Social Studies9-12+
Introduction to the Progressive Movement in America
By Bruce M.
A reading passage and summary packet that introduces the Progressive movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, suited to a single class period for 10th graders. It builds close-reading, historical context, and written summary skills, and it asks students to consider how industrialization and urban growth prompted calls for reform.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 45-minute whole-class or independent reading lesson, pairing the passage with a short discussion on how rapid change can prompt demands for government action.
- Discussion question: Why do you think the Progressives were a loose coalition rather than a single party, and what might have held such different reformers together?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach key terms such as industrialization, urbanization, and coalition, and have students annotate the first two paragraphs before reading the rest.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare the Progressive response to industrial inequality with a later reform era, such as the New Deal, and note similarities and differences.
- Estimated time: About 30 to 40 minutes for reading and summary writing, plus 10 minutes for discussion.
Social Studies9-12+
Introduction to the Progressive Movement in America
By Bruce M.
A reading passage and summary packet that introduces the Progressive movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, suited to a single class period for 10th graders. It builds close-reading, historical context, and written summary skills, and it asks students to consider how industrialization and urban growth prompted calls for reform.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 45-minute whole-class or independent reading lesson, pairing the passage with a short discussion on how rapid change can prompt demands for government action.
- Discussion question: Why do you think the Progressives were a loose coalition rather than a single party, and what might have held such different reformers together?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach key terms such as industrialization, urbanization, and coalition, and have students annotate the first two paragraphs before reading the rest.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare the Progressive response to industrial inequality with a later reform era, such as the New Deal, and note similarities and differences.
- Estimated time: About 30 to 40 minutes for reading and summary writing, plus 10 minutes for discussion.