Indiana’s State Capitol
Developed by: Lisa Johnson, Media Specialist
Cardinal Elementary,
Introduction:
The year is 1820. The
southern
Corydon currently is a busy
town with a lot of trade and new settlers moving to the area. It is the center
of business and government in the state and is conveniently located near the
The essential question to
think about is: How does the location of a state capitol affect the community?
Your task is to research the history
of Corydon and of
1.
Why would a new
state house (capitol) need to be built in another area of
2.
How might this
change and affect Corydon?
A town meeting will be held
in two weeks for citizens and government officials to discuss the matter. You
want to be sure to attend this meeting, with your facts straight and evidence
to support them. Your opinion on this issue must be heard!
You will be placed in groups
of four. Each group member will choose one of the roles listed below. Take into
consideration your interests and learning style when choosing a role. Remember,
you have to become this character!
1.
Governor of Indiana, Jonathan Jennings (if you like to be a leader).
You are the
first governor of
a.
How is the state
beginning to change and why?
b.
How can you
please all of the residents of
c.
Why isn’t Corydon
the best place to locate the state capitol in
Use the following resources
to answer your questions:
First
American West: The
A History of Corydon: http://historic.shcsc.k12.in.us/CORYDON/HISTORY.HTM
Jonathan
Jennings: http://www.countyhistory.com/doc.gov/004.htm
Jonathan
Jennings: Biographical Information: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000097
The
The
The State Capitol Act: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/resources/docstcap.html
2.
Land Developer (if
you like to explore and use maps). You have been hired by the governor to
research new areas of the state that may be good places for a new capitol. One
of these areas is located in the middle of the state. The governor would like a
report on the positive and negative aspects of this piece of land. He is also 
interested in
having a map of the area. Questions to consider are:
a.
What is the area
like now? (forest, swamp, hills, etc.)
b.
Are there any
sources of water that can be used to import and export goods?
c.
What is the distance
from Corydon to this new area?
d.
Will Indians be a
problem in this area?
Use the following resources
to answer your questions:
The
The
The
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis%2C_Indiana
My Indiana Home, textbook by Houghton Mifflin, 1991.
A Child’s History of
Indianapolis by Ann Mallett, 1971.
3.
Citizen 1: Business Representative of Corydon
Merchants (if you like to learn about
economics). You represent several
business owners and merchants of Corydon. 
Four of the
businesses you are representing include a Carpenter, Inn Keeper, Blacksmith and
General Store owner. These businesses exist because of the demands of the
growing population in Corydon. You need to persuade the government officials
and community that the move of the state capitol will most likely affect your
amount of business. You need to research at least 2 of the businesses listed
above. Questions to consider are:
a.
What do the
businesses contribute to the community?
b.
How will business
be affected if the state capitol is moved?
Use the following resources
to answer your questions:
A History of Corydon: http://historic.shcsc.k12.in.us/CORYDON/HISTORY.HTM
The
The
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis%2C_Indiana
Historic
Communities Series by Bobbie Kalman, 1990’s.
A Child’s History of
Indianapolis by Ann Mallett, 1971.
4.
Citizen 2: Settler Family Living Near Corydon (if you like to learn about history). Your family has recently moved from
another state to the Corydon, 
are:
a.
What is the size
of your family? Who lives in your household?
b.
What is a typical
day like for your family?
c.
What sort of
crops might the family produce?
d.
Why is access to
the town important to you?
e.
How might your
family’s income and stability change if the state capitol is moved?
Use the following resources
to answer your questions:
Conner Prairie: History
Online: http://www.connerprairie.org/HistoryOnline/index.aspEarly
Days in
The
A Clearing in the
Historic
Communities Series by Bobbie Kalman, 1990’s.
Each person in your group
will have a different role. Choose a role that meets your interests and
learning style and visit the suggested websites and resources listed. You may
also use resources from the Additional Resources section of the WebQuest. Although you are working with a group, you may
also work with other students that share the same role as you. You may research
and compare facts with these students, or you can research on your own. Take
notes on important information that helps you learn more about your role. Make
sure you record the source for each piece of information you use. You will have
one week to complete your research.
When you feel like you
understand your role and have answered the questions, it’s time to meet again
with your group members. Discuss the questions from the task and contribute
your new knowledge on the issue. It’s possible that your opinions may conflict
with other members of your group. Next, each group member will create an essay
that will be presented at the town meeting. Additional presentation props that
support your role’s opinion are also encouraged. If you have an idea for a
creative presentation prop, please see your teacher for prior approval.
Additional ideas could
include:
A map detailing the area your role is studying
Statistics on population growth in the state or other
statistical information
Your character dressed in costume
A poster that you would hang up in town or bring to
the town meeting supporting your opinions
Drawings of how the community will be affected—cause
and effect
Singing a song that you wrote about your opinions or
that may have been sung in this time period
Create a special technology presentation in which
others can learn about
A journal of a week in the life of your character
You will have one week to
create your essay presentation. Your group will have a specified time to
present at the town meeting. An audience will be present!
Websites
Conner Prairie: History
Online: http://www.connerprairie.org/HistoryOnline/index.asp
The
The
The
The
The State Capitol Act: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/resources/docstcap.html
Wikipedia: Corydon, Indiana & Indianapolis, Indiana
Encyclopedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corydon%2C_Indiana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis%2C_Indiana
Print Resources
A Clearing in the
My Indiana Home, textbook by Houghton Mifflin, 1991.
A Home in the Woods:
Pioneer Life in Indiana, Oliver Johnson’s Reminiscences of Early Childhood as Related by Howard Johnson, 1978.
Historic
Communities Series by Bobbie Kalman, 1990’s.
A Child’s History of
Indianapolis by Ann Mallett, 1971.
H is for Hoosier: An Indiana Alphabet
by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds, 2001.
You are required to submit an
essay that will be part of the final presentation at the town meeting. Your
essay should state your role’s opinion on the issue of moving the state
capitol. It should be exciting to the audience (other citizens and officials)
and contain facts you have learned throughout your research process. Creating
additional presentations props are also encouraged.
Please review the criteria
that your essay should include:
1.
A topic sentence.
2.
At least three
reasons or facts that support your opinion.
3.
A concluding
sentence that lets the audience know how strongly you feel about the issue.
4.
Organized
thoughts.
5.
Proper grammar
(spelling, punctuation).
6.
Exciting word
choice to make your essay more interesting to the audience.
7.
Complete
sentences.
Your essay presentation,
research process, group work and time management will be graded according to
this Rubric. Please review the rubric to see how you will be
graded on your WebQuest assignments.
Conclusion:
After all groups have presented at the
town hall meeting, you will participate in a discussion to compromise on the
movement of the state capitol. Then consider these final questions:
1.
After listening
to the presentations and the compromise, do you think this was the best choice
for
2.
How would the
state of
3.
Were you happy
with your research process? What would you do differently next time?
What happens next in
To learn more about
Conner Prairie: History Online: http://www.connerprairie.org/HistoryOnline/index.asp
The
The
A Clearing in the
A Child’s History of
Indianapolis by Ann Mallett, 1971.
Credits:
The image of Jonathan Jennings was found at: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/govportraits/jennings.html
Artist: James
Forbes, American, c. 1800-?
oil on canvas, 36 x 29 (91.5 x 73.6)
Signed l.l.: Jas. Forbes/Pinxt
Created by Lisa Johnson
Last Updated August 2005