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Rinker's Dinner

Recommended Grade Level(s)

  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Primary Subject Area(s)

  • History
  • Geography
  • Science
  • Mathematics

Related Artifacts

Activity Description

Students will use three Rinker letters, the Internet, and their science textbooks to research four food-related questions. They will then create a humorous video documentary answering these questions:

  1. What did Rinker eat (in terms of the food pyramid and caloric intake) and how does this compare to today?
  2. In the contemporary world, whose diet is most similar to that of miners in Boomtown Nevada?
  3. Using a food pyramid and calorie counter, describe the eating habits of miners during the boomtown years.
  4. Why do you suppose miners consumed the types of foods they did and why did they consume this amount of calories?

Standards Addressed

  1. History
    1. Grade 4 Standards
      1. H1.4.5: Identify contributions of immigrants in Nevada.
      2. H2.4.4.4: Identify the diverse population of Nevada's early settlers and discuss their unique experiences.
    2. Grades 6-8 Standards
      1. H1.[6-8].7: Explore the lure of the West and the reality of life on the frontier as it relates to communication, farming and water issues, mining, and ranching.
      2. H1.[6-8].10: Describe the role of farming, railroads, and mining in the settlement of the West.
      3. H1.[6-8].4: Identify and explain the importance of immigrant and native groups to mining, ranching, railroads, and commerce in Nevada and the United States.
    3. Grades 9-12 Standards
      1. H1.[9-12].16: Analyze how industrialization, migration, changing diets, and scientific and medical advances have affected worldwide demographics.
  2. Geography
    1. Grade 4 Standards
      1. G7.4.2: List examples of movements of people, goods, and ideas into and across Nevada.
    2. Grades 6-8 Standards
      1. G7.[6-8].2: Describe how movements of people, goods, ideas, and resources have affected events and conditions in the past and present.
    3. Grades 9-12 Standards
      1. G7.[9-12].2: Evaluate the impact of migration and settlement on physical and human systems.
      2. G8.[9-12].5: Analyze patterns of use, the changing distribution, and relative importance of Earth's resources.
  3. Science
    1. Grade 6-8 Standards
      1. L.8.C.1: Students know how matter and energy are transferred through food webs in an ecosystem.
  4. Mathematics
    1. Grade 4 Standards
      1. 1.4.8: Generate and solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems using whole numbers in practical situations.
    2. Grade 7 Standards
      1. : Write and apply proportions to solve mathematical and practical problems involving measurement and monetary conversions.
    3. Grade 12 Standards
      1. 5.12.2: Select and apply appropriate statistical measures in mathematical and practical situations.
 

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