Loueen Morgan, Bixby High School, Bixby, OK
HISTORY --- UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Appropriate for grades 9-12.
OVERVIEW: Often history as a required high school subject is
viewed by the students as b-o-r-r-r-i-n-g and unrelated to the
reality of an industrialized, computerized world. That is,
"history has nothing to do with me."
PURPOSE: Students may not know the history of their own community
nor that of their own family. Therefore, this assignment was
devised to bring history "up close and personal." (This
assignment has been used successfully in Oklahoma History, U.S.
History and World History classes.)
OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:
1. Identify national origin and/or population movement across
the U.S. of specific ancestors and/or community residents.
2. Explain the historical development of the major local
industries.
3. Identify local social patterns and/or economic development as
provided by an original source.
ACTIVITIES: Because of variance in individual backgrounds,
students are given options in activities to be completed during
the assignment dates.
1. Caucus with family members (parents, grandparents, great,
uncles, aunts, etc.) for a quick overview of family history.
Ask permission to record (videotape or cassette) an
interview. Prepare interview questions. (When did the
family arrive in the area? Occupation? Has a family tree
been drawn up? By whom? When? Family stories: funny ones?
successful ones? difficult ones? etc. Introduce and
present tape to class. Small family heirloom may be used
here also.
2. Make an appointment for taped interview with an executive of
a major local industry. Prepare interview questions and send
a copy to the interviewee. This will allow time for the
executive to pull copies of company history, artifacts,
current status, and other relevant information to make the
interview run smoothly and be more informative. Student will
introduce and present tape to class.
3. Make an appointment for taped interview with a member of
local and/or state historical society. Prepare interview
questions delineating student's special interest--e.g.
buildings of note, history of the community, social changes
in the area and society in general. Student will introduce
and present tape to class.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: Resources available in local
community.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Of course, each city and state has a
distinctive history. Oklahoma was a part of the Louisiana
Purchase, 1803; established as Indian Territory in 1820; and held
the first land run 1889. Therefore, the majority of our students
are able to trace their family's migration into Oklahoma. Most
importantly, students become interested in local history and their
own genealogy!
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org