Teachers must help students understand that their past can be as recent as the last year, month or week. They can interview teachers, neighbors or any person who has known them. They are in control of what they choose to share about their own stories. One alternative included in this task is to allow students to do someone else's history such as a neighbor, or a teacher. For further information, teachers can refer to various publications and articles on collecting oral history.
Introduction Ask students how people learn about the past.
Have them brainstorm and share some of their ideas with a partner. Explain that students will be preparing oral histories and will be collecting artifacts to accompany their presentations. Activity 1 Distribute Student Booklet. Students list as many different methods for passing on information about people and events as possible. If no one suggests oral history or stories, introduce the idea and have students discuss advantages and disadvantages.