Level
Two
Learning
Goals and Objectives--Grades 6 - 8
Voices and Choices--Olivier Daniel
Note: It is a good idea to print
Level Two for easy reference.
Ollivier Danielle is a young man, in his 20s,
who has arrived in Illinois from Canada. He needs to find work for
himself and must choose among a variety of occupations.
These themes can be explored with either a social studies or
language arts curriculum. Use these themes to tie in other
resources to your class discussion, i.e., other books, other
cultures, students' own lives.
- Occupations and work during the French period.
- The hardships associated with life on the frontier.
- Work contracts--a look at how French society dealt with
work and wage agreements.
![[TOP]](/exhibits/athome/images/scrollup.gif)
These questions which come at the end of each story, minus "the
answer", can be used to start class discussions or be assigned as
homework.
Where did Ollivier come from and how did he get to
Illinois?
Ollivier Daniel came from Quebec, Canada. He would have
travelled by canoe and on foot (during portages) from the Great
Lakes and down the Illinois and Kaskaskia Rivers to the Illinois
Country.
Why do you think he came to Illinois?
He came to Illinois to find work. Once French settlements were
established in Illinois, many young men migrated from Canada to
Illinois. They were attracted by the promise of adventure, cheap
land, and job opportunities.
What kind of jobs did Ollivier consider doing?
Ollivier considered working as a fur trader, a lead miner, and
as an apprentice to the locksmith.
Why did he decide to work for Sieur Becquet?
Ollivier was offered French shoes if he would sign the contract
to work for Sieur Becquet for the year. Becquet also offered
Ollivier lodging in his home for the duration of the contract.
In his new job when will he be paid?
Ollivier will be payed at the end of the year. Discuss with your
students today's expectations of an hourly pay rate and
standardized work conditions. How is the notion of work today
different from that in Ollivier Daniel's time?
These are suggested classroom activities and student projects
that you may want to use with your students or as models to create
your own.
1. Letter Writing
Pretend that you are Ollivier and write a letter to your family
in Quebec describing your new life in Illinois. In your letter
include a map you have drawn that shows your trip from Quebec to
Illinois in 1725.
- Think about how you travel would from Quebec to Illinois today.
How long would it take?
2. Oral Interviews
Imagine that you lived in Illinois at the same time as Ollivier
Daniel. What kind of work would you have choosen to do? Why?
- Find a classmate and interview each other about your chosen
occupations.
- As a class, come up with interview questions.
- Use who, what, why, and where. For example, "What kind of work
do you do?"
3. Understanding Locks
Bring in a padlock and pass it around the class. Ask students to
think about:
- What parts are needed to make a lock?
- What skills are needed to make a lock?
- Can they figure out how the lock is assembled?
Disassembled?
© Illinois State Museum
31-Dec-96
