Aim: Why should we study History?

Motivation: Answer each of the following in complete sentencesA.) Can life without a memory be worthwhile? Why/why not?B. ) Would you have a sense of self without a memory?C. ) How would you feel without a personal history (not know who you are or where you came from)? Can you think of any characters from Film, TV, or literature who have this problem?D.) What does history and memories give you?

Based on what we have done so far, what do you think a proper definition is for the word “history”? (Take two minutes to write down your response)

Share your answer with your neighbor (One minute)

Share as a whole class (5 minutes)

What are origin stories or family histories? Why is it important to keep these stories alive? Why does doing so make us human? (Class Discussion 10 minutes)

The One Who Holds The PenA few years ago, several students who attended Frank Sinatra High School

were in the school’s production of Guys and Dolls. The students had to rehearse after school and on weekends. After one rehearsal the students decided they still wanted to hang out so they went to grab some pizza at a Pizzeria in nearby Forrest Hills.

After Arriving at the pizzeria, they placed their individual orders and began to sit down at their tables. As they sat and discussed their show and some of them sang, some students from another high school began to make derogatory comments about the Frank Sinatra Students. The Frank Sinatra students at first did not respond back to the other teenagers. Finally, when the other teenagers began making remarks about the alternative lifestyles of all the Frank Sinatra students, the tension had increased to a serious level.

The pizzeria owner became very concerned and worried that his business might suffer then called the police. By the time the police had arrived, the tension was about to escalate into violence outside of the shop, though the Frank Sinatra students continually tried to reason with the other rowdy teenagers.

Questions:1.If you were the pizzeria owner, what would your statement be to the police? Explain why?

2. What would the Frank Sinatra student’s statement to the police look like?

3. What would the statement from the other teenagers to the police look like?

4. What might the Police’s final report on what happened look like? Why might this report be unfair to the Frank Sinatra students?

5.How are the individual statements by the observers to the event, the participants, and the police both primary and secondary source to the same event? 6. What does this exercise tell us about the recording of historical events?