Grades 9-12: Disability in the Progressive Era

A photo of a group of older men wearing suits and top hats outside of the White House. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. stands in the center of the group, his trademark large white mustache is visible. — William H. Taft, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. at White House. (c1922). Photo by Harris & Ewing. Library of Congress.

Grades 9-12 Unit Overview: Disability in the Progressive Era

The Unit Overview will feature a grid of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies and tools employed, standards, and a list of the many primary sources used in the unit with thumbnails for each. (Lists of primary sources in lesson plans include hyperlinks to sources as readable text. Lesson plans detail the UDL strategies and tools that they use.) The Unit Overview will also list all secondary sources and background materials for teachers used in the unit. Link to the Grades 9-12 Progressive Era Unit Overview.

The grade 4-5 unit lesson 2 on immigration policy provides primary sources and guiding questions that can provide solid support to expand this topic. Unit resources support optional research projects.

Grades 6-12 - 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.

Grades 9-12 - 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.

Grades 9-10 - 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.