Introduction
The year is 2020. You’re part of a national team of historical analysts working for a museum preparing a major exhibit: “150 Years of American Change.” Your mission is to trace the evolution of a key theme in American history from the 1870s to the modern day. Your work will be used to help museum visitors understand how America has developed over time—socially, politically, economically, and culturally.
Task
1. Choose a major theme in American history.
- Immigration & American identity
- Civil Rights & social justice
- Industrialization & economic change
- U.S. foreign policy & global power
- Role of technology & innovation
- Women’s roles and gender equality
- Labor movements and working conditions
2. Divide the 150-year timeline into segments (e.g., Reconstruction, Gilded Age, Progressive Era, Imperialism, Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWI, The Inter-war Period, WWII, Cold War and Containment, Civil Rights Era, post-Cold War, and 21st century
3. Investigate how that theme evolved during each era.
4. Create a virtual museum exhibit proposal (Google Slides, digital timeline, or poster).
5. Present your findings to the class as if pitching to the museum board.
Process
1. Pick a Theme:
As a group, select one of the historical themes:
- Immigration & American identity
- Civil Rights & social justice
- Industrialization & economic change
- U.S. foreign policy & global power
- Role of technology & innovation
- Women’s roles and gender equality
- Labor movements and working conditions
2. Assign Roles:
- Researcher: Finds and summarizes key historical events.
- Historian: Interprets significance and continuity/change.
- Media Specialist: Designs the visual/multimedia product.
- Presenter: Leads the final presentation.
3. Review Era by Era:
- Review what was covered in class and break the time period into eras. Research the theme’s development within each era using preselected online resources.
4. Analyze for each era, determine:
- What major events influenced the theme?
- What changed? What stayed the same?
- Who were the key figures and groups involved?
5. Create Exhibit Proposal:
- Develop a final project that visually and narratively explains your theme’s evolution. Choose the following medium (Google Slides, Canva, or PowerPoint)
6. Present Deliver a 5–8 minute presentation with all group members contributing.
Resources:
https://historicalthinking.ca/historical-thinking-concepts
-Explains historical thinking and covers continuity and change over time as well as other concepts.
https://guides.loc.gov/primary-docs-am-history
-A large collection of primary sources in American History
https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/10-worst-ways-history-has-repeated-itself.htm
-Some eye-opening examples of some patterns in world history
https://exhibits.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Guide-to-Exhibit-Development.pdf
-Ideas for creating a museum exhibit
Other Resources:
Your Class Notes
Classroom Lectures and PowerPoints
Classroom Discussion Blogs
Evaluation
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Historical Accuracy | Content is factually accurate and well-researched |
| Analysis of Change Over Time | Clearly identifies and explains patterns of continuity and change |
| Synthesis of Research | Combines sources into a coherent and compelling historical narrative |
| Collaboration | Demonstrates effective teamwork an equitable role fulfillment |
| Creativity and Presentation Quality | Presentation is visually engaging, original, and effectively communicates the theme |
| Use of Resources | Uses appropriate, high quality sources, with clear citations |
Conclusion
You’ve completed your journey through 150 years of American history. As you reflect, ask yourself:
- How has this theme shaped the country we live in today?
- What patterns or cycles have emerged?
- How can understanding history inform me of the future?
Submit a short written reflection (1 paragraph per student) on what you learned about your theme and why it matters today.