<p>This lesson explores three different New Deal programs, with a specific eye towards their impact on rural America. As well, it focuses on student engagement with a variety of types of primary sources.  This lesson is designed as a self-contained class activity, which requires no supplementary teaching beyond the MoMS exhibition <em>Crossroads. </em>It is designed to be done in class following a visit to that exhibition, or within an after-school setting following a similar visit.</p> <p>Age Levels Intermediate (9 to 12 years old), Middle School (12 to 15 years old)<br /></p> <hr /><p>Why are primary sources important?</p> <ol><li>Direct engagement with artifacts and records of the past encourages deeper content exploration, active analysis, and thoughtful response.</li><li>Analysis of primary sources helps develop critical thinking skills by examining meaning, context, bias, purpose, point of view, etc.</li><li> Primary source analysis fosters learner-led inquiry as students construct knowledge by interacting with a variety of sources that represent different accounts of the past.</li><li>Students realize that history exists through interpretation that reflects the view points and biases of those doing the interpreting. </li></ol><p><strong>This lesson aims to:</strong> </p> <ul><li>Introduce students to New Deal programs that affected rural life and agriculture during the Great Depression.</li><li>Encourage discussion of the experience of those programs in the context of the Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibition <em>Crossroads</em>. </li><li>Help students practice using different types of sources as research material.</li></ul><p><strong>Students should be able to:</strong> </p> <ul><li>Identify different types of sources as primary and secondary sources, as well as differentiate between objective and subjective sources. </li><li>Interrogate textual, video, and visual sources to build a picture of how different programs affected ordinary people.</li><li>Be able to translate their research into a presentation, and teach it to other students.</li></ul><p>See notes for lesson plan instructions.</p>

<p><strong>Today, rural communities are at a new crossroads- a meeting point of ideas where they can chart their own future. With their innovations and creative spirit, rural Americans are helping to define and shape the future of the country. </strong><br /></p> <p>In this lesson, students will:</p> <ul><li>Use key vocabulary terms associated with agricultural practices </li><li>Explore the past and modern issues surrounding agricultural practices </li><li>Analyze the ecological impact of modern agricultural practices</li></ul><p>A mix of articles, student handouts, historical artifacts and artwork provide an in-depth look at this complex topic. Each slide has information and/or quizzes attached for testing student comprehension. Open-ended questions are provided to stimulate further thought on the topic.</p> <p></p>

<p>In this lesson, students will learn about the lives and innovations of the following people:</p> <ul><li>Dolores Huerta </li><li>Cyrus Hall McCormick</li><li>George Washington Carver</li><li>Rachel Louise Carson</li><li>Robert Fraley</li><li>Eli Whitney</li><li>Norman Borlaug</li></ul><p>This resource provides informative text on each slide, as well as videos and articles from outside educational resources. This resource is created for students to navigate independently, and includes optional biography and compare/contrast worksheet activities. </p> <p></p>

<p>Whether you're participating in the Stories: YES program in conjunction with a Museum on Main Street exhibition or creating digital stories on your own, the six modules in the Storytelling Training Series will help you think through everything to help get started. Unlike the other Storytelling Training courses where information is given to you, you'll be asked to contribute ideas for your own potential story in this course. There's no right or wrong answers here. It's a way to help you start planning. Remember to make a copy of this collection first if you want your answers to be saved so you can revisit them!</p> <p>This training module was created by the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program, a part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation.<br /></p>

<p>Whether you're participating in the Stories: YES program in conjunction with a Museum on Main Street exhibition or creating digital stories on your own, the six modules in the Storytelling Training Series will help you think through everything to help get started. Ready to start developing your story? In this short course, you'll get some tips on how to create a story board, writing a non-fiction script, and more. </p> <p>This training module was created by the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program, a part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation.<br /></p>

<p>Whether you're participating in the Stories: YES program in conjunction with a Museum on Main Street exhibition or creating digital stories on your own, the six modules in the Storytelling Training Series will help you think through everything to help get started. In this short course, we'll talk about some basic steps for beginning your research. You will learn about local and specific national online resources that will help you gather all the facts!</p> <p>This training module was created by the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program, a part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation.<br /></p>

<p>In this short course, you'll learn about topics that inspired the traveling exhibition "The Way We Worked," produced by Museum on Main Street at the Smithsonian. </p> <p>This training module was created by the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program, a part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation.<br /></p>

<p><strong>Description: </strong></p> <p>This learning lab introduces students to individuals who have shaped and participated in American democracy over time. Using a variety of resources, take in the stories and impact of Thomas Jefferson, Molly Pitcher, Thomas Paine, Richard Allen, William Apess, Wong Chin Foo, Alice Paul, Ella Baker, and Dolores Huerta.</p> <p><em>Voices and Votes: Democracy in America </em>is an exhibition from Museum on Main Street traveling to rural American from 2020-2025. <em>Voices and Votes</em> is based on the exhibition <em>American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith </em>at the National Museum of American History. This learning lab can be used in conjunction with the exhibition or as a stand alone resource on the history of democracy.<br /></p> <p>Visit <a href="https://www.historyexplorer.si.edu/" target="_blank">Smithsonian History Explorer</a> to learn more!  </p> <p>#historicalthinking</p> <p><strong>Guiding Questions:</strong></p> <p>Who has influenced American democracy? Why did they participate in American democracy and what did they achieve? Have these people changed over time?</p> <p>How have social movements changed American democracy throughout history?</p> <p>How can individuals or groups take action to participate in American democracy?</p> <p>What issues at a local, state, or national level affect your life? Can your participation in American democracy resolve those issues?</p> <p>Who is participating in and influencing national, state, or local conversations about  American democracy today? Who would you add to this list?</p>

<p>The press and media have influenced America even before it was a country. The goal of this learning lab is to show the effect media has played on our democracy. It is also important to understand the bias that media and press can have on us everyday. Realizing this influence can make all of us better citizens.</p>