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Classroom Challenge Horserace

Introduction

During the colonial period, horseracing was a popular leisure activity for people of all classes. Races were intense contests involving personal honor, elaborate rules, and wide community interest.

In this lesson, students will view an image depicting an early American horserace, learn about early horseracing in the colonies, and participate in a group-based horserace by answering a series of challenge questions.

Materials

Strategy

  1. Divide the class into six groups. Give each group a copy the Birth Record for Samuel Asay with the horseracing image. While students examine the image, read aloud the Primary Source of the Month information describing colonial horseracing.
  2. Explain to students that they will conduct their own colonial horse race by answering a series of questions—a combination of math questions and questions about the information on colonial horseracing they just heard.
  3. Give each group a Colonial Racehorse handout. Have each group color and cut out its horse. Finally, have each group name its horse and add the name to the racehorse cutout.
  4. On a large piece of butcher paper, draw six parallel race paths. Mark the starting line and finish line, then divide each path into five or more equal segments. Place each group’s racehorse on the starting line.
  5. Select a period of time during which the horserace will take place (an hour, a day, or a week, for example). Throughout that period of time, have students gather in their groups to discuss their answers to the Challenge Cards questions. Ask the class one question at a time and have each group write their consensus answer on a slip of paper. Collect the slips of paper. For each correct answer [Note: Refer to the Challenge Cards—Teacher Answer Key], move a group’s horse ahead one section on its racing path. The first horse to reach the finish line wins. [Note: The teacher decides what to do with the race results.]

This lesson was written by Judy Hill, elementary school teacher, San Jose, California, and Christie Sanden, elementary school teacher, Santa Cruz, California.