A Gangs of New York Lesson Plan
‘America Was Born In The Streets.’


Grade Level: 9-12, college - Although the information provided in this lesson plan is appropriate for students from 9th-12th grade, only students over 17, or those with their parents permission, should watch Gangs of New York. This film contains high levels of violence and mature content and is rated R.

Subject: History, Language

Keywords: Lesson Plan, Movies in the Classroom, 1863, Civil War Draft Riots, New York City, Manhattan, immigrants, Irish, English, gangs, survival, equality, history, slang, New World, New World, dialects, street slang, written accounts, newspaper clippings, heritage, immigration, emigrants.

Author: Sarah Lane

Affiliation: ClassBrain, Inc.

Date: 28 February, 2003

Duration: 1 to 3 class periods

Background:
Gangs of New York takes place in New York City during the crescendo of the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots. In the midst of urban unrest, in a section of lower Manhattan called ‘Five Points’, a young Irish immigrant named Amsterdam Vallon returns from forced labor to avenge his father’s murder. He befriends an anti-immigrant English gang leader called ‘Bill the Butcher,’ who teaches him how to fight and shares his secrets for survival. When a face from the past remembers Amsterdam, it’s only a matter of time before his identity is revealed and sparks begin to fly. The movie’s premise is Amsterdam’s fight for redemption, personal survival, and a place for his people in the New World.


Objective:
Watch the film Gangs of New York, 2002, directed by Martin Scorsese. Complete one or more of the following projects in conjunction with the movie. This film is not recommended for younger viewers. Check the Suggested Book List for post film resources.


Resources and Materials
Gangs of New York (movie)
Gangs of New York - Suggested Book List
Excerpt from The Secret Language of Crime: The Rogue’s Lexicon

Recommended Reading


LESSON PLANS
Gangs of New York Linguistics Lesson Plan

The Secret Language of Crime: The Rogue’s Lexicon is a linguistics dream as it covers a time period when several different dialects mesh with a myriad of cultures. Compiled by former Police Chief of New York City, George Matsell, this record of 1859 street slang will surely take you back. You will find The Secret Language of Crime: The Rogue’s Lexicon in the ClassBrain Suggested Book List in the Resources & Materials section of this Lesson Plan.

Divide your class up into teams of two to three students.

Project #1 Start the Gangs of New York Linguistics Lesson Plan by having several copies of The Rogue’s Lexicon on hand for students to refer to. Have each team of students use a set number of words (suggested number is 25) from the book to create a story. Students must underline each word taken from the text and include a reference sheet for them as the last page of the story. You could have them tag the words in a footnote fashion to make this easier. If you choose not to provide the books, use the excerpt taken from The Rogue’s Lexicon from the Resources & Materials section of this Lesson Plan.

Project #2 of the Gangs of New York Linguistics Lesson Plan is to give each team of students a copy of the excerpt taken from The Rogue’s Lexicon. Explain that this time period in United States history demonstrates the meshing of numerous cultures and encompasses the idea of a melting pot society. Many languages were spoken depending on which country the person hailed from, but in a unity-among-thieves fashion, dialects such as New York City street slang were born. Have your students write a story using their own version of street slang. Have them create words or phrases to use in their story, underlining them as they use them. As above, you could have them tag the words as footnotes and have the definitions they create as a reference page at the end of the story.



Film Facts: Gangs of New York

Genre(s): Action, Crime, Drama

Rating: R

Family Rating: kids-in-mind

Running Time: 166 minutes

Primary Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz

Director: Martin Scorsese

Music: Bono, Peter Gabriel, Howard Shore

Screenplay: Jay Cocks

Producers: (Primary) Alberto Grimaldi, (Associate) Gerry Robert Byrne, (Co-Producer) Laura Fattori

Studio: Mirimax Film Corporation



Related Internet Resources

www.gangsofnewyork.com