Marking History
Grades: 4-8
Marking History:
Creating a Community Historical Marker
To get started, ask your students if they know what a historical marker is. Share examples of historical markers and discuss their purpose in preserving history and educating the public.
As a class, brainstorm areas in your community that might deserve a historical marker, such as parks, landmarks, historic buildings, or notable local events.
Let students know that they will be creating a community historical marker. Ask them to choose a location they feel connected to or curious about to create a new historical marker.
As a class, come up with guiding questions for research, such as:
- What is the name of the location?
- Why is it important to the community?
- What happened there, or why is it memorable?
- How can the location's significance be summed up?
Assign the Historical Marker template to students. Ask students to add the name of the location, write 3 to 5 sentences explaining the location's significance, and create a seal, symbol, or image representing the location. Students can use paint tools and stickers or upload images to this area.
Once students finish their historical marker, have them present their markers to the class, explaining why they chose their location and its significance. You might also considering having students share their completed markers with local government or historical organizations.