Educators

Tracked in America is an interactive Web site that explores how surveillance techniques have been used against citizens and residents of the United States since World War I. The Web site contains lesson plans for grades 9-12; however they may be appropriate for some middle school students. In this section there are guided reading questions to go with the background reading and two interview clips from each time period.

The lesson plans provided can be used in a variety of ways. Educators can draw on the readings, audio clips, and questions provided on the site. Teachers can also use the lesson plans on this Web site as a thematic unit, or an excellent "May activity unit" for Advanced Placement classes. The site is a perfect resource for team teaching for social studies and language arts instructors. For example, this unit would compliment the teaching of The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, in a literature course.

The website can be also be used as a resource for students preparing projects or reports on historical time periods featured on this site. This site would be an excellent springboard for National History Day projects. Future themes for National History Day include: Triumph and Tragedy in History (2007) and The Individual in History (2008).

Finally, there are three brief lesson plans that will allow students to look at broader themes across the time periods covered and make connections with contemporary concerns today.

Download Lesson Plans

• Introduction to the Unit and Guided Questions
• Lesson Plan: Immigration and Surveillance
• Lesson Plan: Is this a Party Issue
• Lesson Plan: The Bill of Rights and Tracking in the Unites States
• Sound Analysis Worksheet
• Make This Content Your Own: Download the audio from Tracked in America
• Audio Transcripts By Time Period
• Period Introductions, Timelines and Profiles

Technology Requirements

This unit can be used without students having access to a computer/Internet. Teachers can play the audio portion of the Web site via an MP3 player (computer or other device) and provide the printable materials from each lesson for students. Lessons are designed to be easily implemented in a classroom with only one computer or MP3 player. If students do have access to an individual computer then they can listen to the audio clips and complete the activities at their own pace. Some elements require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download the necessary software please visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.