Lesson 5: More Recent Social Movements…Still in the Public’s Eye
By: Tina Gersdorf, M.Ed.
2010 Fellowship
Tennessee State Library and Archives
( 2-3 days)

Abstract

There have been numerous social movements since the turn of the 20^th century. Students will have an opportunity to explore one of these movements a little more in detail and make connections between the methods used in the movements studied previously and those used in the one they chose now. (Internet access is best for this lesson

Assessment

Completion of “More Social Movements” worksheet

Procedure

1. Have the class generate a list of social movements they know of that have happened since the turn of the 20^th century. Some that you might want to include if students don’t are:

a. Civil rights

b. Child labor

c. Environmental

d. Abortion

e. Gay marriage

f. Health care

g. (even tougher laws for construction zones or drinking and driving)

2. Record this list and have students chose one about which they wish to learn a little more.

3. Take students to the computer lab and allow them time to research the social movement they chose. They will be learning a little about the movement and finding three artifacts that display how that social movement was spread.

a. The teacher may wish to provide the students with websites to go to rather than having them search from scratch.

b. Or, this may be an opportunity to teach about research skills.

i. They may just begin by searching for the social movement alone to see what they find.

ii. Key research terms for this may include: propaganda, primary sources, documents, memorabilia

iii. Students may have a certain type of artifact they wish to find, in which case they can search for that specifically (such as a poster or song, etc.)

4. Students should fill out their worksheet as they investigate the social movement they chose.

5. Students will choose one of the artifacts they find and complete an analysis worksheet for it.