TEKS ALIGNMENT DOCUMENT
By focusing on local and state history a chapter will help advance the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) mandated for fourth and seventh grade. However, since the historical subject matter is not limited to local and state history the curricular connections are unlimited. It is often quite easy to use local or relatively nearby resources to study larger national or international events. The use of primary, secondary and motivating resources is encouraged through the course descriptions of most social studies courses in the current framework. Once again, the activities encouraged through Junior Historians assist in meeting those curricular needs.
The lasting and long-term benefit of the activities encouraged through Junior Historians is the development of basic social studies skills that transcend all that we do. Social studies skills are the common thread that binds all grade levels. The skills of thinking critically, communicating effectively, solving problems, and making decisions are repeatedly emphasized through the activities recommended for Junior Historians. The social studies skills TEKS, usually the last three for each grade level, are essential for success at each grade level and in life. The matrix below shows which skills based on the TEKS can be taught or enhanced by which activity found in the Activities Section.
As students engage in the activities recommended through Junior Historians, they will build and strengthen their reading and social studies skills necessary to perform well on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in a manner that is relevant to their lives. Many of these activities also make use of technology, which assists in student mastery of a variety of the required Technology Applications TEKS.
BOOKS, BULLETINS, AND LEAFLETS ON LOCAL HISTORY STUDIES
The American Association for State and Local History publishes a wealth of inexpensive material that is invaluable to the Junior Historian sponsor. These materials should be ordered directly from the AASLH at the following address:
American Association for State and Local History
172 Second Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 255-2971
Online @ www.aaslhnet.org
Technical Reports
Using, Managing. and Preserving the Records of Your Historical Organization, TR #9
Producing Professional Quality Slide Shows, TR #2
Technical Leaflets
Manuscript Collections: Initial Procedures, TL *131
Collecting and Preserving Architectural Records, TL *132
Historic Site Interpretation: The Student Field Trip, TL #19
History for Young People: Projects and Activities, TL #38
History for Young People: Organizing a Junior Society, TL *44
Planning Museum Tours for School Groups, TL #93
Historic Houses as Learning Laboratories: Seven Teaching Strategies, TL *105
Designing Your Exhibits: Seven Ways to Look at an Artifact, TL #91
Preparing Your Exhibits: Methods, Materials. and Bibliography, TL #4
Methods of Research for the Amateur Historian, TL #21.
Books and Pamphlets
Oral History for the Local Historical Society. Third edition, revised, by Willa K. Baum.
Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around You. By David E. Kyvig and Myron A. Marty.
Local Schools: Exploring Their History. By Ronald E. Butchart.
Houses and Homes: Exploring Their History. By Barbara J. Howe, Dolores A. Fleming, Emory L. Kemp, and Ruth Ann Overbeck.
Public Places: Exploring Their History. By Gerald A. Danzer.
On Doing Local History: Reflections on What Local Historians Do, Why, and What It Means. By Carol Kammen.
Researching, Writing, and Publishing Local History. By Thomas E. Felt.
Oral History: An Interdisciplinary Anthology. Edited by David K. Dunaway and Willa K. Baum.
Transcribing and Editing Oral History. By Willa K. Baum.
Many additional titles are available from the American Association for State and Local History. A complete publications list is free on request.
The following two publications and the architectural slide show are highly recommended for all Junior Historian sponsors as well as for anyone interested in local history.
Teaching History with Community Resources. By Clifford L. Lord.
Localized History Series
Teachers College Press, Columbia University
New York, New York 10027
Oral History for Texans. By Thomas L. Charlton.
Texas Historical Commission
P. O. Box 12276
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
| SECTION IV: RESOURCE SECTION | ||
| TEKS Alignment Document | 78 | |
| Books, Bulletins, and Leaflets on Local History Studies | 80 | |
| Junior Historian Constitution |   |
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| Save Our History Educators Manual | ||
| Preservation Guidelines Series from the Texas Historical Commission | ||
| Remembering Texas-Guidelines for Historical Research | ||
| Fundamentals of Oral History | ||
| Historic Texas Cemetery Designation | ||
| Preserving Historic Cemeteries | ||
| Official Texas Historical Markers | ||
| Researching Military History | ||
| Community Resource File Forms | |
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| Adopt-A-Building Forms | ||
| Phase I-Declaration of Adoption | |
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| Phase II-Adopt-A-Building Survey | |
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| Phase III-Sight and Sound Project | |
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| Phase IV-Declaration of Outreach | |
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| History Fair Judging Form | |
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| Regional Meeting Announcement and Response Forms | |
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| Study Trip Checklist | |
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| Member Information Sheet | |
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| Sample Photo Release Form | |
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| Sample Letter for Contacting Historical Groups | |
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