Maines Historical Figures, Lesson #4, Lindsey Whitlock

Expected Duration (# minutes) 45 Minutes

Social Sciences History
Concepts engineer, entrepreneur, independence
Vocabulary Engineer someone who designs and builds
machines, structures and systems. They want to understand how
and why things work the way that they do.
Entrepreneur someone who organizes and create his or her
own business
Slavery practice in owning people and having them work for
little or no
pay
Controversial something is discussed where there is a
difference of
opinion
Skills describing characteristics in their own perspective, webmapping
Goals of Lesson For students to understand the different people
from Maine and the mark they made through history.
- For the students to understand how Maine gained its
independence from Massachusetts in 1820.
Integration of Learning Outcomes/Objectives
The students will be able to create a web map from the text
about their Maine historical figure.
The students will be able to act out the characteristics of their
groups historical figure.
Standards PA Civics, History, Economics, Geography

5.2.4.A Define individual rights and explain how it relates to

rights and needs of others.
7.4.4.A Identify the effect of the physical systems on people
within a community
NCSS Themes I - X with subthemes

People, Places, and Environments. The study of people, places,

and human-environment interactions assists students as they create
their spatial views and geographic perspectives of the world beyond
their personal locations. Students need the knowledge, skills, and
understanding to answer questions such as: Where are things located?
Why are they located where they are? What do we mean by region?
How do landforms change? What implications do these changes have
for people? In schools, this theme typically appears in units and
courses dealing with area studies and geography.

NCSS.1.3.g ...challenge learners to examine, interpret, and analyze the

interactions of human beings and their physical environments and
organization that impacted the history and development of the
United States.

Anticipatory Set
Teacher is to ask the students if they have ever been to Maine
and activities or places that they may have done or visited while
there. Teacher would then review where Maine is on a map and
show that it is a part of the New England area. Teacher would
then remind the students how we learned about the Sons of
Liberty, the Boston Tea Party and acts of resistance by
Massachusetts colonists, in our previous lesson, and now we are
going to learn about more historical figures but ones that are
from Maine. Teacher would ask if the students have ever heard of
Harriet Beecher Stowe, William King, L.L.Bean, Robert Peary, and
Louis Sockalexis and explain that they are all important historical
figures from Maine.
Procedures
Teacher explains to students that they are all going to read the
short text about each of the 5 historical figures from Maine, then
when they are all finished, they will be placed in 5 groups: each
group being assigned one historical figure. Where they will then
create a web-map about that historical person as a group. They
finish the web-map, they are going to play charades by acting
out Maine historical figures.
Teacher will then model a web map of characteristics of Maine
and explain her thought process as she does it (Guided Practice)
Teacher hands out information sheet about all of the 5 historical
figures and has them read it individually. This is also when the
teacher will hand out the different vocabulary sheets for those on
different reading levels.
Teacher puts the students in 5 groups and each group will be
assigned one historical figure
The students will then create a web-map as a group containing
characteristics of their person and information about their main
accomplishments. (Independent Practice)
o Teacher will walk around talking to students about their
person as they are working on web-maps (formative
assessment)
When finished with the web-map, the students will start planning
what they are going to act out for charades since the whole
group must participate

Practice their acting until the whole group is ready and the
teacher will walk around the room consulting with each group
about what they are going to act out.
Teacher will write the 5 historical figures on the board so the
students have choices
Call up one group at a time to act out their historical figure while
the other students try to guess who they are based on the text
that they read.

Differentiation
Lower-reading level: I would give them a vocabulary list with definitions
for any words that may be too difficult for them. Include a picture of
the person to give them a visual to help them remember the facts with
a face.
Higher-reading level: I would give these students a vocabulary list
without definitions and have them fill out the definitions based on the
context clues as they are reading.
English-Language Learners: I would give the students the text the night
before so they could look over it and become familiar with it before
class. I would also give them a picture and a vocabulary list if they
need it.
Closure
Exit Ticket: I would have students write one thing that they learned
about one of the historical figures that wasnt the one that they acted
out.
Formative/Summative Assessment of Students (P-12)
Formative when discussing the web-mapping I will notice how
the students are doing and write down notes about participation
Summative When the students hand in the web-maps and
watch the charades and how the students understand the
historical figures. Also, review the students exit tickets for
accurate information about their selected historical figure.
Materials/Equipment
A. STUDENT MATERIALS/ READING RESOURCES.
Webmap
Reading on historical figures
Vocabulary List
B. TEACHER MATERIALS/RESOURCES FOR LESSON DESIGN:
Notes sheet
Smartboard

Technology
Smartboard
Reflection on Planning
Write your reflection on the plan, its development, and ways to
improve it. What are the potential successes? What are your concerns
for lesson implementation?
I think overall the students would really enjoy doing this lesson
because it is interactive in the context that they all get to act out a
historical figure and get to work with their peers. Including the
webmapping is a good skill for students to develop and having them
work on it as a group will let them incorporate the whole groups ideas.
One way that it could be improved is by having the students be able to
watch a video on each of the historical figures instead of having to
read about them since students will read at different paces, causing
some to be finished before others. A potential success is the students
really understand the lives of those from Maine and their careers
because they not only read about them, but then create a webmap,
and play charades to reinforce the reading. My concerns for the lesson
plan are some students finishing their reading before others and
having those who need more time not read as thorough to rush
through and catch up with their peers. I hope to solve this by having
those on a higher reading level to fill in definitions. I am also worried
about the reading being too difficult for some of the readers even with
the vocabulary list.

MAINE HISTORICAL
FIGURES
(Would not include images for higher reading level)
Source: Famous People from Maine (2007). In State of Maine . Retrieved January 4,
2016.
Louis Sockalexis
1871-1913. Sockalexis was the first Native American to play major
league baseball, as well as the first minority player in the National
League.
A member of the Penobscot tribe of Maine, Sockalexis was a multitalented athlete
who starred in baseball, football, and track at the College of the Holy Cross before he
signed with the National League's Cleveland Spiders in early 1897. Unfortunately, his
stardom did not last. He batted .338 in his rookie season, but a disease derailed the career
of this amazing athlete.
Sockalexis spent his final years on the Penobscot Indian reservation, teaching Native
American boys how to play baseball. He died of heart failure at the age of 42 on October
24, 1913."
Robert E. Peary
1856-1920. Robert E. Peary attended Portland High School and
Bowdoin College graduating in 1877 with a civil engineering degree.

He worked as the town surveyor in Fryeburg. Peary later moved to Washington D.C.
working for the Coast and Geodetic Survey and eventually joined the U.S. Navy and
Civil Engineers Corps. In the 1890's Peary made several trips to Greenland. Peary and his
guides were the first to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909. After retiring from the
Navy in 1911, Peary summered on Eagle Island, which is now a state park, off the coast
of Freeport
Leon Leonwood Bean
1873 - 1967 known as "L.L." was a true outdoorsman, who lived in
Freeport, Maine. L.L. designed the original lightweight boot with
leather tops and waterproof rubber bottoms, known today as the "Bean
Boot." The first try at the boot was unsuccessful, of the first 100 pairs
sold 90 pairs were returned due to poor stitching. Bean, true to his word
refunded his customers' money and started over with an improved boot.
This was the beginning of the legendary guarantee of 100% satisfaction. The company
was founded in 1912 as just a mail order company. The first showroom was opened in
Freeport in 1917. Over the years the company has added casual and sports apparel, gear
and other footwear to his line. By 1951 people were dropping in by day and night on their
way to hunt and fish in Maine. L.L. announced he had "thrown away the key" and the
store L.L. Bean has been open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year ever since.
L.L lived to the age of 94 and attributed his good health to an active outdoor life.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
1811 - 1896. During the time she lived in Maine, Harriet Beecher
Stowe became one of the most important figures during the Civil
War period by penning perhaps the most influential novel of its time.
While living in Brunswick, Maine, Stowe was inspired to write
Uncle Tom's Cabin, a story that was sympathetic towards the plight
of slaves in the United States. Highly controversial, this novel stirred up emotions on
both sides of the slavery issue and was often used as a symbol to rally the abolitionist
movement.
William King
1768 - 1852. A marine shipper by trade, this Bath resident pushed
himself into the forefront of the Maine political scene by becoming
one of the most outspoken advocates for the state's independence from
Massachusetts. In 1820, King's hard work came to fruition when
legislators in Boston granted Maine the right to secede and become its
own state. The people of Maine rewarded King's efforts by electing him the first governor
of Maine. He would later go on to lead a rather distinguished career in public service at
both the federal and state level.

Teacher Web Map

Student Web Map

Main Contribution to Maine!

Vocabulary List:
For students on a lower reading level
Engineer someone who designs and builds machines, structures and
systems. They want to understand how and why things work the way
that they do.
Entrepreneur someone who organizes and create their own business
Slavery practice in owning slaves and having them work for little or
no pay
Controversial something is discussed where there is a difference of
opinion
Summered where one spends their summers
Satisfaction filling a desire or need
Abolitionist one who wants to stop slavery
Advocate one who argues in favor for a cause

Vocabulary List:
For students on a higher reading level where they fill in the definitions
Engineer
Entrepreneur
Slavery

Controversial
Summered
Satisfaction
Abolitionist
Advocate

Maine Notes
PEOPLE
Harriet Beecher Stowe
o Civil War time period
o Wrote Uncle Toms Cabin
A story that was sympathetic towards the plight of
slaves in the United States. Highly controversial, this
novel stirred up emotions on both sides of the
slavery issue and was often used as a symbol to rally
the abolitionist movement.
Louis Sockalexis
o First Native American MLB player
o First minority player in the minor league in National League
o Was a great baseball player until his disease stopped his
future in baseball
o Then taught boys on reserve how to play baseball
Robert E. Peary
o Civil engineering degree
o US Navy and Civil Engineers Corps
o Made multiple trips to Greenland
o First one to reach the North Pole 4/5/1909
Leon Leonwood Bean
o Outdoorsman
o Designed the Bean Boot
o Failed at first because the stiches were not high quality but
reinvented the boot and succeeded
o Company slowly started adding clothing, sports attire, and
other shoes

William King
o Advocate for Maines independence from Massachusetts
o First governor of Maine
o Participated in State and Federal level politics
EVENTS
1775 First naval battle of the Revolutionary War occurs off the
coast of Machias.
1839 Governor Fairfield declares war on England over a
boundary dispute between New Brunswick and northern Maine.
This is the first and only time a state has declared war on a
foreign power. The dispute was settled, however, before any
blood was shed.
1851 Harriet Beecher Stowe begins writing Uncle Tom's Cabin
in Brunswick, Maine. This novel would later serve as a source of
inspiration for abolitionists prior to the Civil War.
1860 Paris, Maine native, Hannibal Hamlin is named Abraham
Lincoln's Vice President.
1974 James Longley is elected Governor of Maine. He
becomes the first popularly elected independent governor in the
history of the United States.
HISTORY
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. Resistance to the oppressive colonial
tax policies of the British Parliament began early in Maine.
o In 1765 a mob seized a quantity of tax stamps at Falmouth
(now Portland), and attacks on customs agents in the
province became common.
o A year after the famous Boston Tea Party of 1773, Maine
staged its own version of that incident when a group of
men burned a shipment of tea stored at York.
o The first naval battle of the Revolution occurred in June
1775 when a group of Maine patriots captured the armed
British cutter "Margaretta" off Machias
STATEHOOD. Following the Revolution, frontier settlers who
resented being ruled from Boston pressed for separation from
Massachusetts.
o With popular sentiment unified behind statehood, the
separation movement went forward. Congress established
Maine as the 23rd state under the Missouri Compromise of
1820. This arrangement allowed Maine to join the Union as
a free state, with Missouri entering a year later as a slave
state, thereby preserving the numeric balance between
free and slave states in the nation.
o Population of Maine had reached nearly 300,000. The new
state had nine counties and 236 towns.

o Delegates met for three weeks in October of 1819 in

Portland to hammer out a state constitution, a document
strongly rooted in political independence, religious freedom
and popular control of government.
o The president of the convention was William King, a
prominent Bath merchant and shipbuilder who
subsequently became Maine's first governor.
o Portland was selected as the state capital, but this was
only temporary. In 1832 the capital was moved to Augusta,
a more centrally located site.
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty, hammered out in 1842 by U.S.
Secretary of State Daniel Webster and English special minister
Lord Ashburton, finally settled the question of where Maine's
northeast boundary lay.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Once Maine became a separate
state there followed a period of tremendous economic growth in
which a number of important mining and manufacturing
industries emerged.
o fishing and shipbuilding pursuits entered a boom period.
Ice harvesting, granite and lime quarrying also developed
as important industries.
o Water-powered factories began to spring up. Textiles, paper
and leather products all became primary sources of
manufacturing employment
CIVIL WAR
o Strongly against slavery
o Harriet Beecher Stowe, wife of a Bowdoin College
professor, wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Brunswick; the
book inflamed anti-slavery sentiment throughout the
northern states in the years immediately preceding the
outbreak of hostilities
o James G. Blaine from the mid-1860s to the end of the
century Blaine virtually dominated state and national
Republican politics, as speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives, a powerful U.S. senator, and secretary of
state in three Republican administrations. He was the GOP
presidential candidate in 1884, but lost narrowly to Grover
Cleveland.
INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. Maine's textile and leather industries
enjoyed a dramatic upward surge following the Civil War, while
farming activity correspondingly decreased.
o Maine began utilizing its vast river resources for the
development of hydroelectric power. Plants for the
production of electricity were built principally on the
Androscoggin, Kennebec, Penobscot and Saco Rivers.

o The Great Depression of the 1930s brought the state's

economy to a grinding halt along with the rest of the nation

Current Event
A. This article is focused in Africa
B. This article discusses different entrepreneurs from Africa. This
relates to my lesson because Leon Leonwood Bean is also an
entrepreneur from the New England area. This article shows that
entrepreneurs come from all over and gives an examples of a
young entrepreneur.
C. Guest, P. (2015, October 15). Meet the entrepreneurs at the heart of Africa's boom
- and they're all under 23. In CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/africa/12-of-africas-brightest-youngentrepreneurs-2015/index.html