Name: Tindell, Carla

E-mail: crt@arbbs.net

Topic: Arkansas Nick Names ­ A Reflection of an Ever Changing View of our State

Grade: 8th Grade

Time: One Class Period

Ark. Hist. Framework: 2.1.11, 3.1.16

Objective: The student will be able to identify the nick names of the state (past and presence) and demonstrate an understanding of their relevance.

Set: Ask the students if they’ve ever had a nick name ­ discuss nick names with the students.  Ask them the relevance of their “nick names”.  Introduce the idea of nick names for a state.

Materials: Arkansas History Textbook

Key Terms: Ask the students if they’ve ever had a nick name ­ discuss nick names with the students.  Ask them the relevance of their “nick names”.  Introduce the idea of nick names for a state.

Key Facts: Arkansas has had (as of this date) 4 official state nick names:

        The Bear State

        The Wonder State

        The Land of Opportunity

        The Natural State

Activities: Read and discuss the changing of the nick name of the state of Arkansas.  Discuss the relevance of each change with the students and the perceived picture each nick name created.

Closure: Recap the discussion relating the picture created by each nick name and the feelings that went along with the changes.  Ask the students about their own nick names (if they have any) and if they could change it would they.

Assessment: The students are to come up with a new nick name for the state of Arkansas that reflects its people, culture, economy and society.  The are to write a paragraph explaining the perception they hope to create with the new nick name (develop the rubric and discuss with the students prior to the finalization of the assignment).

Resources: Arkansas History for Young People, by T. Harry Baker and Jane Browning

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