Though Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle shocked the American public into a thorough examination of the meat-packing industry, the author was disappointed that his book's main argument—the exploitation of American immigrants—was not...

High schoolers explore muckraking. For this American history lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. High schoolers respond to discussion questions pertaining to...

Go with your gut! Scholars read excerpts from The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and record their initial feeling from the reading as strong positive, positive, neutral, negative, or strong negative. They then discuss how their responses...

Students discuss problems immigrants may have when coming to a new country. They take on the role of a law maker from the era and create an action plan and policy based on samples they read (links provided). Students discuss ways their...

Using Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, guide your class in the process of identifying unknown terms using context clues and formulating text-based answers. The lesson plan includes a useful worksheet incorporating scaffolding questions on an...

As you explore an excerpt from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle with your class, discuss how his descriptions of the meat-packing industry caught the public's attention and helped to promote change in the Progressive Era.

The American Dream is a goal that many pursue, but is it truly attainable for all people? An in-depth lesson explores the plight of migrants in twentieth-century America. The resource includes a video and author biographies and...

Ninth graders examine the social and political movements of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. In this American history lesson, 9th graders work in groups to form their own society and laws. Students make a diagram of their town and...

Can investigative journalism become too sensationalistic and accusatory, or is it vital for the survival of a democracy? Middle schoolers analyze primary source documents from early 20th-century newspapers as well as Theodore...

Eleventh graders examine government regulations. In this industrialization instructional activity, 11th graders look into what was going on inside American factories during the era. Students read excerpts of The Jungle and watch selected...

Students read sections of the novel, "The Jungle". They identify the problems of the meat industry during the Progressive Era. They discuss food concerns of today and make connections between the two time periods.

Pupils investigate the events that created the historical context for the Progressive Era in the United States. They evaluate the conflicts of business and common people of the time. The research is done using primary and secondary...

Eleventh graders research and examine the significant individuals of the 1920s and their impact on American society. They identify characteristics of people who make a difference, and in pairs conduct research on two people with...

Students consider the plight of immigrant workers. In this undocumented immigrant instructional activity, students compare the worker of the Industrialization era to the undocumented immigrant workers of today. Students read and discuss...

Eleventh graders interpret and analyze political cartoons. In this primary source analysis lesson, 11th graders examine the implications of Industrialization as they respond to questions regarding selected political cartoons about the...

The Jungle dives into the terrible working conditions in the meat-packing industry which led to investigations and new food safety laws.

Students will describe how Upton Sinclair's The Jungle reflected issues of the Progressive Era.

An encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on Upton Sinclair's landmark novel, "The Jungle," describing its importance and giving an outline of the plot.

Sometimes a pen can be wielded more lethally than a sword. Read about the brave muckrakers who exposed corruption and injustice in government and business. These journalists attacked different areas, but the result was an introduction to...

Check out this National Archives and Records Administration site for a short explanation of the term "muckraker," and for a quote by Sinclair, whose writings influenced the passage of the Meat Inspection Act in 1907.

Philip Armour, an industry titan in the meat industry, made his money by exploiting the need of his workers for jobs. Read about the deplorable conditions the workers endured in the packinghouses and in the shanty towns in which they...

The study resource from Khan Academy provides an overview of Period 7: 1890-1945 in American History. The Progressive Era's muckrakers are discussed in this lesson. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.

From a PBS American Experience series about Chicago, this biography of Philip Armour, who made the meat-packing business more efficient. Find out about his methods, but also about the horrible conditions of the meat-packers who worked in...