The Progressive Era has it all: scandals, politics, war, social and cultural upheaval, change and reform, taxes, women's rights, larger-than-life personalities, a hero president, outrageous wealth, muckraking press, great inventions and technological development, photographs, Cracker Jacks, and a World's Fair. Yet students often have a difficult time relating to this era because they don't realize how much they already know about it, and can't see the connections between the turn-of-the-century Progressive Era and our own turn-of-the-century time period. In this session, you will refresh your understanding of the key themes of the Progressive Era. You will then focus on strategies that help students tap into their existing knowledge about this time period; then use that knowledge to "break the ice" for a more in-depth study of the era.

Content Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• become reacquainted with key topical points and/or themes that should be included in Progressive Era units you teach in your classroom; and
• become familiar with a range of fictional film resources for use in teaching the Progressive Era.

Strategy Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• incorporate several knowledge activators for engaging students in the study of the Progressive Era into your curriculum.