A lesson plan on how to expand content-specific vocabulary using the historic newspapers on Chronicling America.

1. EXPANDING HISTORY CONTENT-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY THROUGH HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS ON CHRONICLING AMERICA Lesson Plan for Grades 9-10 (Could be tailored for grades 4-16)
STUDENTS WILL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND:
Students will know new vocabulary words pertinent to historical topics. Students should be able to determine the meaning and relevance of words and phrases from their context.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS:
English Language Arts Standards » History/Social Studies » Grade 9-10
Craft and Structure
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
ACTIVITY:
1. Students should read through historic newspapers from Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov) in search of new vocabulary words, as related to the topic or period they are learning about. Or, have students type in historic vocabulary words in the search box.
2. Results will be highlighted in red. Students should try to determine the meaning of the word based on its context.
3. It may take more than one result to figure the meaning out!
4. Have students defend their meaning of the word by citing evidence in the text.
Topics could include technology, science, economics, politics, culture, or entertainment. Periods of history could also be touched upon: Civil War, Reconstruction, Westward Expansion, or the Industrial Revolution. Examples are given on the next page.

2. NEWSPAPER EXAMPLES AND LINKS:
Words to try:
 Abolition
 Automobile
 Confectionary
 Custom House
 Dry goods
 Elevated railway
 Freight
 Foundry
 Icehouse
 Moving Picture/Photoplay
 Phonograph
 Proprietor
 Velocipede
 Stage coach
 Steamer
 Suffrage
 Tavern
 Teamster
 Telegraph/Telegram
 Temperance
 Vaudeville
Potential Vocabulary Words: Railroad, wharf, goods, freight, custom house.
Link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84023127/1840-07-17/ed-1/seq-1/

3. Potential Vocabulary Word: Dry goods, confectionary, glassware. Link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84023127/1836-01-08/ed-1/seq-4/ http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071719/1889-06-26/ed-1/seq-3
Visit the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project’s website at: library.uvm.edu/vtdnp/
VTDNP Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/VTDNP
VTDNP Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vtdnp/sets/
VTDNP Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vtdnp/boards/
Chronicling America’s website: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov