This lesson is designed as a pre-reading/viewing activity for James Agee's A Death in the Family. Students research elements of the early 20th century in order to develop a knowledge base of that period in
American culture. It is appropriate for both middle and high school students.
Objectives
- Use the Internet as a research tool
- Contribute to a team effort
- Develop a thorough understanding of a particular culture and period
Skills Attained
- Conduct a search of the Internet
- Select important details and information from a variety of sources
- Make an oral presentation
Lesson Outline
I. Anticipatory Set
1. Brainstorm a list of characteristics of life in the early 1900s. Ask students to recall information they have read, seen on
television, or learned from older adults.
2. Tell students that A Death in the Family
is set in 1915 Knoxville, TN and that, in order to fully understand the events in the novel, they need to be more familiar with its setting.
II. Lesson
The first stage of this lesson requires the use of numerous computers with Internet access.
Ideally, it should be set in a computer lab. If that is not possible, it may be assigned as homework or may take place
in the classroom, with students alternating the use of available computers.
1. Write the following topics on separate slips of paper: housing, employment, automobiles, telephones, men's clothing, women's
clothing, children's clothing, public schooling, children's games and play, kitchen conveniences, laundry, music, religion, movies, medical care, family structure, pastimes for adults, discipline, foods, stores, lawn
care, police service, fire prevention, plumbing, World War I, advances in Science, aircraft, Woodrow Wilson, literature, and furnishings. Instruct each student to choose one slip without seeing what is written on
it.
2. Instruct students to search the Internet for information on their assigned topics. Tell them that they need to find and print out information and graphics for a classroom banner on the year 1915.
3. Provide each student with the following criteria of expectations for the project:
- 50-100 words of information on assigned topic
- Includes a graphic which illustrates information
- Presented orally to class in an informative manner
Make each category one-third of the total grade for the assignment.
4. Give students sufficient time to locate and print information, assisting where needed. For those students who are unfamiliar with
performing a search on the Internet, provide one-on-one instruction in selecting a search engine, wording search terms succinctly, and going to sites.
5. Hold oral presentations, wherein each student reads his
or her information to the class and shows the accompanying graphic.
6. Designate two students to arrange the information and graphics on a banner that has been labeled "America in 1915." When completed,
laminate the banner and display in the classroom.
Assessment
Use the rubric above to grade each oral presentation and each student's product. Return completed rubrics to students following
the final presentation of information.
Interdisciplinary Connections
History - American politics and events in 1915, particularly related to The Great War
Art - photographs and illustrations of the early 20th century
Music - popular tunes and types of music in the early 1900's
Science - inventions and technology of the early 20th century
Sociology - American life in the home, the community, and the school in 1915
This lesson was submitted by Lynn Lemmon, an English teacher in Florida.
