Narration

Narration


George Washington, in his Farewell Address in 1796, said:
"Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am
unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too
sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have
committed many errors." This reflection is a good reminder that
history, with its facts and evidence, is also an interpretation
of the past. There is more than one cause for an event, more
than one kind of outcome, and more than one way of looking at
their relationship.


Evidence


All good histories are written on the basis of evidence.
Your children need to learn the importance of evidence, and to
distinguish it from biases, propaganda, stereotypes, and
opinion. They need to judge whether the many stories about John
F. Kennedy or World War I, for example, are based on solid
enough evidence to provide an accurate account of the life and
times.





What's the Story


History is a story well told. Through storytelling
children can understand what's involved in writing the stories
that make history.


What you'll need


Family members and friends
A fairy tale or folk tale
History log



What to do


1. Tell a story of a person you know. Gather your children,
other family members, and friends to have a storytelling
session. Choose a person you know about whom the group
will tell the story. Decide who will begin, and go
clockwise from there with each person adding to the story.
Set a time limit so that you must end the story somewhere.

2. Read a folk story or fairy tale, for example, Little Red
Riding Hood or The Story of Johnny Appleseed. Talk about
how the story begins and ends, who the characters are and
what they feel, and what happens. Ask how this story based
on fantasy is different from the story you told about the
real person you know.

3. Read a story about an historical event. Now pick a moment
in world history, for example the fall of the Berlin Wall,
the French and Indian War, or a current event in the news
headlines. Ask the librarian for help in choosing material
that is at your child's reading level.

4. Help your child write in the history log about this
storytelling experience.



In the storytelling session about the person you know, how
did you verify the "truth" when there were differences of
opinion about what "really happened"? If you were to write the
story of a real event for the newspaper, what would count for
you the most in preparing it? What else would you include?
Where would you get your information? How would you check the
accuracy of the information?



Our Town



Your phone book, newspaper, and other resources can serve
as your best guide to history in your town. Not only does
referring to them save time, it teaches how to use tools to get
information.


What you'll need


Phone books, both yellow and white pages
Daily city newspaper
Community newspaper
History log



What to do


1. Newspaper search. Look in your city and community
newspapers. They list "things to do." Look for parades,
museum and art exhibits, music events, children's theater,
history talks and walks.

Participate in an event and help your child write about it
in the history log when you get back home.

For more help, call education services at your city
newspaper. Ask about their education programs that use
newspapers.

2. Phone book search. Look in your phone books under
"History" or "Historical Places." You will find a few
places under this heading but many more are listed
elsewhere.

Brainstorm with your children about what other words to
look under in the phone book to find local history.

Call the places you find. -Ask about their programs,
hours, and upcoming special events. Ask to be put on their
mailing list. Also ask where else you should go to learn
about your town's history.

Your younger children should listen to your phone
conversation. They learn how to ask for information by
listening to you.

3. Begin a list in the history log of local historical sites.
Include phone numbers, addresses, hours of operation, and
other useful information for future visits.



What is the most surprising thing you learned about your
town? If you were asked to be a tour guide for visitors to your
town, what would you show them? If you went to another town,
how would you go about visiting it?