Every year the first chapter I tackle in American History is Chapter 5: Changes on the Western Frontier. I really like this topic and I think the students do also because of where we live. Students can connect to the settling of the west and feel like they are experts before we even begin. I always start with a Mythbusters assignment that usually puts most of them in their place. They realize very quickly that they don't know it all. We usually discuss why they think or believe the myths about the old west are true and they usually conclude TV and movies are to blame.
One of the performance based activities we do in this chapter includes role plays of some of the famous people of this time, like Calamity Jane, Crazy Horse, Col. Custer, etc. or more generic characters like a cowboy, miner, homesteader and Indian. Students research their assigned character and then present information about the character in first person. A few students really got into the parts and came in costume.
I always try to get the students to see the settling of the west from multiple perspectives, especially the point of view of the Native Americans versus the white settlers. History books have come a long way in providing different viewpoints of the participants.
Another thing I really enjoy is bringing my 'women's work' display to let students see and touch some of the tools used by pioneer women. Many students have very little knowledge of these artifacts and find this a very interesting day.
I am a little sad because the high school scope and sequence doesn't include this time period and I will probably be forced to give up this chapter one of these days. Change is hard!
