"Teaching with Colorado's Heritage"
Module 12: Teaching with Material Culture
Using "material culture" - things made by people - helps students to understand the world today and in the past. Objects offer a different kind of knowledge than written and oral sources. "Objects, three dimensional forms of color and texture, may be expressions of need, practicality, art, customs, culture, religion, ingenuity, luxury, and humor" (Objects: Teaching in 3-D, 2002).
Ways to use objects with students
Use an object to introduce a specific place, event or period in history unit on history, geography or world culture. Ask students questions about the object: What you know about the object? What would you like to know? Where should you go for more information?
At the beginning of the school year, have students bring in several objects that represent something about themselves (make sure that they don't bring in anything that is breakable, or harmful to themself or others, or inappropriate in any way for the school environment). Have them draw or graphically represent the object in some way and return it home. At the end of the school year, repeat the exercise. Ask them questions: how did the objects change over the course of the year? How does this reflect how you have changed over the course of the school year?
Activity
Innovative Lessons Using Objects
- Petroglyphs, the Stories They Tell Use- a lesson on how different cultures record history.
- Graveyards and Markers- a lesson on how primary sources are a record of human experience.
References
Objects: Teaching in 3D. 02/12/02. The Heritage Education Network. http://www.mtsu.edu/~then/Objects/. 06/07/04.
