Urban Game AMERICAN HISTORY STYLE

New and improved - updated 3/2/21! This is one of the most powerful lessons I do all year with my students! The “Urban game” has been around a long time and there are many different versions of it here on TPT. This one is DIFFERENT! I’ve taken the best of the world history version (which is the one most versions follow) and changed it to fit the story of the UNITED STATES. I do this lesson with 8th graders, but it could be modified to fit other grade levels. See concepts that are addressed in this lesson at the bottom.

*********This activity could be used on ZOOM! The teacher would share their screen show the power point and students would draw at home. Although I SUGGEST a longer piece of paper to complete the activity, it can be done on notebook or computer paper.

This is a 2 day lesson (45 minute classes)

Day 1 – students create a map (key to symbols included in this purchase) and through a series of short rounds/stories – will see the development of factories, industrialization and urbanization of the US.

Day 2 – students will continue their map by adding the growth of the United States as it relates to transportation (canals, roads, and railroads), inventions (steamboat, cotton gin etc.) and communication (telegraph). At the end of day 2, students turn their map over and are introduced to the concept of SECTIONALISM. They will see that the North, West and South each have their own interests and economic activities which leads to sectionalism.

What you will receive in this purchase:

• power point (editable) which walks students through each round of the game
• map key (symbols to add to the map - editable)

Concepts covered in this lesson:

• War of 1812 – effects leading to Industrialization/Urbanization of the US (this lesson assumes you have already taught this)
• Cottage Industry – to Factories
• Samuel Slater
• Lowell Mill Girls
• Free enterprise
• Steam Engine
• Interchangeable parts
• Canals
• Steamboat
• National Road
• Railroads
• Bessemer Steel Process
• Steel plow, mechanical reaper, threshing machine
• Cotton gin
• Telegraph
• Sectionalism
• Modification of the environment

NOTE: Hidden slides in the power point give additional teaching details to the teacher.

Texas Teachers: Here are the TEKS (updated to 2019 TEKS) you will touch on in this one lesson! (8.11A, 8.11B, 8.12A, 8.12B, 8.12C, 8.13A, 8.13B, 8.23A, 8.27A, 8.27B, 8.27C, 8.28B)