Grades 3-5
Local newspapers, phone books and other handy resources can serve as guides to local history. Teaching children how to use them gives them a great tool for finding many sources of information.
What You Need
Phone books, both yellow and white pages
Local newspapers
What to Do
Help your child make a list of her interests. Include the sports, hobbies, history topics, animals and music she likes.
With your child, look through your local newspapers for lists of things to do in the community. Look for parades, museum and art exhibits, music events, children's theater, history talks, guided walks through historical districts or tours of historical homes. Choose an event in which you can both participate.
Sit with your child and show her how to use the phone book to find information. For example, in the yellow pages, look for the heading "Museums." Talk with your child about the places that you find listed there—What different kinds of museums are listed? Are they nearby? Look especially for history museums.
- Brainstorm with your child about what other headings you might look under to find information about local history. Try, for example, "Historical Societies." (If your phone book has a special section of information about community services and points of interest, look there as well.)
- Call the historical museums and societies that you find. Ask about their programs for children, their hours and upcoming special events. Also ask where else you should go to learn about your town's history.
- Have your child listen to your phone conversation and model for her how to ask for information.
Have your child begin a list in her history log of local historical sites. Tell her to include phone numbers, addresses, hours of operation and other useful information for future visits.
Ask your child:
If you were asked to be a tour guide for visitors to our town, what would you show them? If you went to another town, how would you go about finding out about its past?
