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| In the Classroom > Unit Overview |
Research & Investigation Project (RIP): A Grave Undertaking
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| Unit Central Questions: | In This Lesson: |
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How can we use primary source materials to investigate the lives of some people in Deerfield, Massachusetts in the period 1780-1880? |
Lesson Length Key Ideas I.L.O.s Preparation Materials Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3 |
| Lesson Length |
Social Studies: 2-3 class periods
English: 1 class period
| Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and Teacher Background |
Social Studies: By learning to "read" and analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources carefully and critically, we can learn a great deal about the lives of our research subjects. Each individual source reveals a different type, quantity, and quality of information. When we combine what we have learned from multiple sources, we can expand our knowledge of our research subjects and make logical and defensible hypotheses about the social life and cultural attitudes of Deerfield from 1780 to 1880.
English (same as in lesson 2): Many great American writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, Wheatley, and Poe lived during this age. Their writings help to define American Literature and had a profound influence on the thinking of the day. Their use of language and the topics about which they wrote reflect many of the experiences, attitudes, values, and ideas of the people of their times.
| Intended Learning Outcomes |
Understandings:
Students will understand:
Social Studies
- that primary and secondary sources are rich sources of information about the past.
- that mourning art took many forms, in addition to gravestones.
- that needlework was a common means of creating mourning art.
- that tombstone carvings and mourning art stitchery are mediums for expression of attitudes toward death.
- how tombstone carvings and mourning art stitchery changed over time.
English
- read "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, and understand Poe's use of poetic language, metaphor, and other tools he used to create dramatic tension.
- learn about Poe's biography and understand how his life may have influenced his art.
- understand and be able to identify the ways in which Poe's writings reveal clues about the times in which he wrote.
Skills:
Students will be able to:
- read and understand a variety of primary and secondary sources, extract factual information and infer from them understandings about an individual's social status and family.
- develop reasonable and defensible hypotheses about some aspects of social life.
- recognize metaphorical language, rhyme scheme, heroic couplets, and iambic pentameter in "The Raven" of Edgar Allan Poe.
- handle cutting tools safely and effectively
- design and create family registers or models of tombstones.
- identify the symbolic elements of needlework mourning art.
| In Preparation for Teaching |
Social Studies:
1. Review Teacher Background Essay: Primary and Secondary Sources.
2. Print out the Student Background Essay: Primary Source Analysis for the students.
3. Print out the Worksheet: Basic Questions for the students.
4. Print out and review the Research Techniques page and the documents about Dr. William Stoddard Williams and make copies of the documents for each team.
5. Print out Reading and Analyzing Background Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources worksheet to distribute to the class.
6. Print out the Vocabulary Sheet to distribute to the class.
| Materials |
Primary Sources:
- Documents about Dr. William Stoddard Williams found on the Research Techniques page.
- "The Raven" poem
Secondary Sources:
- Student Background Essay: Primary Source Analysis
- Teacher Background Essay: Primary and Secondary Sources
- Worksheet: Basic Questions
- Instructions for Using the "Reading and Analyzing Background Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources" sheet
- Reading and Analyzing Background Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources
- *Sheldon, George, A History of Deerfield Massachusetts, Volume II, (facsimile of the 1895-96 edition), Deerfield, Mass: Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, 1983, p. 383. (in Digital Collection)
- *McGowan, Susan and Amelia Miller, Family and Landscape: Deerfield Homelots from 1671, Deerfield, Mass: Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, 1996. (or use information on the Research Subjects page)
- Vocabulary Sheet
- Biographical information on Poe
- Worksheet: Poetry and Hymns from Lesson 2
- *optional- video of "The Simpsons" version of "The Raven," commercially available (no activities included for it in this lesson)
Other:
- Directions for Carving Gravestone Models
- Directions for Embroidery
- *Chisels and other simple carving tools
- *graph-paper for design of needlework
- *scraps of pine boards- approx. size: 8" x 14" x 1"
- *optional- paint for pine board gravestone models
- *needlework supplies: needles, embroidery hoops, floss, Aida cloth (14 or 18 count), scissors, self-closing plastic bags for embroidery project storage
- Alphabet Samples for Cross Stitch Embroidery
*not provided with this unit
| Activities | Materials in Context |
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Activity 1: Social Studies
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Student Background Essay: Primary Source Analysis Teacher Background Essay: Primary and Secondary Sources Reading and Analyzing Background Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources
Digital Collection and the Research Subjects page |
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Activity 2: English Class
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Activity 3: Social Studies
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