Original PromptPerformance Task Activity: Westward Expansion After the Civil War
Who helped settle and expand the American West after the Civil War? What was life like for these
groups of people? What challenges did they face? In this unit, you learned about several important
groups of people who pushed the frontier of the United States steadily westward. Use your Student
Reader to travel back in time and interview three individuals about their experiences. Write three to
five questions and answers for each pe...
This resource outlines an engaging performance task focused on interviewing historical figures from the American West, aimed at understanding the human experiences behind significant events. It encourages students to delve into the reasons for westward expansion in the 19th century, exploring themes such as economic opportunities, cultural interactions, and daily struggles faced by pioneers. The project emphasizes creating meaningful dialogue between past and present, using specific open-ended questions that promote storytelling and deeper understanding. Students will select diverse subjects, such as farmers, railroad workers, and settlers, and draft thoughtful interview questions. The final products can be scripted Q&As or newspaper-style reports, ensuring a creative approach to demonstrating their knowledge and the importance of historical context.