Two Geeky Teachers: Historic Places Aren't Boring: Engaging Students in Diverse Historic Places in the Classroom

Why Historic Places?

Places in the classroom can encompass many things, and cross-curricular ideas can easily emerge using simple technology tools in conjunction with a connection to a place in our world.

As we discuss the importance of diversity in the classroom, diverse historic places can lead students on a journey of inquiry. For educators and students alike, place can be a hard thing to define, yet it plays a role in almost all content areas depending on the lens we employ as teacher or student. Finding those little known places that tie into rich discussions and civic conversations can be a challenge. We hope the resources below can help support great learning in the classroom.

Inquiry and Historic Places

Think about moving your students up the ladder of critical thinking by concentrating on all levels of Depths of Knowledge or Blooms Taxonomy using key questions. How about asking your students to consider these key ideas surrounding historic places?

What role does this historic site have in the shaping of local, state, or national history?

How does this place play a role in the transfer of of goods and services across the region?

How is this place illuminated in the stories and literature written about this region?

How did the architects and engineers consider the environment when designing the building which is now here?

What stories may be hidden or untold about these historic places?

What types of lens can be used to examine the role of this historic places in history?

How can we preserve this place for future generations? (or maybe open the debate of if it should be preserved at all?)

Diversity Resources for Historic Places

Check out this shared document for resources that support the inclusion of diversity in the classroom using historic places.

Research Resources for Learning About Historic Places

This is by far not an exhaustive list of resources but it gives some simple ideas on how to bring the study of place to your students through simple analyzation strategies and project-based learning.

Local and State History:

Explore your local historic sites and community resources. Small museums are often much more flexible in their learning resources and many offer the chance to get hands-on experiences with primary sources. Some may have a challenge in staffing, but it is worth checking them out! Many have rich stories that are quiet ones that should be told.

State and National Landmarks Listing:

Local, State, and National Landmarks: Local, State, and National Historic Landmarks exist across the entire United States. Many are unknown to students. Share with students the local landmarks in your area and what makes them important to your community. Consider including the story of one of the landmarks in your local area in your history studies by having students research and explore the places which surround them or that they are interested in across the state.

Teaching with Historic Places Resources:

Check out the National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places Website and Teaching Page:

http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/

http://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

Another option is to have younger students check out the Web Ranger Program. You can find and explore our well known and smaller parks and historic sites online:

http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/

Look for regional consortiums. One of the best places to start is your state tourism department, (or one in another state you are studying). Check out your state office of historic preservation or your state landmarks program.

Regional museums and local historic sites work together to make history come alive. Some nice examples include:

National Underground Railroad Trail:

http://www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/index.htm

Local List of Lincoln Sites:

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/sites/sites.htm

Civil War Trust:

http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/trailing-lincoln.html

National Resources:

Teaching with Primary Sources- The Library of Congress ( Check out maps, photos, and Building America Collections! )

www.loc.gov

National Association for State and Local History

http://about.aaslh.org/home/