Continuity and Change in a New Century

Social Studies American History The United States in the 20th Century Continuity and Change in a New Century
This experience is designed to help students interpret the continuity and change between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It focuses on how historians think about events, trends, and progress. First students explain what changes and what stays the same on their thirteenth birthdays. Then they identify a turning point in American history and analyze what changed and what continued after the turning point. Next they define a period and analyze a timeline of transportation or the industrial revolution to describe the continuity and change over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Finally, they create a timeline of their own lives, identifying periods, a turning point, a change, and continuity.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
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Here are the teacher pack items for Continuity and Change in a New Century:

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Overview

This experience is designed to help students understand continuity and change over time. It focuses on how historians study turning points, periods, and what changes or stays the same. First, students reflect on what changed and what stayed the same when they moved from fourth grade to fifth grade. Then they identify a turning point in American history and analyze what changed and what stayed the same after it. Next, they learn how historians divide history into periods and analyze a timeline of transportation or industrial development to identify what changed, what stayed the same, and who might or might not have benefited from the changes. Finally, they create a timeline of their own lives that includes periods, a turning point, a change, and an example of continuity.

Estimated duration: 35–45 minutes

Vocabulary words:

  • process
  • pace
  • gradual
  • benefit
  • transition

Objective

  • Apply historical concepts like continuity, change, and periodization


Engage


In this unit, we turn to a new century in American history: the twentieth century. How was it different from the nineteenth century? What changed? What remained the same?

Objective

  • Apply historical concepts like continuity, change, and periodization


In a brightly lit classroom, a young Black boy in a purple polo shirt sitting at his desk eagerly raises his hand to answer a question.

Students participate in a 5th-grade classroom


Think back to when you were in fourth grade. You have moved forward one year and are now a fifth grader. Some parts of your life as a student may be different, while other parts may be the same.


Think about your experience from fourth grade to fifth grade. What changed? What stayed the same?


Discuss student responses. Ask volunteers to share examples of what changed and what stayed the same when they moved from fourth grade to fifth grade. Point out that even when an important change happens, many things may stay the same. Ask: Why do you think some things changed when you moved up a grade while other things stayed the same?


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The Complete List of Learning Experiences in The United States in the 20th Century Unit.
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