The+Bobbin+Girl+reinforcing+activity

After reading Emily Arnold McCully's //The Bobbin Girl//, students will engage in an activity allowing them to understand how labor standards have changed in America.

1. As a whole class, students will first create a Venn diagram in which they will be asked to compare and contrast what it was like to work in a factory in the 1830's with a typical American job today. Open a discussion with students and ask students the following questions: - "What was the length of the shifts back in the 1830s, how about today? " What kind of hours did individuals work back in the 1830s and what are the typical hours that individuals work in their jobs today?" "Are curfews enforced today... did curfews exist back in the time period during which our book is set?" "What do you think the personal lives outside of work was like for employees back then, compared to now?" "What do you think were some health-care concerns that existed back in the 1800s? What about health care concerns regarding jobs now?" "What kind of disagreements within the companies do you think existed back in the 1800s compared to now and how do you think employees handled the disagreements back in the 1800s compared to how they cope with them today?" 2. With a partner, students will then create a list of the pros and cons of protesting one's employer. 3. Individually, students will complete the activity by writing a journal entry in which they will state whether or not they would have walked out on the factory, like Rebecca did in the story. Students must use specific examples from the text to support their position.
 * Procedures:**

__Grade: __ 8 __Theme: __ U.S. Studies from 1492 to 1877: Exploration through Reconstruction __Topic: __ A New Nation __Content Statement: __ 6. The outcome of the American Revolution was national independence and new political, social, and economic relationships for the American people.
 * Other Standards – **