Farming in Iowa

Background and Rationale:

This is the fourth lesson of the second week of a unit which examines coerced Irish migration to Iowa for a grade 10-12 advanced placement, American Studies class. Having begun the discussion of the Famine Irish immigrant experience in Iowa , the discussion continues about Iowa farm life.

Why? As Iowa 's economy has been and still is centered on agriculture, study of the Irish farm experience is essential to understand the Irish immigrant experience.

Objectives and Procedures:

(50 minute class period)

Given the following activities, the students will:

	Identify the vagaries of nature and its affect on farming
	Identify business characteristics of farming
	Create their own conceptual knowledge of individual migration through writing a historical journal

Teaching strategies:

	(QARS) Reading #4: The life of Immigrant Irish in rural Southwestern Iowa
	Applying concept understanding through writing historical journals.

Sequence of Events:

Minutes 1 through 5:
Administrative functions (attendance)

Minutes 5 through 10:
Topic introduction/hand out materials

Minutes 10 through 15:
Lecture: Farming is subject to acts of nature/farm crises

Minutes 15 through 20:
Discussion on the vagaries of nature

Minutes 20 through 25:
Lecture: The business of farming (prices, credit, loans, and debt)

Minutes 25 through 30:
Discussion on the business nature of farming/farm crises

Minutes 30 through 35:
(QARS) Reading #4: The life of Immigrant Irish in rural Southwestern Iowa

Minutes 35 to 40:
Completion of QARS Questionnaire

Minutes 40 through 45:
Individual work on journals

Minutes 45 through 50:
Conclusion

Evaluation:

(QARS) Reading #4: The life of Immigrant Irish in rural Southwestern Iowa

How will I know this is working?

a) Insightful discussion of questionnaire
b) Enthusiastic discussion of completed journals

Associated projects: Historical journals (modified version of project from Fortman, N. in bibliography)

Readings : Reading #4