Lesson 1: Overview of World Events During the
Deerfield Colonial Period
1 class period (85 minutes)
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Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and
Teacher Background |
The New World was appealing to the Europeans,
who envisioned the land as a place of expansion and subsequently
power, as well as offering new opportunities to enhance their economy.
These powers brought with them their culture, endeavoring to mold
their acquired land into their own image.
Teacher Background Essay: Settlements in
the New Land
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Intended Learning Outcomes |
Understandings
Students will understand:
the political, social, religious, and economic
world and national context in which the events of Deerfield occurred.
Skills
Students will be able to:
identify and articulate differing points of
view.
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In Preparation for Teaching |
1. Read Teacher Background Essay:
2. Locate copies of the following paintings:
Thomas Cole's - "Oxbow" (you
can find a copy at the University
of Virginia's American Studies website)
Frederick Church - representative works
Albert Bierstadt - representative works
Edward Hicks - "The Peaceable Kingdom" (you
can find a copy at the Albright
Knox Gallery's website)
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Primary and Secondary Sources:
- Turner, Fredrick Jackson. "The
First Official Frontier of Massachusetts Bay". from The
Colonial Society of Massachusetts. 4 April 1914.
- Copies of the paintings mentioned above.
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Activities |
Materials in Context |
Activity 1
- Direct students to locate paintings
of the frontier such as artists as Thomas Cole's "The
Oxbow," or the works of Frederick Church and Albert
Bierstadt.
- Ask students to provide some adjectives
that describe the feelings that these landscapes convey.
- In a discussion, ask students
to compare these works with Edward Hicks and tell what sensibilities
they see when comparing Hicks with the Hudson River School.
If the Hudson River School painters describe the land to
which the colonists came, what does the Hicks' landscape
reveal about the English settlers?
- In a journal, ask students to
reflect and then write on the following: Did the frontier
people come because they were ones who enjoyed the risk
and adventure of settling new lands OR did the experience
create people who could tolerate risk and adventure. Draw
on comparisons in today's world to support your position.
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Instruct the students to read Fredrick Jackson
Turner's "The First Official Frontier
of Massachusetts Bay". from The Colonial Society
of Massachusetts, 4 April 1914. From this reading, ask them
to prepare a brief description of a prototype of the evolution of
a frontier town from the wilderness.
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