Middle School Social Studies & History Teachers

It Happened In Kentucky chapters are written with young adult readers in mind. However, intergrating new books into school curriculum sounds easier than actuality. Ideally, patterning useful assignments which expand student critical thinking skills and discourage plagiarism is what educators strive for. Challenging students of all learning abilities is another ambition.

The Kentucky Department of Education notes in its core content for state social studies assessment that "middle level social studies uses the five strands of social studies (historical perspective, geography, economics, government and civics, and culture and society) in an integrated program which focuses on a different grade-level context each year."

With this in mind, I'm presenting a list of potential class assignments for social studies and history teachers based on chapters within It Happened In Kentucky.

• Newspaper article- Students assume the role of a newspaper reporter interviewing refugees from Camp Nelson (A Civil War Refugees' Expulsion from Camp Nelson- 1864); revivalists attending the Cane Ridge Revival (1801); or residents who lived through the Asiatic cholera epidemic (Asiatic Cholera find A Hero- 1833).
• Resume and cover letter- Draft a resume and subsequent cover letter for Daniel Boone (Battle of Boonesborough-1778) or Carol Sutton (Kentucky Journalist Named Woman of the Year- 1976)
• Editorial to a newspaper or magazine- Students draft an of-ed newspaper piece whether for or against state neutrality (A Governor Strives for Neutrality-1861)
• Mock trial- Students present general rules of evidence and procedure, an explanation of the basic facts, and brief statements for each witness (Delia Webster's Excursion on the Underground Railroad-1844). The 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake and McHenry Counties in Illinois website offers useful tips for teachers arranging mock trials classroom presentations.
• A Day In the Life Of....Students draft an essay in the first person about the epidemic or expulsion of disease, new invention, new discovery, or adventure (Frontier Abdominal Surgery-1809; The Creation of the Louisville Slugger-1884; Jenny Wiley's Indian Captivity-1789; The Opening of Louisville Municipal College-1931)
• Trip Itinerary- Students compile sites of importance, money exchange, special events and present in a PowerPoint presentation (Discovery of Mastodon Graveyard-1729; The Expedition of Dr. Thomas Walker-1750)

For more advanced students:

• Business prospectus- As an eighteenth century surveyor, students present a business prospectus to the Transylvania Land Company for settlement in the Northwest Territory (The Expedition of Dr. Thomas Walker-1750; Battle of Boonesborough-1778; The Establishment of the Pleasant Hill Shaker Colony-1808). The prospectus should include the purpose of the land company including goals, advantages to stakeholders, plan for development, long term goals, timeframe for exploration, costs, marketing to perspective settlers, risks and potential new markets, qualifications of leaders, outside legislative agencies required for permission to travel, current knowledge of the unexplored area of interest and a summary of how this new venture will influence the market.
• Emergency Crisis Management Plan- Students, taking the role of an emergency planner, submit a crisis management plan (Louisville Tornado and the Founding of the South's First Free Children's Hospital-1890; Devastating Drought-1930; Floodwaters Submerge Louisville-1937). Emergency plans would include pre and post event communications, counseling for victims, contact with appropriate agencies (environmental, labor, insurance), fire and police efforts, evacuation routes, schools, hospitals, chamber of commerce, emergency shelters, lockdown, emergency shelters, plans to reach those not easily accessible, and recording events into a permanent record.