The Dark Side of the Populist and Progressive Movements and the KKK in Colorado

In this lesson students will focus on the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado during the 1920’s using two primary documents. Particularly, this lesson will address the darker side of Populism and Progressivism, so students will be able to identify whom these movements left behind. This will be a mini-lesson within a larger unit on Populism and Progressivism in US History.

Created By: Michael Codrey, New Vista High School

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Using Connotation and Denotation to Identify Bias in Media Past and Present

In this lesson students will use primary sources from the Boulder County Latino History Project and differing news sources on the Baltimore Riots of 2015 to correctly identify connotative and denotative language that implies a biased message. Students will apply their knowledge to creating a news piece that uses both connotative language and denotative language to convey a biased message. This series of lessons covering approximately 7 days is intended to be taught in a quarter-long unit on race and identity. The topic of the Baltimore Riots should be covered or introduced prior to this series of lessons.

Created By: Victoria Racz, Arapahoe High School

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How has Boulder, Colorado Received & Perceived Latino Immigrants? An Historical Comparison from the Early 1900s to Today

In this lesson students will get a taste of some of the experiences of Latino immigrants to Boulder County, focusing on how they have been received/perceived by the Anglos living here over time. The teacher will use BCLHP materials to teach Spanish vocabulary as well as the preterite and imperfect verb tenses. This grammar component is intended to be a review of preterite and imperfect verb conjugation.\
Created By: Catherine Powers, Casey Middle School

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DBQ – Persecution of Boulder County Latinos by the Ku Klux Klan

In this lesson students will learn about the 1920s KKK persecution of Boulder County Latinos by reading and analyzing primary sources. Students will then create a modified DBQ that provides evidence of the Latino experience with the KKK.

Created By: Patty Sandoval – Angevine Middle School, Lisa Norton – Casey Middle School, Julie Lyddan – Coal Ridge 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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DBQ – Latinos and the KKK in Boulder County

In this lesson students use primary sources to explore the role of the KKK in race relations with local Latinos. Topic: To what extent were race issues between white residents and Mexican migrants in Boulder County due to existing racial tensions? In the 1910s and 1920s, Mexican migrant workers came to Boulder County to work in the fields and to work in the coal mines. These immigrants maintained their cultural identity by speaking Spanish, keeping their Catholic faith, and by holding on to the customs and traditions of the Mexican people. These immigrants faced the challenge of fitting into a society that was decidedly “American,” and was supported by the Ku Klux Klan, an organization committed to the preservation of what they deemed were American ideals.

Create By: Martin Clark, Mead High School

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