Social Studies
Social Studies Unit Plans
Economics Versus the Environment- Manhattan P2G-Wendy Butler
In this unit, students read a series of articles in order to cite evidence and evaluate information and sources. Through analysis and discussion they begin to develop arguments either for or against the ways that economic interests—business, tourism, and more—can impact the environment. The articles used for this unit will outline the interests of the businesses, the general public, or specific communities as well as those of environmental advocates/organizations. Additional documents to support this unit can be found here and here.
Vietnam and the Things They Carried- Manhattan P2G - Judy Gorman
This unit pairs reading and discussion of Tim O’Brien’s story "The Things They Carried" with a letter-writing activity intended to help students develop the empathy needed to be insightful readers and to give students the opportunity to examine the symbolic weights they carry and, in turn, create meaningful, dynamic prose. Students will also learn about the history of the Vietnam War. Included are excerpts from the text The Things They Carried and Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States for Teens Vietnam chapter.
Prohibition, Immigration and Cultural Norms - Manhattan P2G - Elise Mussen
The focus of this unit is how prohibition played a role in many cultural issues that we still grapple with today as a society – gender, class, race, and ethnicity. This lesson will focus primarily on ethnicity as we study the role of the immigrants and their cultural norms in comparison with “American” norms of the day.
People of Color in the United States: History, Representation, Positioning and (Re)Positioning- Manhattan P2G- Noah Golden The goal of this unit is to engage young men through discussion and writing around historical and other nonfiction texts concerning African-American and Latino experiences and history. After deep reading, analysis, and discussion of four texts (including James Baldwin's "A Talk to Teachers"), along with reading comprehension and content support from the Achieve 3000 program, the students will create their own version of “A Talk to Teachers.” This writing project will include historical content and citations from our shared texts, and share with educators what the learners feel is most important for teachers to know about African-American and Latino history. Additional texts in this unit are a selection from Blue Rage, Black Redemption by Stanley Tookie Williams, a selection from The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and a college term paper on the Young Lords by Marcello Duranti. Support documents include focus activity one and focus activity two, the performance task, reflection letter, rubric, and Quote-Note-Comment sheets.
WWI Unit- QueensP2G-Joseph Vail
In this Unit Students will explore WWI , its causes and effects, and reasons the U.S. entered the war. Students will use primary sources, texts, and visual to support and develop their understanding of the topic.
Expansion and Slavery- QueensP2G- Mr. Gray
The focus of this unit is to trace the expansion of the United Stated through key events(Annexation of Texas, Louisiana Purchase, and the Mexican War.
The Revolutionary War- QueensP2G- Ms. Rodriguez
Learners will explore the reasons colonists wanted to form an independent nation and the events that led to the Revolutionary War. They will also understand the historical context of the time and why certain political decisions were made. They will practice using evidence from primary sources to argue a particular position.
Trail of Tears
Unit Plan, Overview of Lessons, Powerpoint slides, and sample lesson (shared by Mle Davis, Manhattan Hub)
Students will be able to describe the basic facts regarding Indian Removal at the start of the 1800s and the Trail of Tears in 1838-9. They will be able to explain some of the factors involved, and the names and roles of key players. Through reading primary source documents and reviewing images, students will be able to understand and express some of the emotional and physical hardships endured during this period of conflict between the Native Americans and European settlers.
Slavery and the Constitution Part I and Slavery in the Constitution Part II
This two-part unit explores why the founding fathers decided to keep slavery in the Constitution.
U.S. Imperialism (the Spanish-American War)
In this unit, learners explore the causes of The Spanish-American War. They learn about the historical context and political and pragmatic factors that were part of this expansion of this country. Further, they will practice the skills of using evidence to argue for a particular position, and using primarily source documents to uncover this evidence.
Manifest Destiny Unit
Students will be able to explore & explain the pros and cons of Manifest Destiny and its effects on indigenous peoples of the continent and the European settlers, immigrants, explorers and rushers.
John Brown Unit
This unit explores the life of John Brown and the question of whether he was a freedom fighter or terrorist. Additional resources include first day activities, a John Brown timeline, a specialized vocabulary dictionary, a debate project, trial questions, a rubric, and a textual evidencing activity (were John Brown's actions sane or insane?).
The Anti-Vietnam War Movement Unit
This unit engages questions of why many American opposed the war in Vietnam, and what their arguments against the war were.
Civil Rights:
UCLA Civil Rights Project, March 2014, Posted by Marjorie Stamberg
Education Week: 60 Years after Brown, School Diversity more complex than ever
UCLA Civil Rights Project Summary New York Extreme Segregation NYC metro [26 March 2014]-1
UCLA Civil Rights Project - Kucsera J and Orfield G New York Extreme Segregation 26 March 2014-2 (2)
The Louisiana Purchase
This unit uses two texts from Reading Like a Historian to explore the debate over The Louisiana Purchase. Learners will identify claims and counterclaims as they re-enact the debate through essay-writing and public speaking.