curriculum model for community profiles in massachusetts: a student website project
TRANSCRIPT
Curriculum Model for Community Profiles in
Massachusetts:
A Student Website Project
Components of the Curriculum Model
• Basic questions to answer in Profile • Research into events—historical to present• Database of resources tied to state
frameworks• Local extensions to the curriculum• Sample lessons and projects • Website repository
Basic Questions to Answer: • Location? • Origin and early
settlement? • Who settled and who
lives there now?• Landscape features and
use?• Economic
DevelopmentFirst Mass. Colony Seal
Basic Questions to Answer: • Transportation patterns?• Major events?• Outstanding citizens• Children’s schooling? • Relation to larger world? • Other?
Research Into Events
• Students select research questions• Determine sources • Contact Community Organizations • Conduct Oral interviews• Web research, Other?
Create Database of Resources
• Identify primary source images & source
• Database forms with background information
• Scan primary sources into database
• Tie into Frameworks
Primary Sources: Documents(Nantucket Town Meeting 1842)
Primary Sources: Maps1832 Map of Lowell
Primary Sources: Census Records
• State and federal census from 1790 on
• Information on households, work, country of origin.
• Special censuses (“Colored persons” in Nantucket, left.)
Primary Sources: Photographs
• James Draper, Wayland, 1880’s, • haying in Sudbury River meadows
Wayland Community Profile
• Sample Questions
• Student Research
• Tie into Standards
Locate Community
Sign on Route 20, five mi. W of 128, 17 mi. W of Boston, 26 mi. E of Worcester.
Settlement of Community
• First settled 1637
• Land Grant 1638
• Sudbury 1639
• East Sudbury 1780
• Wayland 1835• Sources Research? :
Settlement Location
• East side of Sudbury• Orig. 5 mi. square; • Surveying, no early
maps• Colony grant records• Town records• Research Questions
Early Population
• Native inhabitants? • Number and origin of
early families? • Proprietors Records• Vital Records - Birth,
Marriage, Death, census (Gleason family r.)
• Cemetery Records
Landscape Features & Use
• River dominant feature
• “For want of more meadow”for hay
• The importance of cattle to early people
• Water-rich resources
Economic Development- Trade and Industry
• Trades related to farming— tanning
• 12 footers early industry
• Cochituate Shoe Factory
• Area growth
Cochituate: Bent Factory
Immigration: Changing Population
French Canadian, Albanian shoe workers arrive
Transportation Patterns
• Early roads and bridges; river during floods• Old Post Road; changes in transportation
Railroad comes to Wayland
First Train to Arrive
Trolley Comes to Cochituate
Landmarks: North Cemetery
First three Meetinghouses and cemetery on hill (Indian site) overlooking river
Landmarks - First Parish
• 5th Town Church in present Town Center
• Town Clock, Paul Revere bell
• Separation church, state• Church records• Architecture
Historic District Landmarks
1845 George Smith house and shop,19th c. Wayland Village District
Important Event in Wayland History
King Philip’s War 1675-76
Landmark: KP War Marker
• Ambush site at river
• Garrison house nearby (cellar hole remains)
• Cost of War (tax relief)
• Research sources
Important Person in Community History - Local
• James Draper, builder, historian, surveyor, town benefactor.
• Evidence of presence?• Home standing,
Draper Road.• Historical writings.
Important Person in Community History - National
• Lydia Maria Child, abolitionist, author, humanitarian.
• Her life in the community; house still standing.
• Research on her original records?
Early Schooling
• Colony efforts to get towns to comply
• Locations of early schools
• School masters/salary• Early “curriculum”
compared to today
Relation to Larger World
• Political organization: town meeting — how has it changed?
• Relation to state, General Court
• Regional - county, watershed (SuAsCo)
• Nearest big city, major roads, MBTA
Relation to Metropolitan Water
• Lake Cochituate, partly in Wayland, was early Boston water supply. Gate house above
• 3 aqueducts for MWRA water go through town
Putting it all Together
• Tie basic questions together into profile• Make links to database (primary sources)• Suggest additional community research
questions and projects - tied to curriculum• Published online through Massachusetts
Studies Project and school/community website