UNIT 1: THE GILDED AGE
UNIT INTRODUCTION LESSON
FOCUS ACTIVITY
THE LESSON MISSION
Directions: The Focus Activity is an activity where you focus your attention on what you will be learning. Each lesson has an essential question or a question that you must be able to answer by the end of the lesson to show that you understand the lesson. The mission question gives you a purpose for the lesson. It tells you exactly what you will be learning and helps you to know what you need to look for during the lesson. Your mission is to answer the following question correctly by the end of the lesson:
What were the major issues and events of the Gilded Age and how did the Gilded Age get its name?
Write this lesson title in the Table of Contents of your Lesson Chronicles. Then open to page 1 in your Lesson Chronicles. Write the date in the top right corner and the title of the lesson on the first line. Then write the Lesson Mission Question. You will answer this question at the end of the lesson.
To help you accomplish your mission, we are going to break the mission down. You will go through four challenges that require you to meet a target. Each target will give you the evidence you need to meet your mission. Once you've completed all four challenges and met all four targets, you will have everything you need to accomplish your mission. So, let's get started.....
To help you accomplish your mission, we are going to break the mission down. You will go through four challenges that require you to meet a target. Each target will give you the evidence you need to meet your mission. Once you've completed all four challenges and met all four targets, you will have everything you need to accomplish your mission. So, let's get started.....
Challenge 1Target: I can tell you who coined the phrase, "The Gilded Age."
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GUIDED READING
Directions: Today's Challenge 1 Activity is a Guided Reading. In a Guided Reading, different volunteers read one paragraph of the passage. After each paragraph, the teacher models important strategies when reading non-fiction text, brings important information to light, and clarifies any misunderstandings. You may double click on any words that you need to be defined for you. This will highlight the word in yellow and bring up a pop up box with the definition. Important vocabulary is also in the Toolbox on the right of the reading passage.
How The Gilded Age Got Its Name
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today is an 1876 novel by the famous writer Mark Twain and co-author Charles Dudley Warner. The novel is set in the period of the late 19th century; a time when greed and political corruption ruled the land. The term “Gilded Age” was used to show the contrast between the other “Golden Ages” in history, and the time in which these men lived.
Periods called Golden Ages around the world were usually times of peace, during which advancements in art, architecture, trade, technology, or other fields occurred. While there were certainly achievements during the Gilded Age, they brought serious ill-effects. The word “gilded” refers to jewelry or other metals on which a thin layer of gold covers over tin, iron, or other less-costly metal.  Mark Twain
In the late 1800’s the nation underwent tremendous change. The West was tamed and settled, the U.S. developed a thriving economy based on industry and trade, and railroads and telegraphs crossed the land. Those who oversaw these changes grew very, very rich, along with members of local, state, and national government who worked to pass laws to help the growth and their cronies. In addition, powerful political machines who supported big business and enriched themselves ensured that political offices were filled with people who did their bidding.
Bullseye: In your Lesson Chronicles, show that you hit a bullseye on target one. Under Challenge 1, answer the Target 1 question.
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TOOLBOX
The Toolbox contains all the definitions of bolded words in today's lesson.
economy: the way a country manages its money and resources to produce, buy, and sell goods and services
Golden Ages: peaceful periods of time when a nation's economy thrives, and great accomplishments are made in art, science, and technology gilded: a cheap or inexpensive substance coated in a thin layer of gold Mark Twain: the famous American author who coined the term, "Gilded Age" political corruption: dishonest or illegal behavior by one or more government officials political machine: a group that controls the activities of a political party |
Challenge 2Target: I can tell you why the late 1800s was called the Gilded Age.
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CLASS DISCUSSION
Directions: In a Class Discussion, the teacher asks questions about the reading to help you gain a better understanding about what you have just learned and to make sure you understand what you have just read. The teacher will read the first question. Simply, raise your hand to answer the question or to comment on the answers that others have given.
1.) Explain why Mark Twain and his co-author referred to the period in which they lived as the “Gilded Age.”
2.) Which definition BEST FITS the use of the word “cronies” at the end of the passage?
A.) wise women
B.) associates
C.) close friends
D.) ugly old hags
3.) According to the passage, the Gilded Age was:
A.) a time of peace and great achievements.
B.) the age of America’s greatest advancement.
C.) a period of political and economic corruption.
D.) the era when U.S.political officials were corrupt.
4.) Which of these subjects was LEAST likely to have been addressed in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today?
A.) jewelry-making
B.) railroad bosses
C.) local governments
D.) political machines
2.) Which definition BEST FITS the use of the word “cronies” at the end of the passage?
A.) wise women
B.) associates
C.) close friends
D.) ugly old hags
3.) According to the passage, the Gilded Age was:
A.) a time of peace and great achievements.
B.) the age of America’s greatest advancement.
C.) a period of political and economic corruption.
D.) the era when U.S.political officials were corrupt.
4.) Which of these subjects was LEAST likely to have been addressed in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today?
A.) jewelry-making
B.) railroad bosses
C.) local governments
D.) political machines
Bullseye: In your Lesson Chronicles, show that you hit a bullseye on target two. Under Challenge 1, answer the Target 1 question.
Challenge 3
Target: I can list some of the major issues and events that made up the Gilded Age.
HISTORY THROUGH MUSIC SURVEY
Directions: The Small Group Activity is an activity where you work with a team to apply what you learned or to investigate even deeper into a subject. Today's Small Group Activity is a History Through Music Survey. In a History Through Music Survey, the class listens to a song and reads the lyrics while the song is sung. Then, small groups work together to discover what the song is saying about history by analyzing each stanza of the song and decoding its meaning. Today, we will listen to the recording of The Extreme Rap. Read the Rap's lyrics below as you listen. Then, with your team, you will read each stanza and discuss what you think each stanza is trying to tell you about the Gilded Age. As a team, complete the survey below the Rap. If your number is called to be the group surveyor today, you will type the group's responses into the survey. Make sure you answer all the questions before submitting the survey. We will discuss the answers in a whole group discussion.
An Extreme Rap
by: Maria Garriott
Robber Barons
Presidents Grant through Wilson
Washington and DuBois
Building the Brooklyn Bridge
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If you listen up, a story will be told
Of people and power, greed and gold Railroads, Robber Barons, Carnegie Steel Morgan's got money, Ford's got wheels Gold in the Yukon, gold in the cross
Oil in Texas, and Rock's the boss These dudes had the House in those days Grant was a general, and then there's Hayes Garfield drops, Arthur steps in
Cleveland is followed by Harrison Cleveland is back, then McKinley (like the hill) TR and Taft, Wilson hates to kill Muckrakers, Magazines, Sam McClure,
Squealed on Rockefeller's Standard Oil Mark Twain, Jack London, Ida Tarbell And Old Mother Jones says raise more... well..... Jim Crow is jumping, but Booker's got voice
Black Folk, soul folk, Mr. DuBois Geronimo, Custer, a man named Horse A Wounded Knee will hurt, of course Sweatshops, doors locked, Triangle Fire
Twelve hour days and children for hire Haymarket, Homestead, Pullman Strikes Edison brings us electric lights Skyscrapers, backbreakers, Brooklyn Bridge
Gompers, Wobblies, Eugene Debs Immigrants, tenements, No Chinese Populists rise up, farmers get the squeeze Down in Havana, blow up the Maine
Teddy's Big Stick and war with Spain A canal in Panama, two brothers that float Ladies still fussing for the women's vote The Gilded Age was full of extremes,
Recite this rap you'll know what I mean 
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Gold in the Yukon
Sam McClure and McClure Magazine
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
TR & Big Stick Diplomacy
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Bullseye: In your Lesson Chronicles, show that you hit a bullseye on target three. Under Challenge 3, complete the Target 3 chart.
Challenge 4Target: I can answer the lesson mission question.
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LESSON MISSION QUESTION
Directions: The Individual Practice Activity is an activity that allows each student to show they understood the lesson and serves to clarify any misunderstandings. Today's Individual Practice Activity is answering the Lesson Mission Question. Open your Lesson Chronicles to the Lesson Mission Question. Below the question, answer today's Lesson Mission Question. Remember, you are required to write your answer in PQA Format (put the question in the answer.) After everyone has finished, we will discuss your answers as a class. As we discuss, add notes below your answer if you heard good information that you did not include in your own answer. Also, correct your answer if you answered the question incorrectly. The Lesson Mission Question is below:
What were the major issues and events of the Gilded Age and how did the Gilded Age get its name?
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
MISSION CHECK
Directions: Did you accomplish your mission in the Unit 1 Introduction Lesson? Well now it's time to prove it! Complete the Mission Check Activity below. You may use your Lesson Chronicles and the Lesson Page to help you. Remember to type your first and last name and check your answers before you submit. This is a graded activity worth 50 points. Click the Mission Check Button to begin the activity!
Click Here to Begin the Mission Check Activity!
HOMEWORK
FAMILY DISCUSSION TIME
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Remember, you have homework in Social Studies every night. Your homework is to tell your family what you learned in class today. This is an excellent way to keep a good line of communication open with your parents and it is a great way to make sure you are studying a little every night. Just use your I can statement to get you started:
I can list the major issues and events of the Gilded Age and explain how the Gilded Age got its name.
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THIS IS THE END OF THIS LESSON MODULE
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Congratulations! You have completed the Unit 1 Introduction Lesson Module! |