A Day In The Life Of A Veteran: Oral History

Designed by: Mary H. Harris, Hopkins Middle School

Grade Level: Sixth
Subject(s): Language Arts/Reading & Social Studies

1) CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE(S): Use appropriate listening skills to conduct and interpret surveys and interviews, to listen critically, record information accurately,  to research and report information.  (6-SK14) (PACT III.F)

2)  OVERVIEW:  In this lesson, the students conduct an interview with a veteran of a recent war to provide a first hand account of a military conflicts in the Twentieth Century.  The notes from the interview will be used to develop an oral history report. This lesson also may be taught in social studies.

3) PURPOSE/ESSENTIAL QUESTION (S):

How can listening skills be used when conducting an interview?

How can notes from an interview be used to develop an oral history report?

4)  TIME FRAME: Five fifty minute classes

5)  RESOURCES:

http://www.eb.com/

http://www.computingcorner.com/holidays/vets/wars.html
Veteran Oral Report Rubric

http://www.vfw.org/home.shtm/

Collection of war books

Notebook

War veterans

Oral report rubric

Sample questions

History textbook

Computer with Internet access

Listening skill handout

6) ASSESSMENT:

Students will take notes from an interview and prepare an oral history report. Students will be assessed daily via a response slip which may be counted as a participation grade or as points toward a quiz grade. Students and teacher will develop questions for the interview.  The completed questions may be used as a quiz grade.    A rubric has been provided for the oral report.

7) INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Activity One:

1.Focus Activity: Students will select a recent war to research.

2. Student will be given sample interview questions and the rubric for the oral reports.

3.Teacher will review the criteria with the class.

4.Research skills: Using the Internet site http://www.eb.com/ and selected books and their history textbook, the students will gather background information about their topic.

5.Teacher will assist students in locating a veteran through family ties, churches, VFW, or the American Legion.

6.Students may also use the Internet site http://www.vfw.org/home.shtm/ to access information about veterans across the country.

Daily Assessment: Students will be given a response slip on which they will write at least two facts they have learned from the day’s activity.  This may count as points toward a quiz grade or a participation grade.

Activity Two:

1.Teacher will assist the students in the development of appropriate questions for their interview. (See Attachment.)

2.Teacher will review interview skills with the class.

3.The students will complete the listening skill handout.  The purpose of this handout is to address key areas students need to aware of before and during the interview. (See Attachment.)

4. Teacher will review responses.

5.Students will select a partner in class and conduct a mock interview to practice their listening and note taking skills.

6.The partners will review the responses and repeat the mock interview if necessary.

7.The teacher will monitor all student activities and provide feedback.

Daily Assessment: Students will be given a response slip on which they will write at least two facts they have learned from the day’s activity.  This may count as points toward a quiz grade or a participation grade.

Activity Three:

1.Teacher will assist the students in scheduling the interviews.

2.Teacher will review the criteria for the oral report.

3.Student will be given time in class to review the notes from the interview in class.

4.Students will write a draft of the oral report in class. With a peer reviewer, the student will make revisions and practice the presentation.

5.Teacher will provide time for presentations in class.

Optional activity:  The presentations may be videotaped and shown over the school’s TV system.

 Daily Assessment: Students will be given a response slip on which they will write at least two facts they have learned from the day’s activity.  This may count as points toward a quiz grade or a participation grade.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1.What is your name?

Answer____________________________________________

___________________________________________________

2. When and where were you born?

Answer_____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4.      What was your job in the military?

Answer______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

LISTENING SKILLS HANDOUT

Before the speaker begins, review this list of questions.  Then fill in the blanks.

1. What is the topic?

2.What do I already know about the topic?

3.What is the speaker’s purpose?

4.What audience does the speaker intend to reach?

5. What information do I hope to learn?

As you listen to the speaker, keep the following questions in mind.  Fill in the answers as you hear them.

6.What’s the purpose of the interview?

7.What are the key points that the speaker is making?

8.Write the supporting evidence for each key point.

9.How does the speaker summarize his or her interview?

EXTENSION ACTIVITY: CHECK WITH A NEWSPAPER TO SEE IF A REPORTER WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO CLASS TO DISCUSS INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES.