Fishkill, NY
Fishkill, NY
Fenimore Cooper. This is a part of our writing unit on authors. The students are
studying many authors in depth. We are working on the history of the early 1800s,
and wish to connect both Language Arts and Social Studies during an
interdisciplinary study.
Wyck House through a tour and scavenger hunt.
Students will be able to manipulate primary sources for
research on James Fenimore Cooper (on topic assigned prior to trip).
Students will be able to compile all research to make a
classroom reference book on James Fenimore Cooper.
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking for Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources
Understanding Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts
Understanding the History of the United States and New York State
Understanding Civics, Citizenship, and Government
Pre-written questions and answers
Pencils and paper
will begin a tour. During the tour, students will look for "clues" (index cards with
questions written on them) in the house, which are hidden beforehand. The "clues"
are questions (with answers) that the students will already be familiar with, which
will help structure the information the students should include in their research.
Following are some questions and answers that can be used:
novelists because he created _____ through his
writings.
i. a sense of American history
b. Where was Cooper born?
i. Burlington, New Jersey
c. Where did Cooper attend college?
i. Yale University
d. Who did Cooper marry?
i. Susan Delancey
e. Why was Cooper considered unpopular?
i. His views were so different and strict.
f. What major themes did Cooper write about?
i. Historical themes
i. Cooperstown, New York
h. What historical event greatly impacted his income?
i. the Great Depression
i. Name a major novel written by Cooper.
i. The Last of the Mohicans, The Spy
j. Who was the real-life spy?
i. Enoch Crosby
k. How long did the Van Wyck House stay in the family?
i. 150 years
l. What impacted his writings most?
i. His natural surroundings.
Cooper. The class will be broken up into four groups, with four students in each.
Each group will be assigned to study one of the following: Cooper's biography, the
historical context, his influences, or his major literary works. Teacher assistance
will be available for guidance. Students will be encouraged to use the primary
resources available in the library.
sort through their research with their groups to plan what they would like to use.
Over the next two weeks they will compile a classroom reference book.
Informal teacher observation during the research, of discussion
Formal observation of developed research for the reference book
weeks.
The same sort of experience can be replicated for another author in our
unit at a later time.