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Picture Book Change Over Time

Create a picture book that shows changes in your community as seen though the eyes of many groups.


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Suggested Activities

This critical challenge invites students to further develop their understanding of how changes over time have affected their families and present-day communities. A particular focus of this investigation is to explore the look of these changes from varying perspectives–including those of children, women, men, various linguistic and cultural groups, and business groups. To introduce the activities, read aloud a story about evolving changes (e.g., Window by Jeannie Baker or The House on Maple Street by Bonnie Pryor). Ask students to identify the changes they see occurring in the book and ask them to indicate whether the changes happened long ago or recently.

Point out that the student's own community has changed over time. Ask students to describe from what they have learned thus far in the inquiry how their own community looked long ago. If possible, provide historical photos and/or a walking tour of an area to help students with this concept. In particular, draw students' attention to places where certain buildings once stood (e.g., the first school, original buildings that have been remodelled, early street scenes, original neighbourhoods), landmarks (human and natural), entertainment events, transportation, clothing and treatment of and interactions with the land.

Invite students to show how their community has changed over time by making a picture book like the one that was read to them. As a class, determine the criteria for this picture book (e.g., shows change over time, pictures depict appropriate things for the time period, includes many different groups). Organize the book into several "chapters," each showing how the past and present have changed from the perspective of a different group–children, women, men, various linguistic or cultural groups, and business groups. Invite individuals, groups and businesses in the community to lend photographs or objects that students could photocopy or draw for inclusion in the book.

Arrange for students to present their completed picture books to seniors/elders from the community who have been invited for the occasion. Encourage students to invite the seniors/elders to tell their own memories of the events and pictures portrayed in the books.

Last updated: March 1, 2016 | (Revision History)
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