Kickin' It Old School!

As many of you may or may not know, here at Obaratone's sound studio, we hold the senior citizens of the world in high regard, since they have been here longer than we have and definitely know a lot more than we do. Though many young people nowadays think they know everything and have experienced all there is to experience by the time they're 20, a 10 minute conversation with an elderly person will change their views very quickly. For a proposed lesson that can be done with students, I found this simple one on the SLICE website about conducting interviews with elderly people about their lives:

Students enrich the lives of senior citizens by developing a relationship with a senior and creating a biography/timeline of the senior's life. Students research major historical events that took place during the seniors' lives and document them on the senior's timeline.

Now originally, this lesson was pointed towards younger students in the elementary range. But very simply, we could take this and make it geared towards the older kids, too. The interview remains the same. The students ask the seniors about their lives and maybe some important historical events that may have happened during their lifetime. For example, any war they fought in, the Cold War times, and just life in general. Old people love to talk about how things were always better when they were young. So ask them! Then the students could write a paper comparing firsthand accounts to documented resources. Or something along those lines.

Now I know what you're all thinking (especially since it's part of our assignment. Or perhaps I can read your mind...): "Obaratone, how does this relate to inquiry in social studies?"

Glad you asked. As far as the benefits go, according to our Mind Map, this is very student organized. The students pick the old person they want to interview and they ask the questions to them. The teachers can just monitor and make sure everyone is asking appropriate questions and staying on task (though it could be fun to listen to the elderly rant. And you could learn a lot.) I think the best benefit of all is that it will get the students interested in history. Instead of reading some boring text, they can actually listen to how things happened according to these firsthand accounts. I've always said that the people are the most interesting part of history. Well these senior citizens are living history! What a perfect way to get kids involved in learning their history! As far as the inquiry method, it's very straightforward and follows the method great. Students explore and interview, then they discuss it with their interviewees and each other, then they apply it to historical documents or resources and see how the stories compare. Going further, the students can take what they learned and maybe help them in their own lives. And what about the best examples? Well it is very hands on! The students learn firsthand how things may have happened through someone's eyes, not just the textbook.

Now you might be (or should be) thinking: "Mr. Obaratone, this is all fine and dandy, but what are some of the challenges to this amazing lesson?" Well, my friends, you are in luck. Because I knew you were going to ask that, I have come up with some ideas. Inappropriate questions that the students may ask, senior non-cooperation, uncomfortable students around old people, and just incorrect information all can play a role in this assignment. But fear not! This assignment can be done, and I am confident that the students involved will be on their best behavior for the old people. Remember what FDR said: "We have nothing to fear except fear itself." Ask the elderly about this quote and FDR himself! Now if you'll excuse me, the sound studio has some recording to do. Just let me crank the record player...