Lesson Plans: Teaching Local History
Too often when teaching the big picture in history, local stories are lost. Imagine students’ interest when they learn of Confederate officer, J.E. B Stuart’s raid in Burke, Virginia, or how German POWs were hired to work on farms in Fairfax County near the end of World War II because of a labor shortage. Through the years, the story of General Braddock’s buried gold has captured the imagination of many a young Fairfax County resident.
Familiar places and names make studying the past more meaningful. Students get excited when they learn that Dolley Madison Boulevard was named after the route that Dolley Madison traveled, taking the portrait of George Washington when she was escaping the British invasion of Washington, DC. The study of primary sources including newspapers such as The Alexandria Gazette and The Fairfax Herald or Matthew Brady’s Civil War photos of Fairfax enhance learning local history.
The following lesson plans encourage students to explore the past of their own backyards; then the big picture of history becomes easier for them to understand.
- In 1951, the federal government appropriated private property in Burke, Virginia, to construct an international airport. Citizen protest defeated the proposed airport location, but only after many residents were forced to sell their property and relocate. The proposed airport raised important legal issues, particularly on the impact of eminent domain.
- Download Lesson Plan PDF
The Impact of Eminent Domain on Burke, Virginia
- Oral histories engage students personally with the past through conversations with older family members and friends or through formal interviews with public figures. Their use is adaptable to various age groups and curricula.
- Download Oral History questionnaire PDF
Oral History
- From Native American hunters in the 1600s to today's officeworkers, how has the economy of Fairfax County changed over time? Read the essay and discussion questions.
- Download Fairfax County Economy lesson PDF
Fairfax County Economy
- Does your school population reflect county demographics? Let students survey their class and use mathematics to shed light on history.
- Download Demographics questionnaire PDF
Demographics: History and Mathematics
- Where is this place and what is it called? Match names and places in Fairfax County using clues from history and today.
- Download Names and Places puzzle PDF
Names and Places
Written by Mary Lipsey