Emerging America - Disability in the Progressive Era
Emerging America - Disability in the Progressive Era
*This lesson was developed by Emerging America and links to an external source.
Summary:
An introduction to disability helps establish safe and respectful study of a difficult topic. Students examine eugenics policy, including forced sterilization and examine how values change. Primary sources include challenges to eugenics from the 1930s as well as 21st century efforts to come to terms with its impacts. The grades 4-5 lesson 2 on immigration policy can provides primary sources and guiding questions that can provide solid support to expand this unit. Unit resources support optional research projects.
The material is emotionally difficult. It is essential to create a safe space for all, including students who might relate personally to the topic. Particular attention is required to ensure that discussion respects students of varied views. It is vital to clarify that universal norms of democracy today are clear that there is no valid justification for the program of eugenics and that its claims were in no way supported by valid science.
Intro Lesson: Introduction to Disability History
Introductory lesson slides call students to use words about disability with respect. The slides also include a definition of disability and feature pictures from the Library of Congress that show tools for access. Students generate questions.
Lesson 1: The Dehumanizing Effects of Eugenics
Students examine terrible events in U.S. history–forced sterilization of people with disabilities under the laws of the eugenics movement–in part to examine how values change. Primary sources include challenges to eugenics from the 1930s as well as 21st century efforts to come to terms with its impacts. The lesson pays particular attention to establishing a safe space for all to study this difficult topic. Lesson 1 slides present a coherent narrative and analysis of eugenics, including its effects and responses to it.
Lesson 2: Immigration: Who Is In? And Who Is Out?
This lesson starts with a core lesson that works well for grades 4-5 as students consider the impacts of anti-immigration legislation and the screening system at Ellis Island. Several extensions allow students to explore exclusion in depth, including the medical systems used, and the experiences of immigrants. Lesson 2 slides illustrate key ideas in the primary and secondary sources.
This entry links to the resources that are owned by the creators and listed here for easier access within our database of lessons and resources.
Subject and topic:
Civics and History, Disability History
Grade level:
9 - 12
Duration:
Intro lesson: 55 minutes.
Lesson 1: 140 minutes. Extension = 50 minutes. Optional research & civic engagement open-ended.
Immigration: 130 minutes.
Our Notes for teaching these lessons:
Please note that the format of Emerging America lessons at the time of review was not well-suited for screen readers with the excessive use of tables and images with insufficient descriptions. We share this for blind teachers as well as teachers who have blind students who may need additional description provided.
We welcome your feedback as you teach these lessons, Please share your notes with us by emailing us.
These primary sources and questions could also be the foundation of other lessons suited to the learning styles of different classes.
An ELA enrichment that may be suitable for some students:
Dalcher, Christina. Master Class. Berkeley, 2021.
Though discussed in this lesson plan, we remind you of the heavy emotional nature of this subject
Extension activity after teaching this lesson:
Discuss modern arguments against the use of mental age
Discuss the usefulness and problems of IQ
Another excellent source to learn about eugenics is: http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/eugenics/list3.pl
Links to download lessons:
Homepage for Disability in the Progressive Era Unit
Lesson: Introduction to Disability History