Back to the History Kit Page

Activity #4: What Do Your Students Already Know?

Meets EALR: Social Studies, History

1.2 analyze the historical development of events, people, places, and patterns of life in U.S., world and Washington State history

compare and contrast early community life with current community life

Objective: Allow students an opportunity to share what they already know about the history of their local community, and then brainstorm what they would like to find out about the history of their community.

Materials: vocabulary list, mounted photos of the early Issaquah area

Procedure:

1. Review with students in an informal discussion what they already know about the history of the area.
2. The vocabulary list could be used as a springboard for discussion.
3. Another option is to hold up some of the mounted photos and play an inquiry game, letting students share what they notice in the photos.
4. Keep a K.W.L. chart, recording in three columns what children “Know,” “Want to know,” and at the end of the unit, what students have “Learned.”

Extension:

1. To continue practice with the vocabulary words, use the words as a spelling list one week or have students try to unscramble the words.
2. On the board, list all of the ways in which students have learned about the history of their community (parents, museums, newspapers, photos, etc.).