Amish in America

At the end of this lesson you should have at the very least a basic understanding of who the Amish are, their traditional lifestyle and culture, and comprehend the different pressures of modern society on the Amish. From there, you should have a clear understanding of why those aspects of modern society may cause a lot of stress and strains in them. Finally, be able to explain how the Amish have adapted to modern technology without straying away from their main cultural values as Amish. 

Tasks you will accomplish:

1. Read and understand the basic history of the Amish. Write a brief summary of who the Amish are and their background history. Use the population map and other demographics to help with the summary. 

2. Read a short article about what aspects of modern life are omitted in order to keep the simplicity of Amish lifestyle. Be able to name at least three of these aspects and explain why they are not taken up by the Amish. 

3. You will read an article by the New York Times about how the Amish attempt to balance technology between their everyday work, where technology is plays a crucial role, and at home, where technology brings concerns of threatening the Amish's simple, slow-paced life and culture. As you read, you will answer questions to enhance your understanding of the article, and write a brief essay about the article. 

4. Watch a video about some Amish teenagers during Rumspringa, when they have a bit of freedom for a period of time, exploring the more modern aspects of life. Take notes on some of the interesting parts of the video, or anything that you have questions about, and research more about your findings from the video. 

5. Using information from the provided website, as well as the other previous websites, create a visual or graphic organizer summarizing the different modern aspects that the Amish have adapted to their lifestyle, and how they have done so.