Lesson Plan: Jeans Take Over/The Rise of the Backpack

Essential Questions

• What drives innovation? 
• What does fashion reflect about a culture?

Literature Connection

• Graphic nonfiction: Levi Strauss and Blue Jeans by Nathan Olson 
• Nonfiction: Who Invented This?: Smart People and Their Bright Ideas by Anne Ameri-Siemens

Preview Text Features (10 minutes)

Guide students to locate the article in their magazines or at Action Online. Then preview the text features by asking the following questions:

• Read the first article’s title and study the images included. Who wore jeans in the 1800s? Who made jeans popular in the 1950s? When did bell-bottoms become popular? Workers wore jeans in the 1800s (the advertisement calls out farmers, mechanics, and miners). The famous singer Elvis Presley made jeans popular in the 1950s. Bell-bottoms became popular in the 1970s.
• Read the second article’s title and  subtitle. Why do you think the author refers to the backpack as “an item you can’t live without”? The author is using figurative language (hyperbole) to highlight the importance of the backpack. The backpack plays an important role in students’ lives, helping them carry items they need for school.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

• Point out the vocabulary box. Read the terms (tailor, coarse, indestructible, generation, indispensable) aloud and discuss their definitions.
• Play the Vocabulary Slideshow. 

Make a Plan for Reading

Before students start to read, walk them through a reading plan:

• Set a purpose for reading by telling students that the articles give information about two inventions that have become part of our everyday lives.
• Tell students that after they read, they’ll compare and contrast information from the two articles to better understand how these inventions are different and what made them catch on.

Read the articles. (Higher- and lower-Lexile versions are available on the Story page at Action Online. Click Presentation View to access an audio read-aloud.) Then discuss the following close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)

• In the first article, the author explains that denim came to America in the 1500s. In the 1800s, what did Jacob Davis do to denim pants that made them more popular? (cause and effect) Jacob Davis made denim pants tougher. He did this by attaching rivets to the pockets and flies of denim pants like the ones workers were already wearing. By attaching the rivets to those areas of the pants, Davis solved the problem of the pants constantly ripping.
• What change did Gerry Cunningham make to backpacks—and why? (problem and solution) Cunningham created a bag that was more comfortable than the backpacks that existed at the time (which were called rucksacks) and that had an important new feature: zippers. The zippers made it possible to reach back and get something out of the bag without taking the whole thing off. Gerry made these changes because he found rucksacks uncomfortable to use while rock climbing.
• Who uses jeans and backpacks today? How have the uses (and users) of these two items changed over time? (compare and contrast) Today, both jeans and backpacks are used by many or most Americans. About 95 percent of Americans own jeans, and backpacks are “indispensable” for American students. Jeans were originally worn mainly by those doing physical work, but they became a fashion item worn by all. Similarly, backpacks were originally meant for climbers, but now they are standard gear for anyone carrying anything, especially students carrying books.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

• The first article states that different generations have come up with different styles of jeans, such as bell-bottoms and skinny jeans. What similar statements does the second article make about backpacks? (synthesizing) The second article says that backpacks became a way to show your style with a bold color or pattern or by adding pins. It also says that modern backpacks include sleeves for tablets and pockets for phones, which shows how products can change as generations change.
• How do your own jeans, backpack, or other belongings express your personal style? (making a personal connection) Answers will vary.

• Have students work in pairs to complete our Compare and Contrast Skill Builder. (Click here to view all of your skill builders for this article.)
• Writing Prompt: Imagine that you work for an ad agency and you’re creating an ad for the perfect backpack. Write the copy (the words) for the ad. Think about what you can say about the backpack that will make people want to buy it, including how it looks and feels, how much it can hold, and any special features it might have (like a pocket for a water bottle).