Students conduct research to discover the history of their own community.
Grades(s) 5, 6, 7
Subjects(s) Language Arts, Social Studies
Objective
Research – locate and gather information from a variety of sources; analyze the development of a community; develop a sense of pride of one’s own community
Materials
1. Pictures taken in different sections of the community (includes major roads, lakes; courthouse, etc.)
2. Large map of the community
3. Local library
4. Internet research
5. Newspaper archives
6. Poster board
7. Markers
Lesson
1) Students brainstorm as a group and make a list of “facts” they know about their own community.
2) Continue brainstorming and make a list of things they would like to know. Guide them to include how their community got its start.
3) Divide the students into groups of four. Give each group a picture taken in the community. Each group determines from the picture any reason why their founding fathers might have chosen this particular area for their city. Have students write a paragraph describing their picture.
4) Each group places their picture on the map to make a class display of the community.
Research Activities:
1) Students talk to their parents and grandparents to find out information about the community.
2) Conduct research in the school or local library to find out the early history of the area.
3) Computer research. This can also lead to the discovery of other areas with the same name. (Some students might want to do a comparison of the areas.)
4) Interview city officials about their knowledge of the community.
Assessment
Research reports
Each student designs a poster that represents the community.