Activities for Studying Local History. Outdoor Education Series. Bulletin No. 247-L.

This teacher guide contains 12 detailed local history investigations, complete with procedures, required materials, and evaluation exercises, based on performance objectives that support the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools' social studies and mathematics instructional objectives for grades K-6. The exercises draw students into their local environment and put them in contact with learning resources in the community. Before beginning each on-site investigation, students should visit libraries, historical societies, or county courthouses to find related materials in census and tax records, land titles, pension rolls, election returns, diary entries, letters, and photographs. Sites for investigation are an old railroad station, farm, town, church, graveyard, log cabin, barn, bridge, foundation, mill, and street. Measuring buildings, using and drawing maps, observing architectural and design features, comparing construction techniques, calculating ages and dates from tombstones, and writing imaginary letters and diaries are among the suggested procedures for learning about people of the past and how they lived. (NEC)