Renee Marquart
Esperanza Middle School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
1. How can I build new activities around primary resources?
I already use a variety of primary resources, but I will be using them in a new way. For instance, I will be starting a 2-3 week unit titled Slavery to Freedom. My students read biographies of slaves who lived in St. Mary's County just prior to the start of the Civil War. In addition, they read biographies of slaves who lived in other locations in Maryland and Virginia during the same time period and compare and contrast the lives of each of these people. My students also evaluate their lives with regard to another primary source that I use from a plantation handbook which outlines the recommended treatment and living conditions for slaves. The way in which I will build a new activity is to use role play initially to bring the life experiences of each of these people to "life" through my students rather than in a written format, just as we did with the Document Exercise. I will then have my students complete a written activity in which they can focus on the commonalities and differences in the lives of enslaved people.
2. Where can I supplement some of my current lesson plans with primary sources?
I will be using the Readex Database. I never knew about this resource and in all likelihood would never have had access to such a valuable resource if I had not participated in this grant.
3. How will I use the local source I selected at the workshop to teach my students about the history of their own community?
I will use the resource that I selected, which is an advertisement from Sotterley Plantation offering slaves for sale. I will begin with the advertisement and have my students brainstorm reasons why slaves would be sold, focusing on the economic and social impact that this would have on the plantation owner and the individuals being sold and their families. Then I will have my students read the biographies and role play. My students will discover through the biographies that several of the people they read about where sold away from their families.
