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You’ve arrived in 1887! America is glowing, growing, and grumbling all at once. Railroads crisscross the nation, telegraph wires hum above the streets, and inventors like Edison and Bell are lighting up homes and transforming communication. But not everyone’s cheering from the platform. Is this new era of innovation making life better for everyday Americans, or just padding the pockets of industrial giants?
In this interactive AI-powered simulation, students take on the role of investigative journalists for The Chicago Tribune, tasked with writing a front-page story on how railroads, inventions, and industrial growth are reshaping the country. They’ll interview historical figures like railroad executives, steelworkers, and urban families, weighing progress against its costs.
After completing the simulation, students step into The Progress Report. A creative extension project where they become 19th-century reporters, crafting an illustrated newspaper spread that examines both the bright and dark sides of innovation. It’s inquiry, creativity, and social critique rolled into one historically accurate headline.
Pre-Simulation Briefing - A visually designed classroom-ready primer introducing key figures like Carnegie, Rockefeller, Edison, and Bell, plus essential concepts such as railroad expansion, urbanization, and the paradox of progress.
Full AI Simulation Instructions: Step-by-step role-play experience featuring historical voices tied to SSUSH11a and SSUSH11c.
Extension Project – “The Progress Report”: Students create a mock 19th-century newspaper article analyzing how railroads and inventions shaped the economy, communication, and daily life.
100-Point Standards-Aligned Rubric: Evaluates historical accuracy, writing quality, visual creativity, and editorial perspective.
You’ve arrived in 1887! America is glowing, growing, and grumbling all at once. Railroads crisscross the nation, telegraph wires hum above the streets, and inventors like Edison and Bell are lighting up homes and transforming communication. But not everyone’s cheering from the platform. Is this new era of innovation making life better for everyday Americans, or just padding the pockets of industrial giants?
In this interactive AI-powered simulation, students take on the role of investigative journalists for The Chicago Tribune, tasked with writing a front-page story on how railroads, inventions, and industrial growth are reshaping the country. They’ll interview historical figures like railroad executives, steelworkers, and urban families, weighing progress against its costs.
After completing the simulation, students step into The Progress Report. A creative extension project where they become 19th-century reporters, crafting an illustrated newspaper spread that examines both the bright and dark sides of innovation. It’s inquiry, creativity, and social critique rolled into one historically accurate headline.
Pre-Simulation Briefing - A visually designed classroom-ready primer introducing key figures like Carnegie, Rockefeller, Edison, and Bell, plus essential concepts such as railroad expansion, urbanization, and the paradox of progress.
Full AI Simulation Instructions: Step-by-step role-play experience featuring historical voices tied to SSUSH11a and SSUSH11c.
Extension Project – “The Progress Report”: Students create a mock 19th-century newspaper article analyzing how railroads and inventions shaped the economy, communication, and daily life.
100-Point Standards-Aligned Rubric: Evaluates historical accuracy, writing quality, visual creativity, and editorial perspective.