Lesson Overview

Introduction

This quest challenges you to investigate the American Dream. What is the Dream? Is it the same for all Americans? Is it a myth? Is it just a quest for a better life? How has the Dream changed over time? Some see their dreams wither and die while others see their dreams fulfilled. Why? Everyone has dreams about a personally fulfilled life ...what is your dream?

The Task

Your job is to research the dreams of others and create and publish your interpretation of the "American Dream". Divide into research roles (photographer, lawyer, poet, politician, producer, comedian, musician) You will begin by defining the American Dream with your group. Next, you will learn to search the archives in American Memory and document the dreams of those who came before you. Finally, you will identify and publish your interpretation of the "American Dream" according to your research role and the evidence you found.

The Process

Part 1
Organize the research roles and learn to search and read documents

1. Divide into groups of four.
2. As a group, choose one of the research roles (photographer, lawyer, poet, politician, producer, comedian, musician) to create your project. Use the team management check list to record the results of your discussion.
3. Your group needs to define the "American Dream". Read "What Is The American Dream?". Find out what the dream means to each member of your group.Brainstorm and share your ideas. What do you know about the "American Dream"? Complete Activity 1.
4. Read through the research roles and choose one as a group.
5. Next, decide your research theme or research topic: Are you interested in immigration/emmigration, families, social life? Do you need an idea? Click on Pathfinders to explore topics. Will you investigate one decade or compare how the American Dream evolved over the decades? Will you just compare the past to today?
6. Complete the exercises below to learn about searching the collection.

Complete these exercises

Searching in American Memory

Learn to search American Memory Every team completes the following exercises as a team: Primary Sources Treasure Hunt How do I find it? What do you see? What do you hear? How does it read? Visit the Discovering American Memory Online Workshop.

Document Analysis

Learn to read your sources according to your research role As a team use the document analysis worksheet to practice reading and interpreting sources with sample materials according to your research role. Photographer - Mr. & Mrs. David Vincent and daughter, Martha, by their sod house : near White River, South Dakota. Poet - "Dedication," Robert Frost's presidential inaugural poem, 20 January 1961. Politician - "Americanism", Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923 Producer - Arrival of immigrants, Ellis Island Comedian - Katzenjammer Kids: "Policy and pie" Musician - The old cabin home. H. De Marsan, Publisher, 54 Chatham Street, New York.

Part 2
Research the collections and gather your evidence.

Now you are ready. Here are your team assignments.

1. Read your task for your research role and set up your group management system.
2. Create an action plan. Use the team management check list to record the results of your discussion.
3. Discuss the assessment questions and anticipate how you will answer them.
4. Search American Memory and gather your evidence.
5. Create your learning product. Compare your dream to history.

Research Roles	Description
	Photographer With your artful eye you capture the images of the American Dream. Design a photo essay that shows the American Dream. You might show how the Dream has been effected by time, cultural influences, and significant historical events (war, economic depression, elections, etc.).
	Lawyer Your passion for controversy and debate will guide your vision of the American Dream. Prepare a legal brief about the status of the American Dream. Defend your argument with evidence from the collections, that means, cite your sources! (Legal Brief includes: Title, Who vs. Who, Statement of Facts, Argument, Conclusion, References)
	Poet Using your poetic grasp of language you seek out the heart and soul of the "American Dream". Create a poet's notebook that shows the "American Dream". Include samples of your poetry that shows how the "Dream" has been effected by time, cultural influences, and significant historical events (war, economic depression, elections, etc.)
	Politician With a finger on the pulse of the American people you trace significant political events that shape the "American Dream". Write and deliver a speech that traces the political events that shape the "American Dream". Your speech might present significant events that have shaped American politics.
	Producer Lights, camera, action! You can show the story of the "American Dream" with stories, films, and a script for a movie. Make a storyboard for your movie.You sequence the scenes to produce the movie of the "American Dream".
	Comedian You find the irony in the American Dream. Write a standup comic script or create a politcal cartoon or cartoon strip that expresses irony or the humorous side of the "American Dream".
	Musician With your ear for melody you play the music of the American Dream. Write the sheet music or play and record music that characterizes the "American Dream" from your research of the collection.
	Newspaper Reporter On the newsbeat you report and chronicle the events which shape the American Dream. Write a news article that reports the results of your research on the "American Dream". (Title, who, what, when, where, and how) Your news article might describe the significant events that have shaped "American Dream" through the decades.

Resources

Assessment By completing this assignment you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the American Dream. You will: define, present and defend their ideas on the American Dream through the decades analyze, interpret, and conduct research with digitized primary source documents interpret 19th and 20th century social life in the United States using digitized documents from the American Memory collection relate what they have uncovered from inquiry and research to their own American Dream Knowledge demonstrated through performance: competence in the use of word processing competence in the use of electronic research tools (e.g. Library of Congress) ability to assess the authenticity, reliability and bias of data gathered using electronic research tools Skills demonstrated through performance: opening, creating, and saving documents typing, navigating, and selecting text checking spelling and grammar formatting changing the appearance of your page importing graphics and creating drawing objects working with tables and adding borders working with online and internet documents printing

Product Description Using MS Word students will create an America Dreams booklet. (Humanities focus) Three elements: Cover (title, graphic, name), Center (project product), Back (About the author & your project) -example   Resource Packet Grade Sheet Team Management Checklist Confidential Team Evaluation & Narrative Self-assessment on the Analytic Rubric America Dreams Booklet (your product)

The American Memory , Library of Congress, is the resource selected to launch the project. Your challenge is to locate the right primary resources to develop the exhibit and tell your story. Our resource page is just a starting point.

Conclusion

You've finished, you've presented. Has this activity influenced your view of the American Dream? How?
Now that you've completed the project,

• What new considerations can you offer?
• Is the American Dream a reality?
• What can the dreams of others teach you?
• How will your personal dream become part of America's future?
• So...what is the American Dream?
• Research the dreams of others. Who are the dreamers of today? Use Activity 2.

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