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    This Land is Made for You and Me

Illinois was not always an area of cities, towns, and farms.  As settlers came to the area that became Illinois, Native Americans were impacted in serious ways.  But the settlement of Illinois also had an impact on other groups.  The students need to understand what these impacts were and whether or not they were beneficial.

        The focus of this project is as follows:  Students will research the various groups that were in the area of Illinois in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century and what part they played in the development of Illinois. 

        In this unit, students will work in groups of four or five to research the history of Illinois, with the emphasis on settlers, Native Americans, traders, and transportation moguls.  They will compile their research into PowerPoint presentations emphasizing important issues of specific time periods and the effects pertinent groups of people had on the development of Illinois.

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What is the impact of encroachment of land on society and on specific cultures?

What was the impact of encroachment of land on Native Americans in Illinois?

What was the impact of encroachment of land on settlers in Illinois?

What was the impact of encroachment of land on trading?

5th Grade

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Unit Prerequisites

·         Vocabulary: encroachment

    impact

·         Basic internet researching skills

·         Basic keyboarding skills

·         Familiarity with PowerPoint

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Access:

·        Research Native Americans and  settlers in Illinois on the internet and encyclopedias on CD Rom

·        Research the traders and transportation moguls in Illinois on the internet and encyclopedias on CD Rom.

·        Investigate secondary sources for more information about the settlers, Native Americans, traders, and transportation issues in Illinois circa 1800.

·        Compile the information on note cards.

Interpret:

·        Analyze how the settlers affected the Native Americans.

·        Appraise the role of transportation in early Illinois.

·        Compare and contrast the needs of settlers and Native Americans.

·        Analyze the role of the traders in early Illinois.

Produce:

·        Design a web using Inspiration software.

·        Create a diary entry based on your group’s identity.

·        Create a PowerPoint presentation to convince others that your group’s way of life is valid.

·        Design a diorama that depicts your group.

Communicate:

·        Participate in a round table discussion.

·        Present a PowerPoint presentation to the class and James Madison (a volunteer adult).

Evaluate:

·        Critique your presentation and those of others.

·        Check to see that your project has addressed your goals.

·        Judge the effectiveness of your presentation.

Teacher Resources

Encatra 2001