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Mrs. West’s Progressive Era Tea Party - April 3, 2025
Mrs. West’s American History class had a chance to step back in time! She hosted her “Progressive Era Dinner Party”, allowing her students to act out famous progressive figures in American History and give them a chance to interact over a meal.
The Progressive figures in the room this year ranged from advocates against dangerous working conditions to naturalists, racial justice pioneers, and influential politicians. Students embraced their historical roles with enthusiasm—many arrived in costume and even spoke “in an olden fashion” to bring their characters to life. Mrs. West shared, “The goal is to highlight key figures of the Progressive Era and to compare and contrast their goals and strategies. It runs like a Socratic Seminar, with students leading most of the discussion.”
During the “tea party,” students enjoyed a spread of traditional treats like hot dogs, and lemonade, along with era-specific snacks such as Oreo cookies. As they dined, students introduced their historical personas, discussed their causes, and identified allies and rivals—like suffragettes Alice Paul and Lucy Burns standing in opposition to President Woodrow Wilson following their arrest for protesting in Washington, D.C.
We love seeing history come alive through engaging, student-led experiences like this. Great job, Mrs. West and students!
