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Life on the Nebraska Plains: The World of Willa Cather

Life on the Nebraska Plains: The World of Willa Cather

Tom Wells

HeyworthHigh School

Summer 2005

Nabraska farm family ,Nebraska State Historical Society,

[Digital ID, nbhips 10410]

American fiction writers provide unique perspectives of the times and places in which they wrote. For writer Willa Cather, the hardships and haunting beauty of the Nebraska plains provided the inspiration for numerous short stories and novels. This lesson serves as a jumping off point for the study of Cather’s short story “A Wagner Matinee.” Students will explore photographs from frontier Nebraska and written resources that document day-to-day concerns and existence on the plains. They will utilize these as insights into the central character, Georgiana Carpenter.

Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation

Overview Back to Navigation Bar
Objectives / Students will:
  • Explore aspects of The Homestead Act which brought pioneers to the plains.
  • Observe photographs of the sod structures built by early Nebraskan pioneers.
  • Observe photographs of frame homes built later by pioneers.
  • Analyze letters written by pioneer people in order to discuss what theyreveal about their lives.
  • Identify major hardships of Nebraska life as reflected in the letters.
  • Identify positive aspects of Nebraska life as reflected in the letters.
  • Write in their journals, assuming and developing the persona of a pioneer.

Recommended time frame / 4 days
Grade level / 11th
Curriculum fit / Language Arts
Resources /
  • Image andResource Table
  • Homestead Act
  • A Wagner Matinee
  • Tannhauser Overture

IllinoisState Learning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Language Arts:
GOAL 2: Read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras and ideas.
  • 2.A.Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.
  • 2.B. Read and interpret a variety of literary works.
GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
  • 3.A. Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and structure.
  • 3.B. Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
  • 3.C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.

Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Day One:
  • Distribute copies of The Homestead Act. Read and discuss the provisions of the act in class.
  • Students will note in their notebooks major provisions and requirements of the act.
  • Using the LCD and smart board, project photographs of sod structures on the Nebraska plain.
  • Class discussion will center on the use of sod as building material, and the reasons for choosing that material.
Day Two:
  • Using the LCD and smart board, project photographs of later frame structures on the plains as pioneers became more settled.
  • Read and evaluate the letters from pioneers for insights into life on the plains.
  • Assume the persona of a pioneer. Create a name and a brief personal history. Include in your history how you came to live in Nebraska. This exercise will be done in student journals.
  • The exercise will be begun in class and finished for homework.
Day Three:
  • Discussion and sharing of journal entries.
  • Introduction to Willa Cather, American author.
  • Begin in class with oral reading “A WagnerMatinee.” For homework complete the reading of the story. Also complete the active engagement reading guide distributed in class.
Day Four:
  • Check active engagement reading guides for completion.
  • Play Richard Wagner’s “TannhauserOverture.” In their journals students will describe the “film clip” they see in their mind as they music plays.
  • Share and discuss journal observations of “Tannhauser.”
  • Use aerg’s to guide discussion of the story.

Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
Rubric

An Adventure of the American Mind

IllinoisStateUniversity