Students use reading as a previewing technique to viewing and learning about life in Virginia City during its building boom years. Particular attention is given to the building of the Fourth Ward School.

Students will:

• Identify major historical changes and advancements in Nevada and investigate a historical event/advancement that has had significant social impact in Nevada.
  

See prepared quotes from the video, Attachment 1. Add more as needed if your class size exceeds thirty.

Pass out quotes from the video to individual students. Have them read their quote silently, then rehearse by walking around the room reciting their lines in a variety of ways to as many other students as possible.

Tell them the title of the video and have students write in their journals what they believe their quote means in terms of that title. Share writing in small groups.

To give students a specific responsibility while viewing, ask if they know what city was the largest U.S. city west of St. Louis, Missouri in the 1870s. Use a wall map and ask students to come and make guesses. Ask them to listen for the answer in first segment of the video.