If we are talking about progress, then we need to know the impact (positive or negative) of your event on some other aspect of the nation.

Consider the iPhone as a piece of technology that many would label as progress? The iPhone allows you to connect with friends, be more productive, access information, and help organize your daily life. Is that progress?

Back to that iPhone, does a phone call interfere with a face to face conversation, do people say things they don't mean anonymously, fail to notice the world around them, sacrifice real experiences for virtual ones? Is that progress?

All nations seek to improve. Physical, Cultural, Social, Ethical, Spiritual improvement is always the goal of a nation. Over this 120 year span our nation changed dramatically. The question we want you to answer is, Was the US a better nation following this 120 year span of time than when it began? Why?

Reflect - What did we learn about the US, learning, each other, ourselves?

Research - This phase begins immediately and will expose you to a wide range of topics that are available within this 120 year span. You will then select a broad topic to research. This will then be narrowed down to a microscopic topic. You will become an expert on this topic and its impact on other aspects of society.

You may also be asked to make a connection between your original topic and something in our world today.

Throughout the first 4 weeks the teachers will be presenting skills to help you become better researchers, as well as helping you in the process.

Share - This will be done in small group circles and using what is called a fishbowl activity. This is an opportunity for you to compare your findings to other students. For many this is also their first introduction to the multitude of other topic ideas that are being discussed in the Extravaganza!!?!

Synthesize - Take all the ideas that are available to you and create an overall vision of whether 1800-1920 was an era of progress or not?

This will require you to produce a product that demonstrates your point of view. Products can be anything that catches your attention, and hopefully that of your audience.

Share - Round 2 sharing will be done by sharing artifacts that demonstrate an understanding of progress in the 19th Century.

This is where you get an opportunity to not only demonstrate your thoughts on progress, but also your creative choices for sharing your opinions.