TITLE: The Pioneer T-Shirt
AUTHOR: Jon Cohrs, Sweet Home High School;
Sweet Home, OR
GRADE LEVEL: Suitable for grades 7-12
OVERVIEW/PURPOSE: Settlers moving west on the Oregon
Trail were embarking on the most significant journey of
their lives. Thoughts of Manifest Destiny danced in
their heads--indeed, it was a fever sweeping the
nation. These pioneers were filled with mixed
emotions--hope for the future; despair over leaving
their homes; and fear of the unknown. In this
activity, students have an opportunity to express the
thoughts and actions, hopes and fears of the brave
people as they depart "civilization" for the unknown.
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:
1) Describe, through illustrated popular images
specific to the time period, the impact of
Manifest Destiny.
2) Demonstrate understanding of popular symbols,
pictures and slogans from the 1840s.
3) Recognize and classify, from information on
T-Shirts, which values were important to the
pioneers.
MATERIALS: Background data on Manifest Destiny,
pioneers. T-Shirt-shaped cutout.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1) Students will have done background
reading/research on Manifest Destiny and pioneers.
2) Students will design a T-Shirt that illustrates
their understanding of pioneers moving West.
A) "If you walked into The T-Shirt Shoppe
(assuming they had one during this time
period), in Independence, MO, in the
1840s to buy a last-stop souvenir before
departing on the Oregon Trail with visions
of Manifest Destiny on your mind, what
would you have seen for sale?"
1-- What would a T-Shirt say about the
people living during this time?
2-- What symbols, pictures, people,
things, etc. might be seen on
T-Shirts from this time period?
3-- By what you see on the T-Shirts,
what values are important to these
people t?
B) Students may illustrate their T-Shirts in
a variety of ways, using color if
desired:
1-- Art work only
2-- Slogans or writing only
3-- A combination
4-- Illustrate both sides, if desired
C) All material that appears on the T-Shirts
should be accurate for the time period.
Students may pre-evaluate each other's
T-Shirts.
D) Students may cut out their T-Shirts and
hang them on a clothes line in the
classroom.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: The Pioneer Laundry Basket
1) Students should make a chart on a piece of paper
titled: The Pioneer Laundry Basket
A) The chart should have three columns:
1--100% Cotton (Hopes/Dreams)
2--50/50 Cotton/Polyester (Despair)
3--100% Polyester (Fears)
2) Students may categorize all the T-Shirts on the
clothes line into their laundry basket.
3) Students may select their favorite T-Shirt.
At the bottom of the page that serves as the
laundry basket, the students may explain their
selection. They should include the category
that it fits into and why it is their favorite.
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org