Grade 8 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 17, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A More Perfect Union

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 17, Lesson 1: The Shame of the Cities (pp. 498-506)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Change The Progressive reformers worked for improvements in government, education, urban planning, and labor conditions.

Describe the origins and basic characteristics of the Progressive movement, citing Jane Addams as an example of a Progressive reformer. Point out the role of the muckrakers in accomplishing these reforms.

Review the Progressives' stand on educational reform, city planning, and city politics. Talk about those reform ideas which are still used today, such as kindergarten, job training, zoning, and the different forms of city government.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Make up slips of paper with the one of the following words or phrases on each: city government, education, city planning, and working conditions. Have each child choose one slip and write a description of the problems in that area and the specific changes that Progressives wanted to enact to solve those problems.
Ask pairs of students to create posters advertising the services of a settlement house, such as Hull House. Posters should use pictures or words to show how the settlement house could help meet the needs of immigrants or poor people in a city

Social Studies Center | Houghton Mifflin Social Studies | Grade 8 Home
Education Place | Site Index

You may download, print, and make copies of Lesson at a Glance pages for use in your classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice shown below on all such copies.