Third Grade Lesson:
SOS Introduction and Overview

Key Terms

history, historian, “tools,” document

Key Tools/Documents

Guiding Questions

What is history? What are documents? How do historians study the past?

Activities

Open lesson with student discussion of what history is, how historians use “tools” like timelines, maps, and documents. Students should brainstorm types or examples of documents including: photographs, journals/diaries, newspapers, letters, etc.
Create class timeline with students. Announce and post key dates: birth years of students; 2000; the invention of TV; students’ grandparents as kids; founding of Ann Arbor; etc.
Share three large maps of Ann Arbor with students (#1-1850s; #2-1910s; #3-1990s). Students locate major geographic sites: Huron River; Broadway bridge; mills; UM; etc. Encourage students to note changes in maps over time including: width of Broadway bridge; increase in number of roads; additional railroad lines.
Introduce website to students using computer-projector unit (if available). Show homepage and major links. Show varying examples of documents available including: maps, photographs, audio recordings.
In small groups, students examine and compare Photo-View of Lower Town and Mills (mid 1800s) and Photo-Ann Arbor Railway Bridge (late 1800s). Students should think about and write responses to two questions:
1. What do you see in each photo? Describe.
2. Compare the two photos - what is the same? What is different?
In small or large groups, lead discussion on differences between photos as evidence of historical change in Ann Arbor including: coming of the railroad; settlement and building; industry - mills and slaughterhouses; changes in the environment.

Challenge

Invite students to explore and navigate the SOS website. Students can search for “the oldest map of Ann Arbor.”

Third Grade Lesson:SOS Introduction and Overview