Last updated: September 26, 2019
Lesson Plan
Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man - Gallatin and New Geneva - Lesson 5
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- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 30 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.3, 5.RI.1, 5.RI.3, 6.RI.1, 6.RI.3, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.3, 8.RI.1, 8.RI.3, 5.W.1, 5.W.2, 6.W.1, 6.W.2, 7.W.1, 7.W.2, 8.W.1, 8.W.2
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience.
Essential Question
Was Gallatin a good businessman?
Objective
By the end of this lesson the students will be able to:
• List one reason land did not sell in New Geneva
• List two difficulties Gallatin had with the gun-making operation
Background
Students will use the student reading to learn about Gallatin’s business ventures. The activity worksheet has them identify reasons the businesses did not succeed. Then the students will work in groups to decide if Gallatin was a good businessman.
Preparation
Read the teacher background information on Albert Gallatin and make copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
Materials
Download Background information for the teacher
Download Lesson 5 - Gallatin and New Geneva
Lesson Hook/Preview
Gallatin was trying to manage his career as a United States representative in Congress and his business interests near his home in western Pennsylvania. They were many days journey apart, so he was often gone. It is no surprise that he had trouble making them both work.
Procedure
- Introduce the guiding question to students.
- Hand out copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
- Have the students complete questions 1-3 on the activity worksheet.
- Put the students into groups to work on question 4 on the activity worksheet.
- Review the guiding question.
Vocabulary
Finance: managing large amounts of money for a government or company
Assessment Materials
The assessment is included in the lesson plan. It has answers to the activity worksheet.
Supports for Struggling Learners
You can read the material out loud to the students or go over the material as a class.
Enrichment Activities
Gallatin was developing a reputation for being a good financial leader in Congress. Do you find this unusual? Explain your reasoning.
Glass from the New Geneva glasswork was sold in Pittsburgh and Kentucky. Research the Monogahela River and explain how the glassworks location on the river would help it succeed.
Additional Resources
Friendship Hill National Historic Site website: www.nps.gov/frhi
Related Lessons or Education Materials
This is lesson 5 of the curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man. You can find links to the other lessons below.
Lesson 1: Gallatin's Start in Politics
Lesson 2 : Gallatin and the Whiskey Rebellion
Lesson 3. Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 4: Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 5: Gallatin and New Geneva
Lesson 6: Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury
Lesson 7: Gallatin's Family and Timeline
You can also download all seven lessons, the entire 32-page curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man.