• Historical
  • Thinking
  • Resources
  • Topic:

    Iron Making

    ;

    Quakers

    ;

    Rolling MIll

    ;

    Slitting Mill

  • Title:

    Women in Steel: Rebecca Lukens to Rosie the Riveter and Beyond- Lesson #1: Rebecca Lukens

  • Grade Level:

    Middle School

Objective:

Students will learn about Rebecca Webb Pennock Lukens, America's first female industrialist.

Standards:

6.3.K.D, 6.5.6.F, 6.5.9.C, 6.5.9.F, 7.3.4.A, 8.2.4.A, 8.2.4.B, 8.2.4.D, 8.2.K.B, 8.3.4.B, 8.3.4.D, 8.4.4.B, The course material was written to adhere to the above listed PA Dept of Education Curriculim Standards that can be found on STATEBOARD.EDUCATION.PA.GOV

Teacher Background:

Rebecca Lukens Resource Center on NIHSM website

Procedure:

Step 1 Have students read handout (Smithsonian Voices Article) and utilize the NISHM timeline as well as search the internet for additional information on Rebecca Webb Pennock Lukens.

Step 2 In groups or individually create projects (Journal entries, posters, or reports) on the life of Rebecca Lukens.

Step 3 Share with the class

Summary Activity:

After the class has discussed the events on the timeline, ask students why it is important to study these events. Why are these events important for the entire country, as well as the colony of Pennsylvania and the city of Coatesville? A useful discussion might also include exploring certain key points on the timeline to ask “what if” questions. What if the Leni-Lenape Indians had killed Penn’s Quakers at the beginning? What if the settlers had abandoned Pennsylvania? What if Rebecca Lukens had given in and turned the mill over to her brother? Ask students for their own “what if” questions.

Other Helpful Resources: