Middle School Curriculum Guide

Request a free copy be mailed to your classroom, or use the links to download .pdf files.

Bring Carl Sandburg and the National Park Service into your classroom with this series of lesson plans. Subjects include American History, Social Studies and English. The plans can be used independently or follow the order and each builds on the one before.
You may contact the park's Education Program Coordinator to request a free copy be mailed to your classroom.

How to Use This Guide
The Guide is divided into seven Units of study. Each Unit has an Introduction which is followed by background information, objectives and lesson procedures.

Use the Additional Resources section of the appendix to find photographs of Carl Sandburg and his family that you may wish to post on a bulletin board during your studies. Photo credits are on file at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.

 

Unit 1 - Preserving America's Treasures
	Students will be able to explain the role of the National Park Service (NPS), understand the significance of the NPS in preserving America's natural and cultural heritage and list at least three different national park units and their significance. Students will be able to give three reasons for the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. Students will be able to articulate how a national park unit is established and what makes an area nationally significant.
Unit 2 - Sandburg's Wanderings
	Student will be able to explain what motivated Carl Sandburg to become a writer. Students will be able to explain how Carl Sandburg came to know America.
Unit 3 - Sandburg's Century
	Students will be able to discuss the time period in which Carl Sandburg lived and influenced the American people through his contributions in writing, lecturing, and speaking.  At the end of this unit each student will have an understanding of how current events influence a person's life and how studying these parallels help students understand various individuals and history. This unit will introduce the students to the issues that faced America during Sandburg's life and how he championed for the common people through his poetry, lectures, folk singing and writing.
Unit 4 - Sandburg's Lincoln
	The students will be able to explain Sandburg' relationship with Lincoln and how he became involved in telling the stories of this great president.  Students will be able to write, deliver and discuss the process and importance of public speaking. Students will discover what freedom means to them and how Sandburg reflected freedom throughout his work.
Unit 5 - Making a Mark on the World
	Students will be able to state a career accomplishment of both Carl and Paula Sandburg  Students will give evidence that becoming "famous" is often the result of hard work and perseverance.  Students will be able to list ways that show how Carl and Paula Sandburg lived a simple life
Unit 6 - Museums and Preservation
	Students will be able to define what a museum is, in his/her own words  Students will be able to name at least one threat to a museum object in a collection  Students will be able to give examples of how a museum preserves collections Students will be able to demonstrate proper museum etiquette
Unit 7 - Additional Resources
	Bibliography, Suggested Reading, Related Websites and Photographs