The Object of History | Behind the Scenes with the Curators of the National Museum of American History

Preliminary Activity

Plan of Instruction:

Introduction to Doing History with Objects
• Ask students of consider an object that has been handed down from one person to another in their family. How is this object a part of their personal and family history? Take a few minutes to share and discuss some answers.
• Assign students to computers, and direct them to the Guide to Doing History with Objects essay [http://objectofhistory.org/guide/]. Ask them to read the essay, and to note at the end of each section how their family's object reveals the kinds of historical perspectives that Lubar and Kendrick discuss.
• Bring students back together for a plenary discussion of their reflections.