Got Roots? Doing an Oral History Project

You Be the Historian

Objective: Students will create a narrative in which they are a member of the Springer family explaining what life was like 200 years ago.

Procedure:

Introduce the Web site, You Be the Historian. http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/hohr/springer
Using the Web, students will investigate the life of the Thomas and Elizabeth Springer family in New Castle, Delaware. Students should take notes on what they discover.
Assign a partner for each student.
Based on the notes and Web site itself, students should create a narrative (paired writing) in which they are a member of the Springer family. They should explain what life was like 200 years ago. (Click here for assignment sheet.)

Material: Web access and assignment sheet

Evaluation: Sample Writing Rubric

	Criteria				Points

	1	2	3	4
Organization	Sequence of information is difficult to follow.	Reader has difficulty following work because student jumps around.	Student presents information in logical sequence which reader can follow.	Information in logical, interesting sequence which reader can follow.	__________
Content Knowledge	Student does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about subject.	Student is uncomfortable with content and is able to demonstrate basic concepts.	Student is at ease with content, but fails to elaborate.	Student demonstrates full knowledge (more than required).	__________
Grammar and Spelling	Work has four or more spelling errors and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has three misspellings and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has no more than two misspellings and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors.	__________
Neatness	Work is Illegible.	Work has three or four areas that are sloppy.	Work has one or two areas that are sloppy.	Work is neatly done.	__________
References	Work displays no references.	Work does not have the appropriate number of required references.	Reference section was completed incorrectly.	Work displays the correct number of references, written correctly.	__________
Total					__________