History Lab: Andrew Carnegie

History labs are a great way to make Social Studies content come to life. Investigative learning experiences in history labs help students learn historical content while developing critical reading and analytical skills - just like historians!

The Andrew Carnegie History Lab is designed for students in US History since 1877 studying the Gilded Age. During the lab, students examine five sources to address the following focus question:

Which term best describes Andrew Carnegie?

Philanthropist.

Robber Baron.

Students share their interpretation with a "thrashing it out" activity utilizing evidence from the sources included to support their arguments. Students learning from the lab are assessed with an assignment in which students defend their choices with details from a political cartoon about Andrew Carnegie.