THE WILD, WILD WEST
Sheila Watson
Pekin School Dist. 108
Summer 2007
.
Chicago Daily News negatives collection,
DN-0003451. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society
A study of the western frontier in America and the people who made themselves famous.
Overview/ Materials/LOC Resources/Standards/ Procedures/Evaluation/Rubric/Handouts/Extension
Overview
Objectives
Recommended time frame
Grade level
Curriculum fit
Materials
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Students will:
 gain an understanding of what life was like on the
western frontier in America
 choose and research a “famous” person who lived in
the old west era
 work with a partner in researching and publishing
 publish their information in a PowerPoint project
 make a presentation to the class
5 days
6th-7th
Social Studies-American History
Internet, PhotoStory, PowerPoint, books or other printed
sources, United Streaming
Illinois State Learning Standards
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Language Arts:
GOAL 1: Read with understanding and fluency.
 1.A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to
comprehend selections.
o 1.A.2b Clarify word meaning using context
clues and a variety of resources including
glossaries, dictionaries and thesauruses.
 1.B. Apply reading strategies to improve
understanding and fluency.
o 1.B.2a Establish purposes for reading;
survey materials; ask questions; make
predictions; connect, clarify and extend
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Illinois State University
ideas.
o 1.B.2b Identify structure (e.g., description,
compare/contrast, cause and effect,
sequence) of nonfiction texts to improve
comprehension.
 1.C. Comprehend a broad range of reading
materials.
o 1.C.2a Use information to form and refine
questions and predictions.
o 1.C.2c Compare and contrast the content
and organization of selections.
o 1.C.2d Summarize and make
generalizations from content and relate to
purpose of material.
GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of
purposes.
 3.A. Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation,
capitalization and structure.
o 3.A.2 Write paragraphs that include a
variety of sentence types; appropriate use of
the eight parts of speech; and accurate
spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
 3.B. Compose well-organized and coherent writing
for specific purposes and audiences.
o 3.B.2a Generate and organize ideas using a
variety of planning strategies (e.g., mapping,
outlining, drafting).
o 3.B.2b Establish central idea, organization,
elaboration and unity in relation to purpose
and audience.
GOAL 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of
situations.
 4.A. Listen effectively in formal and informal
situations.
o 4.A.2b Ask and respond to questions related
to oral presentations and messages in small
and large group settings.
GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess
and communicate information.
 5.A. Locate, organize, and use information from
various sources to answer questions, solve problems
and communicate ideas.
o 5.A.2b Organize and integrate information
from a variety of sources (e.g., books,
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interviews, library reference materials, websites, CD/ROMs).
o 5.B.2a Determine the accuracy, currency
and reliability of materials from various
sources.
 5.B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired
from various sources.
o 5.B.2b Cite sources used.
 5.C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas
to communicate in a variety of formats.
o 5.C.2a Create a variety of print and nonprint
documents to communicate acquired information for specific audiences and purposes.
o 5.C.2b Prepare and deliver oral
presentations based on inquiry or research
Social Science:
GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals
and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the
United States and other nations.
 16.A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and
interpretation.
o 16.A.2b Compare different stories about a
historical figure or event and analyze
differences in the portrayals and perspectives
they present.
o 16.A.2c Ask questions and seek answers by
collecting and analyzing data from historic
documents, images and other literary and
non-literary sources.
 16.D. Understand Illinois, United States and world
social history.
o 16.D.2b (US) Describe the ways in which
participation in the westward movement
affected families and communities.
o 16.D.2c (US) Describe the influence of key
individuals and groups, including Susan B.
Anthony/suffrage and Martin Luther King,
Jr./civil rights, in the historical eras of
Illinois and the United States.
GOAL 18: Understand social systems, with an
emphasis on the United States.
 18.A. Compare characteristics of culture as reflected
in language, literature, the arts, traditions and
institutions.
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o 18.A.2 Explain ways in which language,
stories, folk tales, music, media and artistic
creations serve as expressions of culture.
 18.C. Understand how social systems form and
develop over time.
o 18.C.2 Describe how changes in production
(e.g., hunting and gathering, agricultural,
industrial) and population caused changes in
social systems.
Procedures
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Students will read and discuss material provided in the
textbook.
The class will watch two United Streaming videos:
 Pioneers: The American Frontier
 Living History: Living on the American Frontier
The teacher will assign partners.
Students will visit the Wild, Wild West webpage
 Watch the Photo Story intro
 Choose a topic
 Use resources to research and record notes
 Put together a PowerPoint using research
information
Partners will make a presentation to the class
Students will complete a self-evaluation and reflection
Evaluation
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Rubric for PowerPoint presentation
Self-evaluation & reflection
Extension
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



Students may choose to do more than the required
number of pages.
Students may choose more than one person to
research.
Students may write a narrative in first person from
the point of view of their chosen person (A Day in
the Life of…)
Students may find more primary resources to
include in the PowerPoint
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Illinois State University
Primary Resources from the Library of Congress
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Sources for People of the Wild West
Picture
Description
This portrait of the
historical old Apache
was made in March,
1905.
Geronimo
Annie Oakley, wears
a dress and a cowboy
hat with a star
hanging from its
brim. She holds a
rifle propped on its
end with her left
hand. A log cabin is
in the background.
Sam Houston, headand-shoulders
portrait, threequarters to the right
Zebulon Pike, head
and shoulders
Billy the Kid, full
portrait, standing with
gun
Citation
Northwestern
University
Library, Edward
S. Curtis's 'The
North American
Indian': the
Photographic
Images, 2001.
Western
History/Genealog
y Department,
Denver Public
Library
URL
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/curt:@field(D
OCID+@lit(cp01002))
Library of
Congress, Prints
& Photographs
Division,
Reproduction
Number
LC-USZ62-9051
DLC (b&w film
copy neg. pre1992)
Google image
search:
National
Archives
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/dag:@field(N
UMBER+@band(cph+3a11564))
Google image
search:
Legends of
America
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/
WE-BillyKid.html
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hawp:@field(
NUMBER+@band(codhawp+0010
5612))
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/ann
otation/december-98/zebulonpike.html
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Wyatt Earp, head
and shoulders
Google image
search:
Joe’s Gunfighter
page
http://whithaydn.com/smfimages/
Wyatt%20Earp.jpg
Fisher's Hornpipe
[on harmonica]
Fiddle Tunes of
the Old Frontier:
The Henry Reed
Collection.
Library of
Congress,
American
Folklife Center
Chicago Daily
News negatives
collection, DN0003451.
Courtesy of the
Chicago
Historical
Society.
Google image
search:
Replica Guns,
Swords.com
Google search:
Emmaents.com,
Emanual College,
Cambridge
Google image
search: Medal of
Honor
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/afcreed:@fiel
d(DOCID+@lit(afcreed/13705a49)
)
harmonica.mp3
Five men in frontier
dress posed standing
next to each other in a
fenced area with
teepee and other
people in the
background.
Old west campfire,
colored
Table of old west
portraits, color
Stage coach
w/passengers,
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/cdn:@field(N
UMBER+@band(ichicdn+n00204
6))
http://replicagunsswords.com/weap
ons_gallery/images/productpics/c_
15.jpg
http://www.artchixstudio.com/ima
ges/E114_WildWildWest.jpg
http://www.medalofhonor.com/Buf
faloBill_WildWestShow.jpg
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Illinois State University
Rubric
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RUBRIC FOR WILD WEST PROJECT
Element
No evidence=0
Some Evidence=1
Sources
Did not use or
record sources
or notes
Used less than
required number or
notes incomplete
Citations
No citations
recorded
Content
Incomplete
content
Some citations or
incomplete
information
Content present but
not well organized
Text
Numerous
errors in
spelling and
grammar and
punctuation
Incomplete or
late
PowerPoint
A few errors in
spelling, grammar
and punctuation
Requirements met
but not organized
Presentation Could not make Presentation made
or finish
but couldn’t answer
presentation
questions
Good
Comments
Evidence=2
Used required
number of
sources and notes
are acceptable
All citations
present and
complete
All content
required is
present and
organized
No errors in
spelling, grammar
or punctuation
All requirements
met and well
organized
Presentation
made and
questions
answered
TOTAL POINTS: __________
NAME:________________________________________ DATE: __________________
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Illinois State University
Handouts
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SELF-EVALUATION AND REFLECTION
WILD, WILD WEST PROJECT
Resources: I was able to find resources and use the information in my project.
No problem____
Some Problems_____ Had difficulty_________
Comments:
Partner: I worked with a partner to research, author, and publish.
No problem _____
Some problems_____ Had difficulty ________
Comments:
PowerPoint: Used information to make a presentation
No problem:
Some problems: ______
Had difficulty ______
Comments:
The best thing about this assignment was…
The hardest thing about this assignment was…
I learned ….
Next time I would…
NAME__________________________________________ DATE: _______________
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
WILD, WILD WEST PROJECT
Students will:
 Select a person from the Wild West list to research. (See
webpage)
 Using the resources listed on the webpage, research and
take written notes. Must have 3 sources…one from a
book or encyclopedia and two from project website list.
 Make a PowerPoint about your person. See instructions
on the webpage.
 Use correct grammar, punctuation, etc.
 Turn in your research and note-taking form. Need cited
notes to receive a grade for project.
See the Citation Machine. Use the Chicago style.
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Illinois State University
Research and Note-taking Form
(Print source)
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Cite Your Source! (See Works Cited handout to be sure you get all the information you
need for your Works Cited page.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Research and Note-taking Form (Web Site source)
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________________________________________________________________________
*_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Cite Your Source! (See Works Cited handout to be sure you get all the information you
need for your Works Cited page.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Research and Note-taking Form (Web Site source)
*_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
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*_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
*_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Cite Your Source! (See Works Cited handout to be sure you get all the information you
need for your Works Cited page.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University