📖

Teddy Roosevelt: Trust Buster

Progressive Era Reforms

Day 79of 180
Week 16of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand President Theodore Roosevelt's role in regulating big business

2

Explore how Christian principles of justice can inspire social reform

3

Analyze the concept of using power responsibly for the common good

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 29:4

“By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who takes bribes tears it down.”

— Proverbs 29:4 (WEB)

Demonstrates the biblical principle of using leadership to promote fairness and justice

📦 Materials Needed

  • Worksheet
  • Colored pencils
  • Large poster paper
  • Timeline materials
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Ask students what they know about big businesses and whether they think all businesses always do the right thing

💭 Review Question: Why might some businesses need rules to protect people?
2Teaching (15 min)

Explain Theodore Roosevelt's efforts to regulate big businesses and protect workers and consumers

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Roosevelt believed powerful companies should be held accountable
  • He broke up monopolies that were hurting small businesses
  • He worked to protect natural resources
  • His reforms were inspired by a sense of fairness and justice
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How can leaders use their power to help people?
  • Why is it important to have rules that protect everyone?
  • How might Christian values inspire someone to work for fair treatment?
3Activity: Trust Buster Timeline (10 min)
worksheet

Create a visual timeline of Roosevelt's major reforms

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a long horizontal line on poster paper
  2. Mark important dates from Roosevelt's presidency
  3. Illustrate key reforms with small drawings
  4. Write brief descriptions of each reform
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Focus on 3-4 major reforms

Challenge: Include additional research about each reform

4Closing (5 min)

Summarize how one person can make a difference by standing up for what's right

📝 Review Questions:
  • What was Theodore Roosevelt's most important reform?
  • How did his actions help ordinary people?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to use our abilities to help others and stand up for what is right, just like Theodore Roosevelt tried to do.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how Christians were involved in social reform movements

💎 Memory Verse

Micah 6:8

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

— Micah 6:8 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Create hand motions for each part of the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

The Progressive Era was a time of significant social and political reforms in the United States

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Discuss how Christian values can inspire social change
  • Help children understand the importance of fairness
  • Encourage critical thinking about leadership
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find complex historical concepts challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Understanding of basic concepts of social justice and leadership

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research another Progressive Era reformer
  • Write a short story about standing up for fairness
  • Create a poster about modern-day social reforms

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 80 →Back to History & Social Studies