History Through Different Points of View outline

Introduction- The educator welcomes the students to the museum and introduces the program. It
is explained that the students will act as historians, looking at artifacts and analyzing information
to find patterns and come to conclusions. The program activity is explained and worksheets are
handed out. (If time allows, the teacher guides students through the beginning of an example,
using a unique perspective.) Students are assigned perspectives (Women, Immigrants, Soldiers,
etc) either by themselves or in small groups.

Activity- Students go through the exhibit and complete the worksheet, finding artifacts and text
that contributes to their perspective. The educator supervises the activity, providing guidance to
students when needed.

Wrap-Up- Students come back together and each group reports their findings. After each group
has presented, the educator asks questions to wrap up the program: How where the experiences
of these perspectives different from each other? How were they similar? How do these
perspectives and experiences of life in America compare to your own life? What did you learn
that surprised you? etc

Go through the exhibit Making Connecticut and find artifacts and text that tell the story of
your assigned perspective.
Perspective: ____________________________________________________________
Artifact 1: ______________________________________________________________
What section of the exhibit is this artifact from?

What is the historical context of this artifact?

Why is this artifact important to your perspective?

Artifact 2: _____________________________________________________________
What section of the exhibit is this artifact from?

What is the historical context of this artifact?

Why is this artifact important to your perspective?

Artifact 3: _____________________________________________________________
What section of the exhibit is this artifact from?

What is the historical context of this artifact?

Why is this artifact important to your perspective?

Artifact 4: ______________________________________________________________
What section of the exhibit is this artifact from?

What is the historical context of this artifact?

Why is this artifact important to your perspective?

Text 1:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What section of the exhibit is this text from?

What is the historical context of this text?

Why is this text important to your perspective?

Text 2:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What section of the exhibit is this text from?

What is the historical context of this text?

Why is this text important to your perspective?

In 2-3 sentences, provide a description of your perspectives experience in American history.