Lesson Database

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“The Outsiders,” Longmont Times, and Stereotypes in Informational Texts

In this lesson (one class period) students will investigate, as well as compare and contrast, how writers structure newspaper clippings in order to maintain stereotypes and manipulate story. The central primary document for this lesson is a photocopy of an actual newspaper from the Longmont Times written in 1932. For the purposes of this lesson, the other newspaper clipping will come from chapter 7 in The Outsiders. However, it is important to note that this second newspaper clipping can be easily substituted for any other newspaper clipping, real or imagined. The structure and format of this lesson will work just the same.

Created By: Collin Currier, Casey Middle School 

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20th Century Discrimination and Civil Rights

In this lesson students will use primary sources to explore how local individuals responded to 20th-century Latino experiences with discrimination. WWII Latino Veterans, 1920’s Ku Klux Klan, and Civil Rights era events will be explored. The unit assessment is a Socratic Seminar focusing on this question: In Boulder County Civil Rights conflicts, who was more effective in ensuring civil rights for the citizens: individuals or the government?

Created By: Justelle Grandsaert, Silver Creek High school 

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4th Grade Colorado History: Integrating Boulder County Latino History

In this lesson students will look through the lens of different perspectives of Latinos, Anglos, Native Americans, etc. These lessons focus on local Boulder County Latino History and can be integrated with other lessons. Therefore this unit is ongoing throughout the school year. We want students to build empathy and develop cultural sensitivity and awareness for themselves and others in order to build a greater understanding of what took place in this area. Students will describe interactions among people and cultures who have lived and currently live in Colorado. Students will focus on:

  • Who was living in this area of Colorado and what challenges they faced
  • Connecting and comparing/contrasting past events and people with today

Created By: Sharon Trompeter, Emerald Elementary and Jeanette Scotti, Columbine Elementary 

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A Tale of Three Boulder County Cities (Towns): Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont

In this lesson students will compare and contrast the Latino experiences in three communities in Boulder County (Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont). Within small groups students will create a zine about Latino history in Boulder County. Groups will analyze primary as well as secondary sources to better understand that history.

Created By: Patty Sandoval – Angevine Middle School, Lisa Norton – Casey Middle School and Julie Lyddan –  Coal Ridge Middle School

 

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American Ideals & Identity: Blended Poetry

In this lesson students use poetry to explore what it means to be an American. Over the course of two lessons students will look at multiple sources in order to understand varying perspectives about life in America and identity. A local connection is made through Augustine Cordova’s song, “Yo Soy Chicano” [“I Am Chicano”]. In the first lesson, students will read four poems and find powerful phrases that represent the perspective of the author about what it means to be an American. Students will then compare and contrast the ideas found in the poems using a graphic organizer. The second lesson will require students to create an original blended poem using the four sources to create a more inclusive definition of what it means to be American.

Created By: Jami Revielle and Anna Lever, Frederick High School

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Assimilation and Acculturation: What Does It Mean To Be An American?

In this lesson students will evaluate the term, “What Does It Mean to Be An American?,” and develop an evaluatory conclusion as to the extent, or lack thereof, of acculturation and/or assimilation required to be considered an “American.” Furthermore, students will discuss whether “becoming American” is the “goal” of all ethnic groups (“assimilation” vs. “acculturation”) and evaluate the state of multiculturalism in America today. Students will employ the Michael Walzer article, “What Does It Mean to Be An American?” (1990), primary and secondary source data from the BCLHP, and research from the PEW Research Center, June 2015.

Created By: Chris Barnes, Longmont High School

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Boulder County Latino Children Then and Now

In this lesson students learn about Latino children living in Boulder County in the early 1900s. Then they will compare the similarities and differences of Boulder County Latino children in the 1900s and today. Another focus of this lesson is to teach children how to write a compare and contrast text.

Created By: Khang Xiong, Ryan Elementary School

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Boulder County Latino Children Then and Now

In this lesson students learn about Latino children living in Boulder County in the early 1900s. Then they will compare the similarities and differences of Boulder County Latino children in the 1900s and today. Another focus of this lesson is to teach children how to write a compare and contrast text. Download Lesson Plan: Word […]

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