Message-ID: <4E82400F.20005@netwurx.net> Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:28:47 -0500 From: Michael Weynand <weynand@netwurx.net> Subject: Re: Listserve - new Educator Update e-newsletter from WHS
The future of our historical societies and the continuing of recording
the important local events that will become local history are not just
in our hands but, more importantly, in the hands of our children and
grandchildren.
I would like to challenge every local historical society to contact
their local grade schools. Offer to work, in conjunction with their 4th
grade teachers, to provide local and state history programs once or
twice a month.
I provided a social history curriculum to our Neosho Grade School for
each of those classes. I highly encourage everyone to be sure to make
each class interesting and fun.
They first were challenged to discuss and define, "What is history"?. I
tried to open their eyes up to history and the progressions of history.
(How one historic moment lead to another and up to modern times such as
the telephone being one good example.)
We studied the local native Americans along with their language and
culture. Each child, was given the assignment of defining themselves
and arriving with a Native American name, in English, for themselves.
Then they were given the translation sheet and wrote their name in the
Winnebago language and were asked to pronounce their new name in the
Native American language. They also listened to Native American music
and learned the different steps performed at pow wows and how the first
dance in a pow wow is normally one to honor the Veterans.
In another class, they brought in their yo yos and I taught them a few
maneuvers while they also learned the history of Mr. Duncan and how
Wisconsin provided the mass production of yo yos for the children of the
world. (The Duncan yo yo is still marketed through Flambeau Plastics
in Baraboo.)
When we turned the history page to the Industrial Revolution, I had the
teacher bring in about 75 interlocking, multicolored and multi-shaped
blocks. Before class began, I built about a 30 block "thing". After
generally defining what the Industrial Revolution was, I asked for a
volunteer to build a second "thing" completely identical in form and
colors - all in five minutes. Three or four students tried and failed
to make the second completely identical "thing" in 5 minutes. I then
had them line up their desks in a semi-circle and gave each student one
or two blocks. As I took my first "thing" to each desk, they placed
their one or two blocks in the identical spot/s that the first "thing"
had, matching all colors and shapes. They easily had the second built
within those five minutes. I then rather dramatically told them that
they had just formed an assembly line and that was the major change in
methods of making "things" that created the Industrial Revolution.
Once the students are enthused and wanting to learn more about our local
history, it is then time to have them tour our museum. Once the tour is
over, the displays and items in the museum make great references. Ask
the question, "Remember the __________ that you saw in the museum.
Let's talk about that today."
It is imperative that our young comprehend and appreciate history in the
development of their futures, therefore carrying on our current efforts.
On 9/27/2011 10:30 AM, rtantala@wi.rr.com wrote:
> This is great news for all of us. At the conference in Stevens Point, I participated in the roundtable "The Past and Future of Local History." My sense of the discussion was that we need to put more effort into the EDUCATE part of our mission (summed up by one fellow from Sheboygan as "collect, preserve, educate")--at both the level of the WCLH and in local organizations. This newsletter will be a great venue for sharing ideas, projects, and general info.
>
> So I urge everyone on this listserv to sign up and to spread the word to others, including local school teachers.
>
> Renee Tantala, Southeastern Region Representative to the WCLH
>
> ---- "Seymour wrote:
>> Learn more about the educational resources and programs from the Wisconsin Historical Society. Join the mailing list for our new monthly email e-newsletter, Educator Update. Stories include new exhibits and tours available for school groups at Wisconsin Historic Sites and Museums, to educational publications from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, and more information about National History Day, an education enrichment program for middle and high school students. The e-newsletter also highlights the wide variety of educational collections, classroom lessons, workshops, and other programs we offer for K-12 educators. Stay in touch with the Wisconsin Historical Society by joining now!
>> http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/newsletter/
>>
>>
>> Sarah Michele Klentz
>> Assistant Coordinator, National History Day in Wisconsin
>> Education Program Associate-WHS Press
>> Wisconsin Historical Society
>> 816 State St
>> Madison, WI 53706
>> 608-261-2465
>> sarah.klentz@wisconsinhistory.org<mailto:sarah.klentz@wisconsinhistory.org>
>> www.wisconsinhistory.org<http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/>
>>
>> Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Stories Since 1846
>>