Preserving History for Illuminating Today's Values and Traditions

Students will use the processes of oral history and the latest technology to engage in historical inquiry and the preservation of the past. They will work in cooperative work groups or individually to discover and capture the past by interviewing family members and people in the community about a variety of folk traditions and/or significant events that occurred in their past. They will take digital pictures of the interviewees and artifacts that elaborate on the main ideas of the interviews. Digitally recorded interviews and photographs will be transferred to compact discs for permanent storage.

Lessons and activities will provide specific skills needed to "do history." For example, "dos" and "don’ts" in interviewing, essential vocabulary related to folklore, and how to study traditions will be covered in the instructional phase. Students’ technology skills will be developed as well as their creative thinking and problem solving skills.

A historian from a local university will introduce students to the process of conducting oral history. In addition, a professional photographer will provide instruction in the art of photography. Students will be allowed to check out digital recorders and cameras with parental consent and agreement to be responsible for lost or damaged equipment.

Primary objectives are for students to recognize the cultural customs and values that are revealed in the interview, and to use critical thinking skills to deduce the relationship between them. (history moreover, they will use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.)

Planned activities address many of the Grade Level Expectations in Louisiana’s 2005 Comprehensive Curriculum specifically in the areas of language arts and social studies.