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."

OBJECTIVES:

Students will be able to:

1. Identify national origin and/or population movement across Canada 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. Meet 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 provincial 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, town or province will have a distinctive history. However, the majority of our students will able to trace their family's migration into their present location. Most importantly, students become interested in local history and their own genealogy!