Communities: Then and Now
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Sort objects into primary sources or not.
Primary Sources: photographs, old books, old maps, newspapers, Not primary sources:
books about history, historical fiction
Historical Background: Schools have changed tremendously over time. Schoolhouses used to hold students of all ages in the same classroom. Oftentimes a widow or single woman would convert part of her house into a schoolhouse and become a teacher. This is very different compared to today's schools which house many students of a community and focus to individualize learning as much as possible.
Primary Sources: photographs, old books, old maps, newspapers, Not primary sources:
books about history, historical fiction
Find the cornerstone of your school. What year was it built? Look for a plaque or sign
with other information about the origin of your school. Check your school district’s
website for info. Ask students to decide if the cornerstone/plaque or website are
primary sources. (Conerstone and plaque are primary/ website is not.)
Show students the primary source pictures. Put the pictures in order from oldest to newest.
Explain that we have just made a timeline.
Standards:
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2.6 Identifying continuities and changes over time can help understand historical developments.
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2.6a Continuities and changes over time in communities can be described using historical thinking, vocabulary, and tools such as time lines.
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