 1870, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas, book, January 1870
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Life and Adventures Of "Billy" Dixon, of Adobe Walls
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. The Daily Ranchero. (Brownsville, Tex.), May 24, 1870
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The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.) Sunday, May 31, 1874
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The Houston Telegraph (Houston, Tex.) Thursday, June 29, 1871
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