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[Detail] Group of Breaker boys

Lesson Overview

Students are immersed in primary source materials that relate to child labor in America from 1880-1920 to gain a personal perspective of how work affected the American child within a rapidly growing industrial society. This project is student-driven. Students engage in visual and information literacy exercises to gain expertise in analyzing historical data. Most importantly, students emerge from this experience with a very personal sense that children significantly and heroically affected the building of America.

Objectives

Students will:

• gain expertise in analyzing historical data through exercises in visual and information literacy; and
• gain a personal perspective on work in an emerging industrial society and its effect on the American child.

Standards

Time Required

• One semester

Recommended Grade Level

• 9-12

Topic

• Science, Technology & Business
• City & Regional History

Era

• Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929

Credits

Martha Williams & Kelly Killen