Understanding by Design

Curriculum Template
Where do we (as students and as a teacher) fit into the "American" historical narrative?
Learning Plan
Day
Essential
Standard(s)
Content
Resources/ Materials
Question(s)
1
Who is
Introduction to the unit and
Final Project assignment
"American?"
the essential questions.
Gallery of paintings
What groups
Colonists arrival in the New representing European
determine who is
World.
arrival
"American?"
Initial interactions between
Interaction between
European settlers and the
Jamestown Settlers and
indigenous population.
the Native American
population:
http://historymatters.gmu.
edu/d/5838

Learning Activities
Do Now (examining
paintings), writing first
impressions in journal.
Large group discussion
defining initial group of
idea of what American
means.
Close examination of
primary source text.

Final project written

assignment guidelines

Who is
"American?"

Slavery as forced
immigration.

What groups
determine who is
"American?"

Considering the movement

of people against their will,
and the transition of slaves
into Americans.

Is "American" a
descriptor that is
granted by society
1

We will consider when this

shift occurred, and if the
label of American is still

Lesson handout

Do Now

Poster-Sheet+Markers

Group activity and art

presentation

Chromebooks
Group research and full
class discussion

Understanding by Design
Curriculum Template
or given by one's
self?

Is being
"American" the
same as being a
citizen?
Who is
"American?"
What groups
determine who is
"American?"

complicated for people of

non-white skin in North
America.

The Irish Potato Famine and

european immigration in the
early to mid-19th century.
The nativist movement, and
the politicization of an
anti-immigration stance.

Is "American" a
descriptor that is
granted by society
or given by one's
self?

Does the term

"American" tell us
anything at all
about a given
person?
Who is
"American?"
What groups
determine who is
"American?"

http://wpt.org/UniversityPlace/nativist-propaganda
-american-history-ep-553
(12:30-20:00)

Video viewing
Small group research
project on political
propaganda.

Chromebooks
Poster-Sheet+Markers

Creation and presentation

of imagined political
propaganda against literal
alien immigrants.
Check-in on project
status.

Souther Border issues in

contemporary United States
politics.

Handout of debate rules

and guidelines.
Chromebooks

Considering why the

question of illegal
immigration is important in

Split-class debate. First

half of class for research,
second half to hold the
actual debate.

Understanding by Design
Curriculum Template
Is "American" a
descriptor that is
granted by society
or given by one's
self?

the current presidential

election.

Does the term

"American" tell us
anything at all
about a given
person?

Is being
"American" the
same as being a
citizen?
Where do we (as
students and as a
teacher) fit into the
"American"
historical narrative?

A consideration of the
specific lenses that our
fellow classroom
participants bring to bear.

Active listening handout

Presentations - 2 min per

student

Artifacts
Reflection handout

Remaining time given

over to discussion and
unit wrap.