Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Daily Life During the Great Depression

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify what daily life was like during the Great Depression and why oral histories are valuable tools for preserving memories. They develop a list of questions. They conduct an oral history interview. They write down the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listening for Leschi: Voices from the Past

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students interview a family other than their own to learn about oral history. For this oral history lesson plan, students also create a newspaper article about Leschi and pretend they interviewed him back in the past.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Business Questions First Lesson

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students provide oral responses to interview questions. In this business lesson, students work with a partner to ask and answer typical business interview questions orally. Questions are provided on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Friendship

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders interview community members associated with the lobstering industry. In this interview lesson, 6th graders carry out interview of members of the lobstering community to determine the folklore and workings of the lobster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

War Stories

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Pupils watch the film "The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color". Using the film, they work together to develop proper interview questions to use while talking to World War II veterns. After the interview, they research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Migration During the Great Depression: Living History

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students interview immigrants of Central Florida and photograph them to learn their oral history and life stories. In this immigration lesson plan, students discover where people come from, and write about the life story of this person.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners learn from their elders. In this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in which their grandparents grew up. Learners conduct interviews with elders in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping the Past Alive

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read about the oral histories of West Africa and complete related activities. In this oral histories lesson, students read about the importance of oral customs in African cultures. Students interview a family member about oral...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More About You!!!

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this personal facts worksheet, learners ask three different people, six personal questions and put their answers on a chart. Students then answer eight personal questions about themselves and prepare their presentation about one of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral Histories

For Teachers 6th - 12th
One of a series of lessons from Ellis Island. In this lesson, learners use research from a previous lesson to conduct oral history interviews of family members to learn about their cultural and ethnic heritage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral Genealogy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research their family histories by conducing interviews with parents and grandparents. They put their histories into a chant or a chart/family tree and present it to their class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interview With A Legend

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate how Language Arts and Social Studies can be integrated in the curriculum. They conduct research about a famous person in history. Then students use the information to write a report for the class. Then students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Oral History to Understand Immigrant History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use oral history to comprehend how life chaned for men, women, and childern when they immigrated to the United States. Students conduct interviews with immigrants in an attempt to interpret hardships, lifestyles, careers, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Virtual Ellis Island Museum Unit: Oral Histories

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students conduct oral histories of family members to explore their cultural and ethnic heritage after developing a set of research questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Massachusetts Oral History Project on the Great Depression

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders conduct interviews with a relative or a family friend who lived in Massachusetts during the Depression. They write an essay based on the interview that shows an intimate portrayal of how the lives of the individuals who...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral Histories

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students interview local Native Americans to explore their history, culture, and contributions to the region. They contact a local Native American organization, conduct an interview with a volunteer and write thank-you notes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing up in Las Vegas; Memories of Childhood in the Neon City

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the history of Las Vegas through conducting interviews.  In this oral history instructional activity, students locate and speak with older residents of Las Vegas in order to gain a better understanding of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Veterans Day Remembered

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate Veteran's Day. In this holiday lesson, 6th graders conduct interviews with veterans and create an oral presentation to share the results of their interview.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing and Sharing Community Stories

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use interviewing skills to explore and express the culture of their community. In this literacy/writing lesson, students interview a community member as a basis for a biographical writing project. Each class member...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars, at the advanced beginner to low intermediate ESL levels, demonstrate comprehension of the play or story, "Little Red Riding Hood." They construct interviews based on knowledge of the characters in the play Little Red...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer America: Legendary Westerners - Can One Person Really Make a Difference?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research famous Americans from the Westward Movement and complete an interview. In this Westward Movement lesson, 4th graders work in pairs to research someone who was important during this time period. They prepare and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Food Favorites

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders conduct an interview and create a class cookbook. In this family heritage lesson plan, 3rd graders read Everybody Bakes Bread and discuss a dish or recipe that is a part of their family's heritage. Students interview family...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Producing a Daily News Broadcast: A Cross-Curricular Activity

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a daily newscast which they broadcast to the whole school. They write the scripts for the broadcast, after reviewing interviews, feature writing, and proposals. They organize the newscast for presentation and edit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amelia Earhart: A Biography

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the accomplishments of Amelia Earhart. They read and discuss a biography of Amelia Earhart, complete a Venn diagram, and conduct an interview with a classmate and write and publish a biography of their classmate.