Reflection
(a) What new and interesting content did you learn through the project?
Since the Loray Mill is located about 5 minutes from my home and I pass it almost everyday, this was a very interesting topic for me. I was very interested in the conflict surrounding the remodeling of the mill. I did not know there were people who opposed the remodel but after reading a few of their opinions I can see why they feel the way they do.
(b) How does this project connect with National and State Standards? How could this content be taught in an elementary grade classroom?
A big part of the fourth grade social studies curriculum is directed toward studying our state, North Carolina. This content could easily be taught as part of North Carolina's history.
(4.H.1.3 Explain how people, events and developments brought about changes to communities in various regions of North Carolina.)
I was completing this project while the Chicago teacher strike took place. If I were teaching during this time I would relate the Loray Mill strike to the Chicago teacher strike by looking at the similarities and differences. We could analyze the reasoning behind the workers decision to go on strike.
(c) What did you learn from creating the project that will be of value to you as an elementary social studies teacher?
I learned that social studies can change drastically depending on geography. I was shocked to find out my classmates at UNC-Charlotte had not been taught about the strike or Ella May Wiggins while in school. At my high school, we spent a lot of time during history class learning about this topic. It was very interesting to us because it happened in our hometown but impacted other parts of the country. We looked at newspaper articles and were able to talk to people who experienced it first hand. I will take this into consideration as a future social studies teacher by relating history to my students. I can do this by having my students act things out, relating it to an experience they have had, and by giving many visual examples and artifacts from the time when teaching.
Since the Loray Mill is located about 5 minutes from my home and I pass it almost everyday, this was a very interesting topic for me. I was very interested in the conflict surrounding the remodeling of the mill. I did not know there were people who opposed the remodel but after reading a few of their opinions I can see why they feel the way they do.
(b) How does this project connect with National and State Standards? How could this content be taught in an elementary grade classroom?
A big part of the fourth grade social studies curriculum is directed toward studying our state, North Carolina. This content could easily be taught as part of North Carolina's history.
(4.H.1.3 Explain how people, events and developments brought about changes to communities in various regions of North Carolina.)
I was completing this project while the Chicago teacher strike took place. If I were teaching during this time I would relate the Loray Mill strike to the Chicago teacher strike by looking at the similarities and differences. We could analyze the reasoning behind the workers decision to go on strike.
(c) What did you learn from creating the project that will be of value to you as an elementary social studies teacher?
I learned that social studies can change drastically depending on geography. I was shocked to find out my classmates at UNC-Charlotte had not been taught about the strike or Ella May Wiggins while in school. At my high school, we spent a lot of time during history class learning about this topic. It was very interesting to us because it happened in our hometown but impacted other parts of the country. We looked at newspaper articles and were able to talk to people who experienced it first hand. I will take this into consideration as a future social studies teacher by relating history to my students. I can do this by having my students act things out, relating it to an experience they have had, and by giving many visual examples and artifacts from the time when teaching.