Lesson Ideas

Inquiry Tasks

• Ask students to brainstorm what types of events are considered historically significant. Provide students time to analyze the the political cartoon Making History using a structured strategy, such as TACOS. Ask students to share if the event portrayed in the cartoon would qualify as an historically significant event. Ask students partners to identify historically noteworthy aspects of Governor Fallin's career, using the biography Mary Fallin, provided by the National Governors' Association. Why do historians consider "firsts" made by particular groups as historically significant? 

• Ask students to brainstorm on T-charts their understandings of political concepts such as liberalism versus conservativism and the ideologies of the Democrat versus Republican parties. Collaboratively attempt to define the concept of political realignment and how it might impact economics and social issues in the state or nation. Use the presentation, Oklahoma's Voting Patterns, from O.C.S.S. to to review voting patterns and changes over time, examining presidential elections from 1908 to 2000. Encourage students to consider causes for political realignment in Oklahoma during the last half of the 20th century by annotating an interview with Bob Blackburn,  Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, "Democrat or Republican?" 

• Ask students to create a Bio Poem, using a planner and template provided by O.C.S.S. noting the achievements, challenges, and legacy of Oklahoma's state and local political leaders. Teachers may wish to develop a suggested list from recommend the biographies provided by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame biographical archives online and should including tribal governors, such as Wilma Mankiller and Bill Anoatubby. Extend the lesson by asking students to translate their written one-page Bio Poems into digital presentations, using such formats, such as Thinglink, or use the Bio Poem to create a children's book, using apps, such as Story Jumper. Conduct as closing discussion by posing the question, "Why are politicians influential in a state's history and deserving of recognition?"

Primary Sources 

Secondary Sources 

• Making History, political cartoon, Daily Oklahoman.

• Kerr Brought Funds, Spotlight to State, Daily Oklahoman, published after his death, summarizing accomplishments.

• Carl Albert, a Powerful Democrat Dies, New York Times, discusses the political contributions of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Carl Albert.

• Oklahoma Politics, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, provides information tracing political realignment reflected in voting patterns.

• Raymond Gary, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, biographical information for student research.

• Henry Bellmon, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, biographical information for student research.

• George Nigh, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, biographical information for student research.

• Carl Albert, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, biographical information for student research.

• Carl Albert, 1-minute videoclip, OETA 

• David Boren, Oklahoma Encyclopedia, Oklahoma Historical Society, biographical information for student research. 

• Wilma Mankiller, Chief of the Cherokee, 2-minute videoclip, OETA, provided by O.C.S.S.