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Enduring Events and Entertainment in Montana

K-2nd Grade Social Studies

Content Topics

  • Sense of community
  • Settlement
  • Railroad
  • Government
  • Development-Homesteading
  • WWI
  • Great Depression
  • WWII
  • Modern Montana

Duration 4- 30 minute lessons

Objective: 

Students will be able to describe how events and activities in Culbertson, Montana from the 1800s to present day allowed the town to grow and develop close-knit community ties.

Overview and Purpose:

Settling Montana wasn’t as easy as many people that were lured to the state expected it to be. Montana was one of the last areas to be developed in the United States. Upon arrival many homesteaders were faced with the reality that resources were slim, neighbors were miles away and the promises shown on railroad advertisements were not easy to achieve. As Montana’s population rose, areas where settlers leaned on one another found success with growing a sense of community. Eastern Montana was an especially difficult area to find prosperity and no stranger to times of

struggle. When we look back at history we can see that events built out of reliance soon come to be the events that hold the strength of the community. Common goals based on need allowed Culbertson to build a strong foundation. Schools, the post office, and even stores relied on a

group of people needing them. Culbertson can tie its success to the generations of families that banded together in tough times making the best of everyday events and annual gatherings.

Guiding Questions: 

  • What did communities and individuals do to contribute to the sense of community?
  • What value did community-based events hold for rural Montana?
  • How do events from the past carry over to the present? What are the similarities and differences?

Education Standards:

  • SS.H.K The history content standard for kindergarten is that each student will distinguish between past, present, and future time
  • SS.H.1.2 understand how events might be described differently depending on historical

contexts and perspectives, including those of tribes in Montana

  • SS.CG.2.2 demonstrate ways to show good citizenship in the classroom, school, and community
  • SS.G.2.2 describe how geography and human activities impact each other
  • SS.H.2.1 identify how people lived differently in the past than they do today

Materials and Resources:

Local Resources:

Part 1 (20 Min)

Introduction/Hook

  • Classroom “tea” party

Part 2 (30 Min)

Discussion

Small group activities or whole group discussion of Formal Images:

  • Parades
  • Church
  • Quilting Bees
  • Barn Raising

Crop It- L tool, images, prompts to use with students

Example Prompts

  • Identify the part of the image that you notice first.
  • Identify a part of the image that is the most important.
  • Identify a part of the image that shows a problem.

Part 3 (30 Min)

Overview

Small group activities or whole group discussion of Informal Images:

  • Grain Elevators
  • Brandings
  • Event Games
  • Wagon Train
  • Pool

Crop It- L tool, images, prompts to use with students

Example Prompts

  • Identify the part of the image that you notice first.
  • Identify a part of the image that is the most important.
  • Identify a part of the image that shows a problem.

Part 4 (60 Min)

Activity

Make an invitation or flier for an event of your choosing.

Optional Assessment (30 Min)

Digital or paper retelling of images. Allow students to create the story of the event.

Extension

Gather historic stories- Students will invite family or community members into class to be interviewed and share their stories about attending events within the community. Option to record these and share with a local museum.