Making History Come to Life

As teachers of Social Studies we are constantly seeking ways to answer the following questions...

• How can I help students understand the past and get inside others' experiences?
• How can I pique the student's interest in the study of history?
• How can I help students understand that history is an interpretive construction based on evidence

One way to attempt to address these questions is through the use of primary sources

This is a poster obtained from www.docsteach.org; a want ad for soldiers during the civil war.  The government used this to recruit "able bodied men" to volunteer for active duty in the infantry.

What does this document tell us

• The value of money during this time period
• The need to recruit soldiers
• The need for men to fight--not women
• The value of the "musician" during war time

Primary sources such as the one above provide opportunity for students to engage in exploration about the past unique ways!

Using many different resources can create interest, stimulate learning and truly bring history to life for students!!

Benefits of using Primary Sources

• A sense of life during a particular time period
• Encourage students to research and look critically at the material
• Allows students to use a variety of learning skills
• Teach students to be historians and delve into the past
• Create interactive learning experiences
• Engage learners in creative ways

Other resources that can be used to create exciting experiences for students

• People who can relay first hand experiences
• Artifacts
• Museums
• The local community
• Diaries
• Letters
• Pictures

     Help students to think critically to search for information, interpret what they see and find meaning...help them to ask the following questions: (adapted from Sunal, C.S., & Haas, M.E. (2011). Social Studies for the elementary and middle grades. 4th ed. Pearson Education Inc., Boston MA.)

• What does the document say?
• What values are expressed in the document?
• Does the document include any words indicating bias or prejudice?
• Does the document order action? By whom? To whom?
• Is the document legally binding?

Help students to learn skills to assess evidence and develop meaning in the field of history and social studies..because it is all an interpretation, a memory--let it be authentic and accurate!