Use the well-known KWHL chart as a tool for building up to a research project and oral presentation related to Willa Cather's My Antonia. Starting with a class brainstorm, pupils research and gradually narrow down topics relating to migrating west and then select a final topic to research and present to the class.

Concepts

my antonia, willa cather, westward expansion, oral presentations, historical research, research reports, summaries, the american west

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Collaborate with the US history department on this project to add more depth and additional research time

Classroom Considerations

• Note that the resource suggests this KWHL be completed after pupils have finish "Book II: The Hired Girls" in My Antonia
• You may wish to tweak a few things; for example, the current plan requires the teacher to read over each student paper several times before the final project, and this may not be a plausible plan for all teachers

Pros

• See the materials tab for a sample KWHL chart that is already filled out and a blank graphic organizer to provide to students
• Lays out a progression for how to get from brainstorming in class to a final project

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8 W.11-12.7 W.11-12.9.a