Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide by by Marjorie Hunt is an excellent resource for collecting family and community cultural information. It provides step-by-step information on how to plan and conduct...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration and Oral History

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The primary goal of this activity is to give students the genuine experience of oral history in order to appreciate the process of historiography. We identified immigrants in our community who reflect the ethnic diversity of our student...
Handout
US Holocaust Memorial Museum

U.s. Holocaust Memorial Museum: Guidelines for Oral History Interviews

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Speaking to people with firsthand knowledge of an event is an important way to gather information. Use these guidelines to help prepare for an oral history interview.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Archives of American Arts: Oral History Interviews, Farm Security Administration

For Students 9th - 10th
This site lists over 400 oral history interviews from artists, administrators and others involved with the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930's and 40's.
Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Writing Workshop: Oral History

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Great online lesson that takes students through the entire writing process- from prompt to publishing. Online or printable versions of each step are available. The prompt asks students to interview people and write about their oral...
Primary
Other

Tanks for the Memories: Oral History of the Tankers

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides detailed excerpts from a book containing written oral histories of those American soldiers who served in tanks during World War 2.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Oral History and Social History

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This instructional activity presents social history content and topics through the voices of ordinary people. It draws on primary sources from the collection, American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project,...
Primary
US House of Representatives

History, Art, and Archives: Oral History of the House of Representatives

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Through interviews with House officers, aides, committee staff, former Representatives, and others, a rich heritage has been preserved. Audio, video, and transcripts provide a look into legislative processes and procedures, personal and...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
If you set out to do your own primary research with a tradition-bearer in your community, this guide will be very valuable. Get information about how to get the best results, along with an extensive list of possible questions for the...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Voice of Witness: A Sudanese Refugee's Oral History

For Students 7th - 8th
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each text is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see the...
Handout
Gabriel Dumont Institute

The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture: Our Proud Heritage

For Students 9th - 10th
The heritage of the Metis, both historical and contemporary events, honours Metis Elders and veterans. The collection includes historical photographs and print materials relating to the Metis resistance. The oral history includes both...
Handout
Gabriel Dumont Institute

The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture: Indigenous Voices

For Students 9th - 10th
Indigenous Voices celebrates the Metis' heritage languages: Michif-Cree, Northwestern Saskatchewan Michif, Michif-French, Cree, Saulteaux and Bunji. The Michif Resources are rich in materials and include oral histories and video clps.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: What Is History? Timelines and Oral Histories

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Lesson for teaching young historians to retell the past using timelines and oral accounts.
Primary
Other

Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation: Family Histories

For Students 9th - 10th
Follow the stories of six Americans with different backgrounds who wanted to know more about their ancestors' journeys to America and used immigration and genealogy records to complete their family histories.
Lesson Plan
University of Pennsylvania

Upenn: Oral Traditions in Africa (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This website features a lesson plan that can be used by teachers K-12 on oral traditions found in Africa.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Migration During the Great Depression: Living History

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Most people in Central Florida came from somewhere else. Students first analyze life histories from American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940 to learn oral history techniques. They then interview...
Handout
Other

The Collection: Chicago Architects Oral History Project

For Students 9th - 10th
Choose from an extensive list of Chicago area architects and learn information about their lives and their work. Includes links to interviews and biographies.
Website
Other

National History Day

For Students 9th - 10th
Students and teachers participate in a yearly history-themed competition and celebration of historical topics. Young learners conduct primary and secondary research by studying archives, museums, oral history interviews, and historical...
Activity
Gabriel Dumont Institute

The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
This user-friendly site takes a close look at Metis history and culture through the use of many primary resources including oral histories, audio and video files, art, interviews, documents, and more. Very comprehensive site.
Activity
Other

Hsi: March on Frankfort: Who Will Go Down in History?

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has students identify with the people of the civil rights movement. Oral histories are provided, along with a newspaper article. After reviewing the material, students are to draw a conclusion.
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Oral Histories

For Teachers 3rd Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the importance of listening to and writing about people's life stories. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: On the Water: Maritime Voices

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to the oral histories of four men and one woman who worked in America's shipyards and aboard her cargo ships during World War II to keep American armed forces supplied with machinery and ammunition.
Primary
Other

Nashville Public Library Digital Collection: Veterans History Project Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of oral history interviews and artifacts from veterans from Nashville, Tennessee and Davidson County, Tennessee. Most of the material and interviews come from World War II veterans, but a few are from later wars, including...
Website
Brown University

The Whole World Was Watching: An Oral History of 1968

For Students 9th - 10th
Memories of 1968 are collected via interviews conducted by high school students. Important issues during that time include civil rights, Vietnam, the politics of the time and women's rights. There are transcripts of interviews and key...