The
Irish Move West
Background and Rationale:
This is the
third lesson of the second week of a unit which examines coerced Irish migration to
Iowa
for a grade 10-12 advanced placement, American Studies class. Having
learned about the networks which
provided necessary support for Famine Irish immigrant survival in
America
, students begin the discussion of the Famine Irish immigrant experience
in
Iowa
.
Why? Famine Irish walked, road wagons,
and journeyed by railroad to
Iowa
, breaking trails and pioneering in the under-populated state. Many of
Iowa
's communities were established by Irish immigrants.
Objectives
and Procedures:
(50 minute class period)
Given the following activities, the
students will:
Sequence of Events:
Minutes
1 through 5:
Administrative functions (attendance)
Minutes
5 through 10:
Topic introduction/hand out materials
Minutes
10 through 15:
Lecture:
Iowa
in 1860 (railroads, the land, the American
Dream)
Minutes
15 through 20:
Discussion of
Iowa
in 1860
Minutes
20 through 25:
Lecture: the gregarious
Irish
Minutes
25 through 30:
Discussion on ethnic characteristics
Minutes
30 through 35:
Lecture: the ill-prepared
and ill-furnished Famine Irish
immigrants
Minutes
35 to 40:
Discussion on skills necessary for success in the
American West
Minutes
40 through 45:
Individual work on journals
Minutes
45 through 50:
Conclusion
Evaluation:
Guided discussion
How will I know this is working?
a) Enthusiastic discussion of lecture topics
b) Enthusiastic discussion of completed journals
Associated
projects: Historical journals (modified version
of project from Fortman, N. in bibliography)
Readings
:
