Materials

• Project list

Instructional Activities

1. Before beginning study of the 20th century, provide a brief review of what the students have covered to this point in the school year. The review should include:
   •  Early exploration and colonization
   •  The Revolutionary Period
   •  The Constitution
   •  Expansion of the United States (for example, the Louisiana Purchase)
   •  Impact on the American Indians (First Americans)
   •  Jackson Era
   •  Slavery
   •  Civil War and Reconstruction
   •  Westward expansion
   •  Immigration
   •  Inventions and innovations in business
   •  Jim Crow laws
   •  Progressive Era
   •  Labor issues
   
   This review can be accomplished by asking students to share what they have studied to this point in the year. Put their responses on the board or overhead. Encourage the students to compare their list with the above list. Review the content not covered in the students’ responses list.
   
   
2. Explain to students that they are going to study the time period during which the United States began to establish itself as a world power. Discuss briefly with the students what being a world power means. Encourage them to discuss the global responsibilities a world power assumes. Ask students to share their views on whether or not the United States should be involved in providing humanitarian or monetary assistance following a disaster abroad, or military assistance to countries attempting to overthrow an oppressive government. Encourage open, organized debate on these issues. Encourage students to provide examples. Prompt discussion by providing present-day examples students with which the students will be familiar — for example, waging the 2003 war in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power; assisting a country devastated by a natural disaster or famine; using our military to help prevent or stop a genocide (discuss what the term genocide means).
   
   
3. Explain that in study of this organizing topic the students will study:
   •  The growth of international markets
   •  The Spanish-American War
   •  The annexation of Hawaii and the Philippines
   •  World War I
   •  Panama Canal and Roosevelt’s Corollary
   •  Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Policy
   •  Isolationism after World War I
   •  The Great Depression/the New Deal
   
   
4. Provide the following list of projects students may select from for this organizing topic:
   •  Draw an original drawing depicting a scene from an event in the time period. A one-page explanation of the drawing that demonstrates knowledge of the period will be submitted along with the drawing.
   •  Write an evaluation of a song that reflects the historical period. An interpretation of the lyrics that demonstrates knowledge of the era should be included.
   •  Write an analysis of fashion from 1900 through 1939. Include pictures reflecting the changing fashion trends along with the historical events that were occurring throughout period. Pictures can be student developed, computer generated, or gathered/copied from resources.
   •  Write an analysis of the changes in transportation from 1900 through 1939. An explanation of the impact of transportation changes on workers should be included. For example, as people began to move toward widespread use of the automobile, blacksmiths saw a decrease in business, a more sophisticated road network became necessary, and new industries to provide materials to produce cars were developed.
   •  Write an analysis of the change in battle strategies as military equipment (tanks, planes, etc) changed. Incorporate the Spanish-American War and World War I.
   •  Prepare a graph depicting key economic indicators from 1917 through 1941. Explain the impact changes had on the economy. Identify at what point danger signs begin to occur and why.
   •  Write an essay that argues for or against American involvement in World War I. Include key historical events to support your argument.
   •  Prepare an analysis of United States acquisition of Hawaii.
   •  Write a comparison of the size of ships at the time the Panama Canal was constructed and current ships. Do we have ships today that will not fit through the canal?
   
   
5. Provide students with the date you have secured either the media center or the computer lab for research. Also provide the date the project will be due, along with a rubric that will be used to assess the project.