Lindsay+Cumbea+-+Thinking+and+Planning+Big

Thinking and Planning Big - Lindsay Cumbea

8th Grade American History/ North Carolina History

Theme 1 - Equality This theme is essential for American History as well as North Carolina specifically because the struggle for equality is still relevant in our society today. It is a largely debated topic in election speeches and new laws, all leading back to the original issues of the past. Sub-themes could include black and white relations, women's rights, Native Americans, immigrants, and LGBTQ rights. It could also include current debates on the issues and compare them to speeches, writings, and documents from the past.

Individuals: Texts:
 * 1) Malcolm X - Although Malcolm X was not from North Carolina, he did inspire the Malcolm X Liberation University, which was located in Durham. A powerful and controversial leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X brought many radical ideas to the table and inspired change. He was a powerful public speaker, and worth listening to. It’s important for students to see powerful leaders that aren’t the ones they’ve heard and learned about in previous grade levels, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Being able to compare tactics and viewpoints will provide a deeper level of understanding to students.
 * 2) Mary Garber - Garber was a sports journalist in Winston-Salem for more than 60 years. She managed to get the position when the original journalist was sent off to war. She broke racial barriers by writing about black high school and college athletics. Gerber later went on to win over 40 national and state awards, be elected into the North Carolina Journalism and Sports Hall of Fame, and became the first woman to join the U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame in 2000. She’s a powerful figure for students to learn about because she was different, and despite being a female, she held a traditional male role and kept it, even after the return of soldiers from war.
 * 3) Nina Simone - Simone was an author, a pianist, singer, overall musician, and a civil rights activist. Born in Tryon, North Carolina, Simone wrote and performed songs relating to civil rights and events that were happening, such as “Mississippi Goddamn” and “Why (The King of Love is Dead)”. Several documentaries have been made from her life, and her songs live on as anthems of the Civil Rights Movement. Simone is included in my list of individuals because she played a large role in the Civil Rights Movement, but in a more subdued way than many of the famous leaders and speakers. Also, being an African American female makes her a part of two groups fighting for equality.
 * 1) Malcolm X Speech (and text to read along) - “You’re afraid to bleed” -- This speech shows Malcolm X’s viewpoint without being as in depth or scary as some of his others, and it’s not as lengthy. He shows his views on violence as well as illustrating the race relations of the time between whites and blacks. There are things students can inference based on it, and listening to the audio while reading along provides a powerful experience for students, as Malcolm X was a phenomenal public speaker.
 * 2) Martin Luther King, Jr. - “I have a dream” -- This speech can be compared against Malcolm X’s speech in the classroom. The opposite approach taken by King is evident, but which one is more effective? Both relay powerful messages to the audiences but go about it in different ways. This is great for students to see because it shows the value of seeing all sides. Which powerful leader would you agree with more? Is there an in-between or is it all or nothing for both sides?
 * 3) Maya Angelou - “Still I Rise” -- Being raised in North Carolina, she’s also an individual students should learn about, and her poetry is powerful. How does “Still I Rise” (published in 1978) show how the time period might have been for blacks in North Carolina? Students can enjoy poetry in Social Studies as well as English, and learn about the culture that surrounds it at the same time.

Theme 2 - Innovation

Individuals:
 * 1) David Marshall Williams- Inventor of the floating chamber and the short- stroke piston, both used in semi-automatic weapons. From Cumberland County, NC. Spent time in prison and was able to work on plans and build tools while there.
 * 2) Richard Gatling - Inventor of the Gatling gun, the gun that they hoped would end the civil war. It was an early machine gun. He believed it would end the war because no one would want to commit horrific acts with such a powerful killing machine.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">William Briggs - Inventor of the Automatic Cigarette Machine. It could roll 300,000 cigarettes in a day and changed the game for tobacco companies.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Texts:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">William Briggs’ Patent for the Automatic Cigarette Machine (available online for free). This would combine math/science to social studies and show how far we’ve come in technology - maybe find pictures of cigarette rollers now?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Biography on David Marshall Williams - inventions can come from anyone. He was convicted for murder then later created a revolutionary addition to modern weapons.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Invention” - Shel Silverstein -- Quick funny poem about inventions that could get students started with the theme.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Theme 3- Change

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individuals:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Abraham Lincoln - emancipation proclamation, abolishing slavery, assassination
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">James Madison - writer of the constitution
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Major General D.H. Hill - important leader in the Civil War from NC. His son was the namesake of the library at NCSU.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Texts:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Constitution - reading parts of this in it’s original form would be helpful for students because it’s something that still comes up and is debated about today, are new laws abiding by the constitution? It was an important turning point and starting point for the United States, and a must see for students.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">North Carolina Constitution and its revisions - NC was forced to change aspects of its constitution, so having students read and analyze the changes could be beneficial.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Declaration of Independence - The foundation of our democracy is an important read for students.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Theme 4- Conflict

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individuals:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">William David Hallyburton, Jr - Medal of Honor for his service in WWII, NC native.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">President Woodrow Wilson - tried to keep Americans out of WWI as long as possible,
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Matt Whitaker Ransom - Civil War general and later a Democratic U.S. Senator

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Texts:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Treaty of Paris - Ended Revolutionary War
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Civil War surrender document - Ended Civil War
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The Vietnam War: A History in Documents" Excerpts - Uses government documents, speeches, news reports, etc. to chronicle the Vietnam War

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Theme 5- Entertainment

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individuals:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Andy Griffith - Actor from NC, had his own show
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dale Earnhardt - Race Car Driver from NC, record NASCAR racer, died in crash in 2001
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Catfish Hunter - Baseball player from NC, played in the 70s, hall of fame

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Texts:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stand by Me - Ben E. King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Catfish Hunter’s Hall of Fame Induction Speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rruUJSmF_eU
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eric Church - Carolina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlVoFytdG-w

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Theme 6- Money

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individuals:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">George Vanderbilt - Biltmore Estate in Asheville
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Annie Land O’Berry - Administrator of the North Carolina Relief Administration during Great Depression
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dr. Jim Goodnight - Creator of SAS Institute

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Texts: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Photos of NC during Great Depression - http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/photos-of-nc-1936/
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Biltmore Estate Virtual Tour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wnt4Znkis
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Servents’ quarters show other side of Biltmore” - http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/sep/21/20050921-104655-3782r/