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Twentieth Century U.S. History is a one semester required course for 10th grade students examining America's recent past.
Students will be asked to do individual and group research projects using original sources such as interviews, collected
artifacts, letters, diaries, etc. to create individual history scrapbooks. When studying the most recent decades from 1940
to the present, special multi-media projects will be created which will include the creation of newspapers, magazines, bulletin
board displays, artifact collections, oral history interviews and dramatic presentations.
COURSE OBJECTIVES....After completing this course, each student will be able to: 1. Evaluate why a knowledge of recent U.S.
History will be of benefit to each and every citizen.
2. Identify the major persons and events of the 20th century.
3. Explain competing theories concerning causes and effects of key historical events.
4. Create a scrapbook tracing the history of his/her family history or a local community organization.
5. Work cooperatively with 4-5 other students in the creation of five major projects examining the decades from 1940 to the
present.
UNIT EXAMS: Upon completion of the first three major units of the course, a unit exam will be given. Such exams will be
both objective and subjective, using TF, matching, completion, multiple choice, and short essay questions. Exams will count
100 points each.
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS: During each unit, students will also be assigned a variety of smaller written assignments. Such
assignments will include opinion essays, review questions, quizzes, and special projects, such as the creation of an opinion
poll or student-created legislative bill. These assignments will normally count 20 points.
MAJOR GROUP STUDY PROJECTS: During the last 2/3 of the course, students will create 5 major small group projects, one each
for the decades from 1930-1990. Projects include: a newspaper covering the major national and international news events
of the decade; a magazine examining social and cultural themes of the decade; a bulletin board and artifact collection;
an oral history project, and a dramatic skit presentation. These projects will count 100 points each and will be evaluated
both on an individual and group basis. More specific evaluation information will be handed out in class.
EXTRA CREDIT OPTIONS....Students in Twentieth Century U.S. History have two excellent opportunities to earn extra credit.
One activity involves interviewing older persons who are willing to share special experiences of their lives in an oral
history situation. A second activity involves conducting "movie reviews" of important movies made about important
historical events of the twentieth century. The Movie Review Assignment, complete with all the possible movies to be reviewed
can be downloaded below.
DOWNLOADS of special handouts are available below...just click on the title of the handout you need.
SCRAPBOOK PROJECTS
SCRAPBOOK GRADING RUBRIC
DECADES PROJECTS
MOVIE REVIEWS
STANDARDS AND BENCHMARKS
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