We are pleased to present this adventurous and updated secondary curriculum to accompany The Making of Milwaukee film series produced by Milwaukee Public Television.  This curriculum, grades 8-12, has been enhanced and updated to align with the current Wisconsin State Social Studies Standards, C3 Framework, and current technology and local resources.   

“The Making of Milwaukee” curriculum is organized into the following seven historical themed units that align with “The Making of Milwaukee” video chapters:

• Early Milwaukee
• Coming to Milwaukee
• Working in Milwaukee
• The Best and Worst of Times
• Milwaukee in War Time and Peace Time
• Modern Milwaukee
• The Next Chapter

Each historical theme/unit includes learning activities that can be used as single lessons or as part of an in-depth inquiry.  Each lesson series begins with a “My Milwaukee Journal”.  This prompts students to take notes while watching a Making of Milwaukee video chapter as well as participate in the learning experience from a personal perspective.  Additional meaningful lessons follow within each unit as teachers lead students through an inquiry into the geographical, historical, cultural economic, and political science factors that represent The Making of Milwaukee.  We hope that by actively engaging in the learning activities, students will realize they are an integral part of Milwaukee, that they, too, are “Making Milwaukee.”

A NOTE TO TEACHERS

Assessment:   Assessment is a vital tool for teaching and learning.  Please look carefully at the learning intentions for each lesson and make that intention clear to students.  Choose and adapt an assessment process/tool approved by your school district that aligns with the intention.  We purposefully did not include assessment tools for the learning activities because each school and district have their priorities.    

Image Library:   Some learning activities include photos, and some refer you to“The Making of Milwaukee”Image Library.   Permission has been granted by various historical organizations so that all Image Library pictures can be downloaded for use in student work or teacher presentations.  Perusing old photographs promotes questioning and inquiry into Milwaukee’s history.   Have students look and examine photos closely and attend to photo details.  Pictures are worth a 1,000 words!

“The Making of Milwaukee” (MoM) Film Series: “MoM = The Making of Milwaukee.”  This chronological film series, produced by Milwaukee Public Television, aligns with John Gurda’s book of the same name.  The film series includes 18 video chapters, each approximately 15-30 minutes long.  Each chapter can be shown in its entirety or in segments deemed relevant by the teacher.  Free streaming access for educators is provided by Milwaukee Public Television.  We are grateful!

Teacher’s Choice/Flexibility:  The lessons created for the secondary “Making of Milwaukee” curriculum appear sequential. However, the ultimate decision regarding the number and order of the learning activities taught belongs to the teacher.

Integration:  We encourage you to integrate Milwaukee history into all subject areas.  We especially note that the Language Arts components of researching, note taking, reading, writing and speaking are critical to a successful inquiry process.

The photo images surrounding Milwaukee City Hall represent ordinary people from Milwaukee who achieved extraordinary accomplishments.  They, and all of us as well, have helped to “Make Milwaukee.”

Starting in the upper left-hand corner from L. to R., they are: Lizzie Kander, Fr. James Groppi, Roberto Hernandez, Jossete Vieau Juneau, Henry “Hank” Aaron, Gene Wilder, Cavalier Johnson, Golda Meir, Dr. James Cameron, Ardie Clark Halyard, Dr. Jolene Bowman, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jackie Q. Carter, Solomon Juneau, Dr. Maysee Herr, Reuben Harpole, Mark Denning, Ernesto Chacon, Dr. Chia Vang, Reynaldo Hernandez, Jacques Vieau, Beulah Brinton, Byron Kilbourn, Joshua Glover, Alexander Mitchell, George Walker, Al Jarreau, Georgia Stebbins, Ezekiel Gillespie, Francis Starms, Fredrick Pabst, Frank P. Zeidler, Sherman Booth.

*Ensure students have the My Milwaukee Journal Cornell Notes Guide available.

*Activate prior knowledge: use title, topics, and questioning strategies                                                                                                                                                        *Provide a purpose for watching the video:

       Share the Learning Intention.  Share highlighted vocabulary. Forecast the discussion   

      questions available at the beginning of each learning activity.   

*Suggest ideas for notetaking.

*Share what you found most interesting with students.

*Give students time to process certain video segments.

*Activate the Watch-think-write/draw strategy.

*Watch a video segment, pause, pose questions, and discuss.

*Have students take notes or draw, then discuss what they saw with classmates.    

     (students notice different things)

*Pose open-ended, analytical and or essential questions to prompt a class discussion.

*Have students clarify, revise, and complete their notetaking.

*Encourage students to form questions they have about what they’ve seen or write an

     “I wonder” statement.

*Use additional learning activities within The Making of Milwaukee curriculum to

     further students’ learning and inquiries.

Dedication

We dedicate “The Making of Milwaukee” secondary curriculum to all educators and students in the Milwaukee area who are always by their actions, words, and deeds...

“Making Milwaukee"

We are Grateful For…

Funding from theBradley Foundation, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, and the Toussaint & Koeppen-Gerlach Foundation to support curriculum development, professional development opportunities, and the integration of Hands-on History into 
The Making of Milwaukee.

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Accommodations, professional and administrative support from the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
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John Gurda, author of “The Making of Milwaukee” book and MKE PBS film series, for his steadfast support of Milwaukee area educators and students.

TheMaking of Milwaukee Secondary Curriculum Development Team

Dr. John DeRose, Whitefish Bay High School Social Studies Educator & UWM Instructor
Kimberly Milligan, Middle School Social Studies Coach, Milwaukee Public School
Dr. James Nelson, Milwaukee Public Schools, Golda Meir Social Studies Chairperson

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The Making of Milwaukee Curriculum Team

Ben Barbera, Director & President, Milwaukee County Historical Society
Dr. Beverly Cross, Distinguished Chair of Urban Education, Memphis University
Jennie Ekstein, Social Studies Director, Milwaukee Public Schools
Mary Jo Knapp, Educational Director, Milwaukee County Historical Society
Christian Jensen, Education Intern, Milwaukee County Historical Society
Dr. James Marten, Retired Professor and Editor, Marquette University
Dr. Linda Tiezzi Waldera, Retired MPS & UW-Milwaukee Educator
Kaela Zelinski, Milwaukee Public Schools, Elementary Social Studies Coach

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The Making of Milwaukee Website Design

Carole Burns, Digital Content Manager, Milwaukee PBS