The 19th Century

Gr 7 Up—Ranging in length from six to 12 minutes, these mini-lessons can be used as lecture launchers or chapter introductions. Topics include the Louisiana Purchase, the Industrial Revolution, the battle for Texas, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, westward expansion, and immigration and the Gilded Age. The text, voiced by a male narrator, is well written, but it is the visuals that make for problematic classroom use. Today's tech-savvy students are sure to find the film clips from old movies, used to illustrate historic events and figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, amusing and diverting. The historical facts presented in the narration might be lost in the inevitable chuckles caused by the on-screen visuals. Only in the section about immigration and the Gilded Age are historical photographs and political cartoon utilized with excellent results. Simple maps, graphics, and animation are scattered throughout but do not enhance the quality.