Connecting to the Past
| THE PROGRAM: Connecting to the Past provides
an active and engaging opportunity for students to learn
about their community's rich history through the use of
local government records. The year-long interdisciplinary
program is designed to increase awareness, appreciation
and knowledge of Haverstraw, which was once known as the
"brickmaking capital of the world." With local
government records, students trace the history of the
brickmaking industry in Haverstraw from its origins, to
its peak, and ultimately, to its decline. Students
continuously formulate questions as they examine census,
industrial sched ules and property maps. A research log
is maintained by students throughout the project; entries
summarizing trips and visits by guest speakers are
written as well. Information is cooperatively prepared
for publication using traditional tools and multimedia; a
slide presentation might in clude a description of a
brickyard, a narration, a timeline, a map, and a graph to
show immigration patterns and labor development. In
addition, students discuss and record national and
interna tional events occurring at the same time as
events in Haverstraw. THE STUDENTS: Thirty seventh and eighth grade bilingual/ESL students cooperatively researched the history of brickmaking in Haverstraw. This project can be adapted for any age group and achievement level. THE STAFF: Luz DuBois has been a bilingual teacher for 16 years. She has received previous Impact II Developer Grants and Adaptor Grants. Luz is a community leader for the Electronic Schoolhouse on America Online where she networks with educators across the United States. MATERIALS AND FACILITIES: Classroom resources for this project include two Macintosh computers, multimedia authoring software, a scanner and a printer. OUTSIDE RESOURCES: Among the guest speakers are local historians, descendants of a prominent individual in the brickmaking industry and community members who share memories of |
their life in Haverstraw. In addition,
trips are made to the local library, the Rockland County
Historical Society and the County Clerk's Office. Within
These Gates, written by Daniel deNoyelles,
serves as a guide for the teacher as it provides a record
of the brickmaking industry. OVERALL VALUE: Connecting to the Past links past and present generations through the use of local government records. These records provide a valuable research tool that students may not have considered. By utilizing them in the classroom, a clearer understanding and appreciation of history can be achieved. Con nections to the past are made in a special way not possible from textbooks. Connecting to the Past is an authentic learning experience which enriches and enhances the academic curriculum. RECOMMENDED FUNDING: $200.00 FOR MORE INFORMATION: DEVELOPER: Luz C. DuBois SCHOOL:
PRINCIPAL: Raymond Hagadorn DISTRICT: North Rockland Central School District |