Below are activities you can use in the classroom to engage students and teach them how to “Think Like a Historian.” They’ll use clues, such as a newspaper advertisement or letters written during World War I, to piece together stories from the past. Generally speaking, these activities are for secondary students but can be tailored to elementary students. If you have questions or feedback about these activities, please email us at info@oatlands.org.
Think Like a Historian
Using an 1865 ‘Wanted’ Ad to Find Someone:
Students will learn about this human story when emancipation corrected a major injustice, but many injustices remained.
Exploring Wartime France Through a Soldier’s Letters:
Using primary sources and maps, students will reconstruct William Eustis’ travels using the letters he sent his wife during World War I.
