March 13: Note the correction to the Levittown assignment: You need read only the first section. Also, for some reason I can't figure out, the link doesn't work but the address is OK if you type it in.

THE LAST WEB ASSIGNMENT. Do one of the following. Turn in during class on March 14 or e-mail me (Martha.N.Fraundorf@orst.edu) your answer by 3:00 on March 15.

• As I mentionned in class, you can interview a person who lived during the depression about his or her experiences. A grandparent (if old enough) is a good choice but anyone over over 80 would be OK. Write up what you learned and how it relates to what we've talked about.
• For future teachers: Read about the Montgomery bus boycott at http://www.archives.state.al.us/teacher/rights/rights1.html. Then read over the suggested class activities. Do some of the activities and write them up (give me your comments where it says class discussion). Then evaluate the activity. Do you think this is a good activity for the students you'll be teaching? Why or why not?
• Go to http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/success/spinoff/1997/cbs.html. Read about at least 5 spinoffs that developed from the space program. List them. Which do you think was the most important to future economic development of the US. Explain why. If you want to read more about the history of our space program, try http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/astronau.html.
• Go to Levittown at http://www.lihistory.com/specsec/levmain.htm. Read the section labelled PART 1: Suburban Pioneers. You might also enjoy looking at a drawing of the houses (Select Levitt homes under "the Levitt House"). Your text (p. 587) gives some different views of this development. What did the resident think? After reading more about this development, what do you think?

• Due Feb. 26: Write one multiple choice question or three fill in the blank questions that would be suitable for the next exam.
• Due Feb. 28: Investigate one of the following on the web. Then, write a brief paragraph about what you learned or what struck you as most interesting.
  1. Read one of the accounts of slave life at: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/texts.html. See, for example, accounts under Ball, W. Brown, Bruce, Grandy, L. Hughes. You'll need to scroll past the introductory material to get to the actual account. Some are fairly long; you need read only a few chapters.
  2. Read the story of the Triangle Fire at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/. You'll need to click through the icons for "The Story of the Fire."
  3. Read Pauline Newman's letter to Michael and Hugh at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/texts/default.html. (Scroll down a bit to find it) Then read one of "testimonials" listed there.

Homework -- Due Feb. 7

Do A OR B below. Do NOT do both.

A. Visit one of the web sites about the Erie Canal which are given below. Write a SHORT paragraph about what you learned.

• NY State Canals Site
• Read 1829 magazine article describing a trip across New York on the Erie Canal
• Take an imaginary trip along the Erie Canal then or follow a contemporary journey.

B. See what life was like in the 1830s. Visit either Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts or Conner Prairie, Indiana. Write a short paragraph about what you learned.

• Old Sturbridge Village. I suggest you tour the village. Be sure you scroll down to read about each building as well as looking at the pictures. Those with a business interest might prefer to read about the the developing furniture industry. Those who are thinking about teaching careers might prefer to look at some of the materials in "Teacher Resources."
• Read stories about two different Conner Prairie citizens. or one of the articles about food, clothing, farming, medicine, charcoal-making, or building construction

If you are interested in teaching, check out the teacher's source materials on "The Midwife's Tale" at the at the PBS website.