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1. Click on the image below to enlarge it.

2.  Observe the primary source image closely and silently for 30 seconds.

3. Citation Notes: Life was difficult in the second half of the nineteenth century (1850-1899) in America. The average lifespan of a person in America in 1860 was only 39.4 years. (It is now 78.9 years). In the American West, that life expectancy was closer to 30 and much lower for women than for men. Life in the American West was hard, for sure. But what did it look like and feel like? Take a look.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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1. Double click anywhere on this page to post a question.

2. In the Title section, type your question exactly as it first comes to mind.

3. In the Write Something section, type your first and last initial.

4. When finished, click again anywhere on this web page to post another question.

5. Read the questions other people have posted. Feel free to add new, but related questions as "comments" on a question someone else posted.

6. Keep asking questions until time is up.

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Step 1: Review the rules for asking questions 

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Step 1: Review the rules for asking questions 

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1.     Ask as many questions as you can

2.     Do not stop to discuss, judge or answer the questions

3.     Write down every question exactly as it first comes to mind

4.     Change any statements into a question

THINK: What might be difficult in following those 4 rules? Add a comment to this post if you'd like to share.

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Review the questions that you asked. Find at least one to label “C” for closed questions or and at least one to label “O” for open-ended questions.

Closed questions: can be answered with “yes” or “no” or with one word.

Open-ended questions: require an explanation and cannot be answered with "yes”, “no”, or one word.

Then, edit your post using the pencil symbol and in the "write something" section, next to your initials, label it C or O.

THINK: What are the advantages and disadvantages of asking each type of question? (optional) Use the Add Comment chat box icon for this post, if you'd like to share an advantage or disadvantage you see for Open and/or Closed questions.  Add your first and last initial after any comments that you make.

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1. Read through all of the questions that have been posted. Pick the three questions that you feel most curious about.

2. Click on the heart icon at the bottom of a post to "vote" for it as a priority question.

3. THINK: What were your reasons for selecting those three?  (optional) Click on the Add Comment chat box icon on this post if you'd like to share your rationale and reflect on your choices. Don't forget to add your initials at the end of your comment!

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Directions:

1. What did you discover through this process?

2. How did you learn it?

3. Has what you wanted to learn shifted after this lesson? How?

Double click to post a reflection comment anywhere on this page.

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Extension: Optional                                   Step 7: Further Investigation 

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Extension: Optional                                   Step 7: Further Investigation 

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If you were going to answer your three priority questions right now, what are some possible next steps or avenues for investigation and further exploration?

If you have a next step related to a specific priority question, click on the Add Comment chat box icon to post a comment on that specific question.

Or, if you'd like to share one idea for next steps more generally (not related to just one priority question), click on the Add Comment icon on this post to post your ideas.

Please add your initials at the end of your comments!

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The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) was created by The Right Question Institute

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The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) was created by The Right Question Institute

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Visit rightquestion.org for free resources and more information!

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Here are some notes, resources, and how-to's to help you create your own virtual QFT using Padlet

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Check out this video from 2 geeky teachers, aka Michelle Pearson and Laura Israelsen, 2 educators from Colorado who have put together MANY resources on how to use Padlet and other tech tools. Their webinar series is hosted by Teaching with Primary Sources Western Region.

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Blue posts: Directions that outline the steps of the QFT
Purple posts: Tips and How-tos on using Padlet for the QFT

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This one may work better in completely asynchronous settings!

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I learned so much!

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Or, students can respond with audio or video:

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Or, students can respond with audio or video:

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I learned some new padlet features!

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Watch: Guide to Posting in Written, Audio, or Video Forms

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Watch: Guide to Posting in Written, Audio, or Video Forms

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Learn how students can respond in multiple modes. Also, hear a couple ideas for alternative ideas and variations on the QFT steps.

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Is that dress for the rich? for the poor? C

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Is that dress for the rich? for the poor? C

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AM

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Does the pattern and the color mean anything? O

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Does the pattern and the color mean anything? O

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AM

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finest clothes- is it because they are poor? is it because they cannot get a good one even with money? O

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finest clothes- is it because they are poor? is it because they cannot get a good one even with money? O

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AM

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AM

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Is that soil-house thing? didn't it rain there? not sure if that method of shelter building is effective.. what made them choose that, instead of bricks? O

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Is that soil-house thing? didn't it rain there? not sure if that method of shelter building is effective.. what made them choose that, instead of bricks? O

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AM

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What did you discover through this process?

Through this process, I discovered that there are ranks and we could see that from the clothing, the house they were living in.

How did you learn it?

by studying the pictures

Has what you wanted to learn shifted after this lesson? How?

Meh not really
AM

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Why are the family on the first picture standing in a barren place isolated from civilization? C

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Why are the family on the first picture standing in a barren place isolated from civilization? C

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DL

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Why is the family on the first picture without a home, or neighbors, or farms? O

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Why is the family on the first picture without a home, or neighbors, or farms? O

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DL

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Why is the family on the first picture so enthusiastic about their organ? Were they rare back then? C

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Why is the family on the first picture so enthusiastic about their organ? Were they rare back then? C

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DL

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Is the dress from the second picture one that is usually worn by the high standards of society? Or rather the low peasants? C

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Is the dress from the second picture one that is usually worn by the high standards of society? Or rather the low peasants? C

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DL

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Why did the people in the third picture still live in houses made of dirt and rocks? Are they the lowest in the social hierarchy? O

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Why did the people in the third picture still live in houses made of dirt and rocks? Are they the lowest in the social hierarchy? O

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DL

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In the fourth picture, why are their "finest clothes" just a pear of suits and overalls? O

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In the fourth picture, why are their "finest clothes" just a pear of suits and overalls? O

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DL

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1. I learned and discovered a lot through this process of QFT, being able to make questions and inquiry about a particular topic and being able to dig deeper into topics.
2. Through investigating and inquiring the pictures.
3. Some things have definitely changed after this lesson of investigating the pictures.

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ES

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does owning an organ mean they are rich?

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does owning an organ mean they are rich?

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ES

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did the people in the picture build the sod house by themselves or with other's help?

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did the people in the picture build the sod house by themselves or with other's help?

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ES

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are there any particular style of wrinkles used on the dress?

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are there any particular style of wrinkles used on the dress?

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ES

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did all womens wore the dress in the picture no matter how rich or poor they are?

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did all womens wore the dress in the picture no matter how rich or poor they are?

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ES

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1. What did you discover through this process?

- I discovered how the primary resources made me understand how the people at that time lived.

1. How did you learn it?

- through looking at the pictures

1. Has what you wanted to learn shifted after this lesson? How?

- no

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Acrostic Poem - DANIEL (Topic-COVID 19)

Dancing birds on my head

A scenery of dystopia

No time to take in what’s happening

Immediate danger all around

Excitement and danger rewinds together

Livid world full of danger and death

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Staying away from each other

Opening our patience,

Closing our selfishness

In the Alone Space

And each other

Loathe to the rule breaker

Dearth of the outside world,

Innocent

Stress

Together

And altogether

Not physically but mentally

Connect our minds

Ease to keep peace

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Free verse poem - TOPIC: COVID 19

Standing in the midst of the catastrophe

My mouth has lost the ability to speak

So livid a nightmare can be

Dead bodies and corpses lying around

Too many to fill graveyards and symmetries

The stink, acid, and burn of the virus

Seems like the “Maze Runner” has become the reality

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Acrostic Poem - TOPIC: COVID 19

Covered from head to toe in blankets

Observing the new Netflix movie

Vexing mom keeps yelling at me to come out, but

Inside the blankets is the safe place from the

Dangers of COVID, but mostly my dangerous mom

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Free verse poem - TOPIC: Loneliness in quarantine

Scrolling down the Facebook feed

Nothing cool to look at indeed

Everywhere the news of the virus

No one or nothing to guide us

Then a shiny thing pops up in my phone

And a bright big burrito is shown

I realize its just “breakfast burrito”

And I slap my leg where it sat the mosquito

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A dangerous virus

Spreading globally to kill us

We are in quarantine

At the age of fifteen

and social distancing between us

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Free verse about COVID-19

achoo! it sails away,

leaving waves like a penny behind.

Stare. gaze, untrustworthy.

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COVID-19, a dangerous virus
Spreading globally to kill us
We are in quarantine
At the age of fifteen
and social distancing between us