In the mid-1800s, many reform movements began in America as people sought to fix the many injustices they saw in society. The changes and reforms made would help improve lives of countless Americans. At the same time, many new inventions were introduced that also would improve the lives of Americans and facilitate expansion west. Some of the major movements include:

a)The Abolition Movement

b)Prison & Asylum Reforms

c)Women’s Rights

d)The Temperance Movement

e)Education Reforms

f)Factory & Workplace Reforms

g)Religious Movements

h)Westward Expansion/Inventions

You will be assigned one person during the reform era of the mid-1800s. Your person will fall within one of these major movements above. This is an individual project – while you may collaborate on research if a classmate shares your reformer, you will complete your own Dating Profile Page.

Your Dating Profile Page will include:

  • Picture of your person
  • Reform movement your person is most closely associated with
  • Short biography of your person in paragraph form (in your own words). Don’t bore me with pointless details -- imagine that you are introducing this person at an achievement award ceremony.
  • Research (or imagine) some hobbies, interests, etc that would creatively depict your person in a historically accurate manner – you’re trying to make a connection here! Help us get to know you.
  • Any other creative things to include, while also keeping it school appropriate and related to U.S. History!

How Speed Dating Works:

  • You will give an “elevator” speech (about 1 minute long) to introduce yourself to your “date”
  • Include major, key facts about your person and the movement your person is associated with
  • You will preform this elevator pitch several times to your peers as you date
  • You will take notes on your chart while listening to your peers’ presentations
  • Listen for people you think you would make a good match with you – a reform connection!

Your Grade will be based on:

  • Factual accuracy and historical relevance of your profile
  • Persuasiveness of arguments during Speed Dating (why would someone want to date you?)
  • Two Paragraphs: Bio & Dating Reflection
  • Productivity and Use of Class Time
  • We will have a quiz on the reformers as a separate grade.

Speed Dating Rubric (25 pts)

Excellent / Good / Needs Improvement
Content & Creativity Associated with Dating Profile / 5-4 / 3-2 / 1-0
Content Associated with Bio Paragraph / 5-4 / 3-2 / 1-0
Responses during Speed Dating Event (willingness to participate) / 5-4 / 3-2 / 1-0
Productivity while working on project in class / 5-4 / 3-2 / 1-0
Dating Reflection Paragraph (Who made the best match? The worst?) / 5-4 / 3-2 / 1-0

Total:

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