What's in a Name? The Story of Demetrius Ypsilanti

Reading connection: reading comprehension
Companion to: Chapter 2, "A Community Close-Up," Lesson 5: "Government Close-Up." Chapter 11, "Government in the United States," Citizenship Lesson: "Resolving Conflicts, How Can People Agree?"
State Social Studies Outcomes:

History
- Identify and explain how individuals in history demonstrated good character and personal virtue.
Geography
- Locate major world events and explain how they impact people and the environment.
Civics
- Core Democratic Values
- Describe how citizens participate in elections.

Guiding Questions

How did Ypsilanti get its name? How do places get their names? How do we make decisions in a democratic society?

Goals of Lesson

Through the lesson, students will learn about Demetrius Ypsilanti and why Ypsilanti was named for him in 1825. Students will identify Core Democratic Values that Demetrius Ypsilanti's story represents and participate in an election to name places in the school in order to understand how place names represent values.

Vocabulary

values
landmark
election
democracy

Tools

story of Demetrius Ypsilanti
list of Core Democratic Values (early elementary or late elementary, whichever is appropriate for their level) for each student

Activity

Part I

How did Ypsilanti get its name? Places are named after people that represent our values as a community and as a nation. The founders of Ypsilanti thought that Demetrius Ypsilanti was a person that represented important values. Read aloud the "Story of Demetrius Ypsilanti" while the students follow along.
Have students take out their lists of Core Democratic Values. Based on what they know about Demetrius Ypsilanti, ask them, "Which statement do you think Demetrius Ypsilanti would agree with the most? Circle your answer." Go around and collect some responses.

How do we name places?

Reason	Landmark/Person	Name
Natural landmark	Huron River	River Street
Native American names/words	"Wash-ten-ong," a Chippewa name for Grand River	Washtenaw County
Heroes in the United States	George Washington, first president of the United States	Washington D.C. and Washington St.
Heroes in the world	Demetrius Ypsilanti, Greek general	Ypsilanti, Michigan
Heroes in the community	Mark Norris, early settler	Norris Street

Part II

Have student decide on names for school landmarks. Some possibilities are the classroom, hallways, gymnasium, cafeteria, or places on the playground.
Choose 3 places to name, and then break the students into 6 groups to name one of the three places (so each place will have two possible names). Have the group decide on a name for their landmark. Make sure they discuss why this name would be a good choice- referring to the Core Democratic Values. Suggest they consider famous national figures, historical figures or school leaders (even the teacher), or natural landmarks.
Have each group present their name and reason. Write them on the board. You should have two names for each place. Explain that in democracies communities make decisions by voting. Take a vote (by show of hands or by paper election) between the two names for each of the three places.

Supplemental Activities

Archive Search

Have students search the online archive for a declaration by Demetrius Ypsilanti printed in the Detroit Gazette in 1821. This is how A.B. Woodward knew about Demetrius Ypsilanti's story. Students can search by using keywords "newspaper" or "Demetrius Ypsilanti" or "Greece".

Art Connection

After deciding on the name, by working groups or individually, have students design a prototype for a commemorative plaque for their landmark. The plaque should include the name, an image and a statement that reveals the significance of the name.