Activity Overview
Moon Over Manifest contains rich historical detail, spanning two decades of history through its parallel stories. A good way to enhance students’ reading experiences is to supplement the novel with historical background information. Students can then use storyboards to make connections between the novel and historical accounts. Suggested historical topics include the Great Depression, the home-front during WWI, and the immigrant experience in America.
The sample storyboard above shows text connections with the history of the Great Depression. Have students create a T-Chart storyboard to present historical facts on one side and Moon Over Manifest on the other. Historical facts can be presented in the form of photos, direct quotations from primary documents, or summarized research. To connect to the novel, students should use the storyboard graphics to depict a scene from the story that addresses the same historical topic.
Moon Over Manifest Historical Connections
| American History | Moon Over Manifest | |
|---|---|---|
| Little Food | During the Great Depression, many Americans struggled to get enough to eat. Children often had to work long days just to earn enough money to survive. Soup kitchens cropped up across the country. Lines for bread and other food handouts could stretch for blocks. | Abilene and her friends are constantly hungry. Most days, Abilene gets pork and beans to eat, but she is happy to eat anything, including frog legs! Abilene, Lettie, and Ruthanne eagerly accept any food that is offered to them by others. |
| Migrants | Americans migrated far and wide during the Great Depression. When they couldn't make a living where they were, they packed up and moved to a new region. Some people moved every few months when the seasonal jobs changed. Others joined the thousands of hobos who had no home at all and slept in forests, boxcars, and kind strangers' homes. | Abilene and Gideon are migrants. They move from town to down, jumping off the next train in search of a new place to find work and something to eat. Abilene has never known a real home until she comes to Manifest. |
| Prohibition | From 1920-1933, the United States federal government enforced prohibition, which meant that citizens could not buy or sell alcohol. Some individual states passed laws that extended prohibition even longer. In Kansas, the sale and manufacture of alcohol was prohibited from 1881-1948. To get around the law, Americans made alcohol in illegal stills and sold it in secret bars, called speakeasies. | When Abilene meets him in 1936, Shady runs a speakeasy from his home/church. Miss Sadie reveals that even in 1917, Shady was making his own alcohol and selling it illegally. When Jinx suggests that the townspeople make an alcoholic elixir to raise money, they fake the Spanish Flu in order to keep the sheriff out of town. |
| Hopelessness | The Great Depression lasted so long that many Americans began to lose hope. Lack of jobs and opportunity left many desperate just to survive the week. Dreams of a better future came crashing down. | A sense of hopelessness pervades Manifest when Abilene arrives. Even the welcome sign seems to suggest that hope is lost. Although it used to read "Manifest: a town with a rich past and a bright future," the words "and a bright future" have been shot through with bullets. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- In one column, identify historical facts about the time period.
- In the other column, identify how those facts appear in the story.
- Illustrate the examples with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison Analysis | Text and images include a clear explanation of similarities and/or differences between the categories or topics. These comparisons go beyond superficial elements and show strong understanding of the story elements. | Text and images include an explanation of similarities and/or differences between the categories or topics, but the explanation may lack clarity or show only superficial understanding in some squares. | Text and images may include no explanation of similarities and/or differences, or they may make only superficial or inaccurate comparisons. |
| Textual Explanation | The text clearly and accurately describes all the scenes and concepts depicted. | The text clearly and accurately describes most of the scenes and concepts depicted. | The text fails to describe most of the scenes clearly and accurately. |
| Storyboard Image and Effort | Student clearly shows effort to convey the setting, characters and specific scene of the book. The scene is clearly identifiable based on the graphic depiction. | Student attempts to convey the setting, characters, and specific scene through use of graphics, but the depiction may be confusing, disordered, or lack some detail. | Student does not clearly convey the setting, characters, and scene. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes one or two minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes multiple errors in spelling and grammar. |
Activity Overview
Moon Over Manifest contains rich historical detail, spanning two decades of history through its parallel stories. A good way to enhance students’ reading experiences is to supplement the novel with historical background information. Students can then use storyboards to make connections between the novel and historical accounts. Suggested historical topics include the Great Depression, the home-front during WWI, and the immigrant experience in America.
The sample storyboard above shows text connections with the history of the Great Depression. Have students create a T-Chart storyboard to present historical facts on one side and Moon Over Manifest on the other. Historical facts can be presented in the form of photos, direct quotations from primary documents, or summarized research. To connect to the novel, students should use the storyboard graphics to depict a scene from the story that addresses the same historical topic.
Moon Over Manifest Historical Connections
| American History | Moon Over Manifest | |
|---|---|---|
| Little Food | During the Great Depression, many Americans struggled to get enough to eat. Children often had to work long days just to earn enough money to survive. Soup kitchens cropped up across the country. Lines for bread and other food handouts could stretch for blocks. | Abilene and her friends are constantly hungry. Most days, Abilene gets pork and beans to eat, but she is happy to eat anything, including frog legs! Abilene, Lettie, and Ruthanne eagerly accept any food that is offered to them by others. |
| Migrants | Americans migrated far and wide during the Great Depression. When they couldn't make a living where they were, they packed up and moved to a new region. Some people moved every few months when the seasonal jobs changed. Others joined the thousands of hobos who had no home at all and slept in forests, boxcars, and kind strangers' homes. | Abilene and Gideon are migrants. They move from town to down, jumping off the next train in search of a new place to find work and something to eat. Abilene has never known a real home until she comes to Manifest. |
| Prohibition | From 1920-1933, the United States federal government enforced prohibition, which meant that citizens could not buy or sell alcohol. Some individual states passed laws that extended prohibition even longer. In Kansas, the sale and manufacture of alcohol was prohibited from 1881-1948. To get around the law, Americans made alcohol in illegal stills and sold it in secret bars, called speakeasies. | When Abilene meets him in 1936, Shady runs a speakeasy from his home/church. Miss Sadie reveals that even in 1917, Shady was making his own alcohol and selling it illegally. When Jinx suggests that the townspeople make an alcoholic elixir to raise money, they fake the Spanish Flu in order to keep the sheriff out of town. |
| Hopelessness | The Great Depression lasted so long that many Americans began to lose hope. Lack of jobs and opportunity left many desperate just to survive the week. Dreams of a better future came crashing down. | A sense of hopelessness pervades Manifest when Abilene arrives. Even the welcome sign seems to suggest that hope is lost. Although it used to read "Manifest: a town with a rich past and a bright future," the words "and a bright future" have been shot through with bullets. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- In one column, identify historical facts about the time period.
- In the other column, identify how those facts appear in the story.
- Illustrate the examples with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison Analysis | Text and images include a clear explanation of similarities and/or differences between the categories or topics. These comparisons go beyond superficial elements and show strong understanding of the story elements. | Text and images include an explanation of similarities and/or differences between the categories or topics, but the explanation may lack clarity or show only superficial understanding in some squares. | Text and images may include no explanation of similarities and/or differences, or they may make only superficial or inaccurate comparisons. |
| Textual Explanation | The text clearly and accurately describes all the scenes and concepts depicted. | The text clearly and accurately describes most of the scenes and concepts depicted. | The text fails to describe most of the scenes clearly and accurately. |
| Storyboard Image and Effort | Student clearly shows effort to convey the setting, characters and specific scene of the book. The scene is clearly identifiable based on the graphic depiction. | Student attempts to convey the setting, characters, and specific scene through use of graphics, but the depiction may be confusing, disordered, or lack some detail. | Student does not clearly convey the setting, characters, and scene. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes one or two minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes multiple errors in spelling and grammar. |
How Tos about Historical Connections in Moon Over Manifest
How can I guide students to research and present new historical topics connected to Moon Over Manifest?
Empower students to explore by assigning each group a different historical event or theme related to the novel, like immigration or Prohibition. Encourage the use of primary sources, images, and short articles to gather facts, then have them share their findings with the class in a creative format, such as posters or digital slides. This approach builds research skills and deepens historical understanding.
Model how to connect story events to historical facts using think-alouds.
Demonstrate your thinking process by reading a passage aloud and pausing to explain how it relates to a historical fact. For example, after reading about Abilene’s hunger, say, "This reminds me of how real children lined up at soup kitchens during the Great Depression." Think-alouds help students see connections in context and encourage them to make their own links.
Encourage students to use visuals and quotations in their T-Charts.
Suggest incorporating historical images and direct quotes from primary sources to make T-Charts more engaging. For instance, students might add a photograph of a bread line or a quote from someone who lived through the era. Visuals and authentic voices make history feel real and relatable.
Facilitate group discussions about the impact of historical events on characters.
Lead a classroom dialogue by asking how events like the Great Depression or Prohibition change the lives of characters in Moon Over Manifest. Prompt students with questions like, "How might Abilene’s choices differ if she lived in another time?" Discussions foster empathy and critical thinking.
Assess understanding with a creative extension activity.
Invite students to write a diary entry or draw a comic strip from the perspective of a character experiencing a key historical event. This creative synthesis lets students demonstrate what they've learned while practicing writing and artistic skills.
Frequently Asked Questions about Historical Connections in Moon Over Manifest
How can I teach historical connections using Moon Over Manifest?
To teach historical connections with Moon Over Manifest, have students research key events like the Great Depression and World War I, then use a T-Chart storyboard to compare real historical facts with examples from the novel. This approach builds critical thinking and helps students visualize the past through literature.
What is a T-Chart storyboard and how do students use it with Moon Over Manifest?
A T-Chart storyboard is a graphic organizer with two columns. Students put historical facts (like the Great Depression or Prohibition) on one side and show how those facts appear in Moon Over Manifest on the other. Illustrations and direct references help deepen understanding and engagement.
What historical events are featured in Moon Over Manifest?
Moon Over Manifest includes major historical events such as the Great Depression, the home-front during World War I, Prohibition, and the immigrant experience in America. These topics provide context for characters’ struggles and the setting of the story.
Why is it important to connect literature like Moon Over Manifest to real history?
Connecting literature to real history helps students understand historical context, see how past events influence characters, and develop empathy. It makes abstract events more relatable and supports deeper reading comprehension.
What are some examples of historical facts students can pair with Moon Over Manifest scenes?
Students can pair facts about food shortages during the Great Depression with scenes where Abilene and friends are hungry, or match migration trends with the characters’ travels. Other examples include Prohibition and the operation of speakeasies in the story.
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