Description:
Teaches students about entertainment in Las Vegas NM during the late 19th C. and early 20th C.

Subjects: arts, social studies

Grades: 5-8

Benchmarks:
~ Theatre Standard 7 2-A
~ Visual Arts Standard 3 2-B
~ History Standard 1 2-D

Objectives:
For students to understand what entertainment was available in Las Vegas around the turn of the 20th century. Also, to clarify why those types of entertainment were offered, how entertainment influenced society, and compare and contrast entertainment then and now.

Materials:
Photographs
activity sheet
hands on museum artifacts with explanatory text

Procedures:
1) Brainstorm together
2.) Work in groups
3.) Present group information briefly
4.) Discuss as a whole

Activities:
1.) Ask students to call out different forms of entertainment that they all do/go to/enjoy. Write down answers on one side of the board to refer to later. (5 mins)

2.) Ask students what kind of entertainment they think their parents/grandparents/great-grandparents did. Write those down on the board also. (5 mins)

3.) Choose 5 student leaders to be group moderators. Have each moderator pick a photo and a toy. Have remaining students randomly join these 5 groups. Let the students work on figuring out the toys may have been used and what they are. If they need help give them the corresponding instructions sheet that says how the toy was played with. Give them a list of questions to discuss:
What are they? How do they provide entertainment? Are the toys still used today? Are the buildings in the photos still standing and/or used? Why? Why not? How do they compare to the earlier mentioned forms of entertainment? What difference does technology make? Does anyone in the group have family stories about these places and/or objects? (20 mins.)

4.) Have one person from each group present what their photo and object are and tell the class what the building was used for, how the object works, and any pertinent facts the group as a whole wanted to mention. (15 mins)

5.) Assign homework - Students should write a short essay about what they discussed during the group time. They also should complete the accompanying activity sheet.

Resources:
City Museum of Las Vegas - Museum in a box program