Utilizing Oral Histories in the Humanities Classroom

Implementing Oral Histories Harnessing the spoken word as history and memory in the Humanities classroom.

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Oral Histories In the Classroom Utilizing Creating Oral histories can serve as powerful primary sources when studying history. Oral history can be adapted to many different types of projects, from family history, to personal narratives or memoir, to academic research. Oral histories provide first-hand accounts of important events and time periods; events in which the narrator participated or witnessed. Creating or collecting oral histories is a great opportunity for students to explore their identity and connect with others. Oral histories can deepen our understanding of how the past has impacted individuals and communities, as well as help shape our perspectives on the present. Collecting oral histories allows a unique experience: a moment for students to perhaps learn more about their community, family, or culture.

Animated Storycorps Excerpts Facundo the Great Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez was raised in a small farming community in southern California in the 1950s. As was common practice at that time, teachers at his local elementary school Anglicized the Mexican American students' names. Here, Chunky remembers a new classmate who proved to be the exception to the rule. Dad and Son Discuss Growing Up Black In Mississippi | #WhoWeAre Directed by: The Rauch Brothers Executive Producers: Dave Isay Donna Galeno Producers: Lizzie Jacobs Mike Rauch Production Coordinator: Maya Millett Consulting Producer: Michael Garofalo Animation: Tim Rauch Assistant Animation: Erica Perez Storyboard: Stephen DeStefano Backgrounds: Bill Wray FX and Compositing: Gary Leib Audio Produced by: Nadia Reiman Supervising Sound Recordist: Piya Kochhar Music: Alina s Place and "Black Fur" by Fredrik, from the Album Na Na Ni (2008) The Kora Records Published by: House of Hassle Special Thanks to: Kathrina Proscia A lovely conversation between fourth-grader Aid an Sykes and his father, Albert. For more videos that care: http://u.pw/1rPmbv2 9-year-old Aid an had some questions for his father , who reflects on Aidan's birth, the importance of standing up for civil rights, and the special challenges of raising black boys in America. To read more on this story: http://u.pw/2dSQjRZ This story is one in a series from StoryCorps and Upworthy, bringing you real-life tales of everyday Americans that speak to our best selves. #WhoWeAre Animation by Ace Son Moving Picture Co. http://aceandson.com/ Supported in part by Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation. Subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/upworthy In partnership with American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress NPR POV Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/ Follow Us On Twitter: https://twitter.com/upworthy Funding Provided by Corporation for Public Broadcasting Upworthy is on a mission to tell stories that bring people together because we re all part of the same story. Please tell us about your StoryCorps viewing experience: http://bit.ly/2voKXbP Our goal is to foster a community of people who are focused on spreading ideas within their existing groups of friends on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and wherever else. So if you see something #upworthy, tag it, share it and start a conversation. What is special about these stories? How do you think it feels to have your history or memories recorded (forever)? How might this project help your students feel better connected to the classroom?

Families & Communities as Funds of Knowledge* Funds of knowledge is basically the idea that all knowledge and strengths do not come from the same place. Traditional knowledge = being good at school (which is great and fine and why many of us become teachers). Funds of knowledge are the historically accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential for household or individual functioning and well- being. See, Dad? Grad school was worth it. Our unique life experiences, cultural backgrounds, family histories, and community identities provide us with differing funds of knowledge. We want to tap into that with this project. *Gonzalez, Moll, Amanti OG authors

Bonus: Take Storycorps collections further! (Ethnic Studies Classroom) How can using these stories to uplift our historically (& currently) marginalized communities and have an impact in our classrooms? StoryCorps Collections Links: Celebrating AAPI Voices Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month LGBTQ+ Voices to Honor this Pride Month Stories to Celebrate Black History Month Voices to Celebrate Women s History Month Voices to Honor for Indigenous Peoples Day How can we help foster identity- safe spaces with these stories? What message does it send to our students about belonging in our classrooms?

Resources The Great Thanksgiving Listen - Storycorps (Everything you need to implement this project in your classroom!) Connecting the Past to Present with Oral History - Facing History (A lesson plan for utilizing oral history) How to Do Oral History - The Smithsonian Storycorps Project playlist of videos Oral History Association Feeling Radical? - Worship of the Written Word (Tema Okun)