Family
Heirlooms
Project
URL: http://teachersnetwork.org/teachnet-lab/IS24/pshea/Heirlooms.html
Purpose of the
Project
This intergenerational project might
be used in conjunction with grandparent's day or the Japanese holiday,
"Respect for the Aged Day," which is celebrated in September.
Academic
Objectives:
To improve communication skills through
the interview process. {literacy} To understand the past through oral
history. {social studies} To
understand how family stories are heirlooms. {social studies, values
education} To construct a photo album reminiscent of days past. {social
studies, art}
Art
& Technology Skills Targeted:
To reproduce an old time family album in
the 40's style using a model. To utilize the laser scanner in order to
preserve cherished family photos. To publish family stories using the word
processor.
Student
Activities:
Student
Aim: How are photo albums
historical artifacts? To construct class album relating personal family
stories
Display a scrapbook from the 1940's or earlier. Ask
the students to present ideas, comments, and impressions while you turn
the pages. Build shared experiences. Write descriptive and personal
comments on the board. Ask: How are photo albums historical
artifacts? (Aim)
Development:
1. Motivation. Aim.
2. Discuss the purpose and contents of
family albums, eliciting thoughts from students concerning their value.
3. Show a photo without a
caption. As students attempt to describe what is shown in the photo,
elicit the idea that the circumstances are often mysterious.
4. How can we learn more about the
scene and the people in it? Elicit: Ask someone.
5. Discuss interview as an important
vehicle of gathering information.
6. Present the challenge. All
students should interview a senior family member
(ideally, a
grandparent or great aunt/uncle) while paging through a family album
or box of old photographs. Students should ask questions, elicit the
names of those pictured, a story surrounding the circumstances, the
setting, etc. while taking notes.
7. Students should develop a
well-written story that will be used as a caption for the photo in the
class' album.
8. After all photos and stories are
collected, ask: How are these photos and stories family heirlooms?
Question: how might we use the photos for our project
without damaging them or risking loss? Elicit: Use the
scanner to duplicate the images.
9. After scanning photos, students
print out reproductions of the originals on special photo paper.
Decorative decal edged scissors should be used to trim the photos
imitating the old time pattern.
10. Students type anecdotes/captions
using the word processor (preferably a script font to imitate the
scrapbook style shown in the model)
Summary:
How are family photo albums historical
artifacts? How are the family stories
heirlooms?
Tips
Other Activities
and/or Follow up Assignments:
1. Create a family album of your own by securing photos and family
stories.
2. Create a scrapbook
displaying photos and memorabilia from your own life from birth to the
present-- a wonderful project to work on with
parents.
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