Local History in the Classroom: Connecting Community & Curriculum

One of the easiest ways to tap into the history and public memory of a community is through the historical markers, plaques, and monuments that have been erected over the years.   These activities can key into:

• Historical events and persons: Primary sourced? Whose history? 
• Extended discussion: Critical examination of the public memory of the time of erection of the marker, and how it it was framed, and discussion of who controls the narrative.
  • Erected when?
  • By who?  
  • Why?

Use the Historical Marker Database and TheCLIO to identify historical markers in your/your students' town:

• HMdb.ORG:  Extensive database
• TheCLIO.COM:  Includes more comprehensive information, academic vetted content.  Fewer sites. Has mobile app.

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1. Click "near you" or "locations" (and enter zip code).   Choose how many hits you want to see on the map.
2. Point at balloons for short identifiers.  Click on balloon to open the entry.
3. Samples: 
   1. Chuckhass historical marker. (HMDB.org
   2. John & Elizabeth Hathorn House (TheClio.org)

Co-curricular activity ideas:

1. Use the information on the plaque for a DBQ exercise. 

2. Create a video clip.

3. Use Tableau strategy to act out the text.

4. Use markers to identify veterans and connect their service to national & global topics.

5. Create you own historical marker.

6. Research further using local resources.

7. Return to the map and look around the area.  Are there related places or street names?

8. Reframe/Discuss: 

• What language is used?  What does it tell us about attitudes of the time of the event, or about those who created the marker?
• Taking the markers a group, who in our community is represented? Who is not?