Course: 20th Century History

Grade: 11th
Days needed: 7

The Roaring 20’s Unit Plan Outline

Unit Objective(s):
Students will be able to:
1. Discuss what the nation was like during the 1920s, highlighting changes in its
economy, society, politics, and arts and culture.
2. Create a list of important figures from the 1920s.
3. Identify and describe the different aspects of life in the 20’s, i.e. entertainment,
music, Sports, and fashion.
4. Dance the Charleston and perform it.
5. Identify the people who contributed to the culture of the 1920’s.
6. Identify the policies of the Harding administration and describe the development
of postwar isolationism and the immigration quota system.
7. Identify the impact of the automobiles, electric power, advertising, and
installment buying on the American consumer and describe how consumer goods
became the foundation of business boom of the 1920’s.
8. Identify postwar conditions in America and describe how fear of communism
affected civil liberties and the labor movement.
9. Identify life with Prohibition and describe how the “twenties” reflected conflicts
and tensions in American culture.
10. Identify the efforts of the NAACP, Marcus Gravey’s movement, and the Harlem
Renaissance
11. Describe why the 1920’s were a crucial era in African- American history.

Standards:
1. National: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10
2. PA State: 8.3.12.A.B.C.D 5.1.12E 6.2.12 D

Assessments:
1. Diagnostic: class work assignments and homework
2. Summative: Unit Test
3. Formative: Magazine Project

Relevance: To understand the culture, politics, crime, economic effect, and mood of the
1920’s and how it still affects the culture of today.
Daily Sketch:
Day 1:
Content: Introduction to America in the 20’s: America struggles with postwar issues; the
Russian Revolution brings a Communist government to power. Many Americans fear that
a similar revolution will occur in the United States. Political radicals and labor activists
meet with increasing opposition.
Activities:
1. Writing Response (Homework)
2. Artifact worksheets (guided practice)
3. Journal entrée (closure)
4. Introduce magazine project

Day 2:
Content: Government and Business- the republicans return to isolationism and the kind
of policies that had characterized the period before the reforms of the progressive era.
During the prosperous 920’s, the automobile industry and other industries flourish.
Americans’ standard of living rises to new heights.
Activities:
1. At the bell- Interpreting Political Cartoons Journal Entree
2. Guided Practice: artifact worksheets
3. Homework: Writing Response
4. Closure: Journal entree

Day 3:
Content: Life in the 20’s: Music, Entertainment, Sports, Dance and the flapper. The
mass media, movies, and spectator sports play important roles in the popular culture of
the 1920’s. The twenties woman: American women of the 1920’s pursue new lifestyles
and different roles in society.
Activities:
1. Learn to dance the Charleston
2. 20’s Writing Project - Hand out the 20’s writing project paper. The student will
have about ten minutes to complete the assignment and hand it in.
3. KWL

Day 4:
Content: Prohibition- 18th Amendment: speakeasies, Gangsters, Chicago, Home-made
alcohol. Americans experience cultural conflicts as customs and values changes in the
United States during the 1920’s
Activities:
1. Bell Ringer
2. Identify what you think speakeasy and bootlegger means to you.
3. Guided Practice: Prohibition artifacts worksheets
4. Homework: Writing Response to Prohibit Alcohol or not?
5. Closure: Journal Entry- How might the overall atmosphere of the 1920’s have
contributed to the failure of prohibition?
Day 5:
Content: The Harlem Renaissance: African- American ideas, politics, art, literature, and
music flourish in Harlem and elsewhere in the United States.
Activities:
1. At the Bell- Identify Terms and Names
2. Guided Practice: The Harlem Renaissance Music Worksheet
3. Independent Practice (Homework): The Harlem Renaissance Review artifact
4. Closure: Exit Pass

Day 6: Formal Test

Activities: Magazine project due