The Urban Game

Lesson Description:

Utilize groups to play a game responding to the growth of a large city.

Essential Question:

How well did cities adapt to the influx of people during the Gilded Age & Progressive Era?

Concepts:

• Urbanization
• Gilded Age
• Progressive Era
• Immigration

Content Standards:

Oklahoma Academic Standards for the Social Studies

USH 1.3 Analyze the impact of westward expansion and immigration on migration, settlement patterns in American society, economic growth, and American Indians.

A. Summarize the reasons for immigration, shifts in settlement patterns, the immigrant experience at immigrant processing centers such as Ellis Island and Angel Island, and the impact of Nativism and Americanization.

National Council for the Social Studies C3 Framework

Change, Continuity, & Context

D2.His.1.9-12. Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place as well as broader historical contexts.

AP U.S. History Learning Objective                               

Unit 6: Learning Objective F – Explain how cultural and economic factors affected migration patterns over time.

Key Concept – 6.2.LB – Urban neighborhoods based on particular ethnicities, races, and classes provided new cultural opportunities for city dwellers.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

• Explain why immigrants were coming to the United States.
• Enumerate several of the social and cultural changes taking place.
• Cite Reasons for the growth of cities.
• Describe the impact of the Ellis Island.

Time Required:

50 Minutes

Procedures 1-15

Procedures:

1. Tell the students to get into groups in their rows (3-4 Students per Group).
2. Distribute legal sheets or mini poster boards and colored pencils.
3. Go over the Essential Question on Slide 2.
4. Go to Slide 3.
5. Instruct them to design their town for 1850, using the provided paper and colored pencils – 10 Minutes.
   • 1 River
   • 5 streets (2 intersections)
   • 1 Bridge
   • 1 Railroad Line
   • 1 Railroad Station
   • 1 Factory
   • 1 Coalmine
   • 1 Feed Mills
   • 1 City Hall
   • 1 Courthouse
   • 1 Jail
   • 1 Primary School
   • 1 Secondary School
   • 1 Library
   • 1 Museum
   • 1 Cemetery
   • 1 Park
   • 1 Hospital
   • 1 Theater
   • 1 Store
   • 1 Bank
   • 1 Pub
   • 2 Churches
   • 10 Simple Homes
   • 5 Luxury Homes
   • 5 Tenements
6. Go to Slide 4.
7. Instruct them it is now 1890 and they need to add the following – 15 Minutes.
   • 10 streets (5 intersections)
   • 3 Bridges
   • 2 Railroad Lines
   • 1 Railroad Station
   • 4 Factories
   • 2 Coalmines
   • 2 Feed Mills
   • 3 Primary Schools
   • 2 Secondary Schools
   • 1 Library
   • 1 Museum
   • 1 Hospital
   • 1 Theater
   • 3 Stores
   • 2 Banks
   • 2 Pubs
   • 3 Churches
   • 25 Simple Homes
   • 10 Luxury Homes
   • 10 Tenements
8. Go to Slide 5 and show them the total of what should be in their town now.
9. Go to Slide 6.
10. Instruct them it is now 1920 and they need to add the following – 10 Minutes.
    • 5 streets (2 intersections)
    • 1 Bridge
    • 1 Railroad Line
    • 1 Factory
    • 1 Primary School
    • 1 Secondary School
    • 1 Museum
    • 1 Hospital
    • 1 Theater
    • 1 Store
    • 1 Bank
    • 1 Pub
    • 1 Church
    • 10 Simple Homes
    • 5 Luxury Homes
    • 5 Tenements
11. Go to Slide 7 and show them the total of what should be in their town now.