Unit Plan: Build a Town

ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED: Approximately 1-2 weeks

OBJECTIVES:At the end of this unit, students should be able to:

• Define what is a company town
• Use technology as an information source.
• Evaluate the validity of a source of information (upper grade levels only).
• Produce a scaled drawing using a standardized scale on grid paper.
• Identify the components of a company town.
• Explain the importance of a particular building in a company town.
• Create a replica of a building in a company town.
• Use reading and writing to explain their accomplishment.

1. Inroduce the components and basic idea of the company town.
2. Assign each student or a small group of students to create a block of the town. The block can consist of either one large building, like the mercantile or the boarding house, or it can encompass a few smaller buildings, like three small houses.
3. Next have the students research the assigned structures using historic southern Colorado company towns Primero, Segundo, Tercio, and Cokedale as a basis for their research. Using maps and historical photographs, students should identify what part of town their building(s) was/were usually located and look for building patterns. For example, what kind of buildings appear near the mine operations areas? What kind of buildings were positioned in the center of town? Where are the educational structures in relation to houses? How were the houses laid out relating to size and occupant's economic and social standing? These and other questions will assist the student in examining the architectural impact on living and working in an isolated company town in the West. Mortar and bricks often can tell us much about the people who lived there.
   • Maps and Plans
   • Homes
   • Company Stores
   • Clubhouses
   • Boarding Houses
   • Churches
   • Schools

   .

4. Demonstrate the preparation of a scaled drawing. Assign each student to prepare a scaled drawing for their assigned building.
5. Explain the process of constructing the buildings using appropriate minature building materials. Assign each student or student group to build a scaled model of the building. Students must use an assigned scale to insure that the buildings will be properly assembled into a town model for final display.
6. Discuss how to make a materials list from a scaled drawing. Assign each student to produce a materials list to accompany their scaled drawing.
7. After students finish their buildings allow them to position each building on a sheet of plywood to create a town model.
8. In paper format have the students describe what their structure(s) contribute(s) to the company town. Describe the inside of your building(s): furniture, paint, ect. Who would work or live in your structure(s)? How much would it cost (this may require research)?
9. Older students can use digital cameras, multi-media presentation software, CAD drawing programs, and other production tools to develop a final oral multi-media presentation on their project. Lower grade levels can do similar presentations that require less expertise. Web page assignments are useful for all grade levels.

   Author

   Tonya Bailey (Sophomore Elementary Education Major from Brownwood, Texas)1998 Field School Team

   For corrections and contributions regarding this World Wide Web page, contact Dr. Vernon L. Williams, ACU Box 28130, Department of History, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas 79699.
   
   E-mail vwilliams@nicanor.acu.edu
   FAX 915-674-2369
   Telephone 915-674-2150