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  Did Urban Renewal in Detroit Succeed? Built by Bryan Furgal

  Supporting Questions: What issues of housing and infrastructure did the city of Detroit face in the post-WW2 era? What were the policy methods and goals of city officials in addressing urban planning issues? What were the outcomes of Detroit’s Urban Renewal Programs? This inquiry leads students through an investigation of government planning in the United States after World War II. The Inquiry leads students to examine the role of government planning in shaping the communities around us, and asks them to consider the long term impacts that policy decisions decades ago can have in pre-determining social and economic outcomes in the present day. Through use of government planning documents, students will have the opportunity to evaluate for themselves the conditions within the City of Detroit during the 1950s and identify key areas of concern among community members and city officials.  Note: This inquiry is intended to be used as part of a larger unit on post-war issues within the United States. The inquiry is expected to take three or four 50-minute class periods, with additional time as needed for student research projects. The inquiry time frame could expand if teachers think their students need additional instructional experiences (e.g., supporting questions, formative performance tasks, featured sources, writing). Teachers are encouraged to adapt the inquiry to meet the needs and interests of their students. This inquiry lends itself to differentiation and modeling of historical thinking skills while assisting students in reading the variety of sources.
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  Unit Plan - Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, Where did they Go?

  This unit plan talks about the Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods in Detroit, including what they are, where they were, what happened to them, and the thoughts and attitudes of the people that lived there when they had to move. There are lots of hands-on activities included, an interview project, and a field trip and we include many books and websites to use as well. There are lots of social studies standards and different aspects of social studies are also covered. After completing this unit, students will have a real understanding of the Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods, why they are so significant, and why they should know about them.