ClosePrintHow do families change?
If students are to understand that families and people change over time, they should begin by talking about their families as they are now.
Using family photographs as sources can help students develop historical skills.
Model the process of students talking about their families by sharing a relatively recent family photograph and some information.
Ask students to recall three things about what they saw and heard.
Use the think-pair-share strategy for students to talk about their families.
Students bring family photographs to school. Pair students and ask them to take turns to share their family photographs and information about their family.
Students might talk about:
- who lives in the house
- brothers or sisters and their ages
- what they like to do together
- how they celebrate
- the country their family came from
- the language(s) spoken at home.
After talking with their partners, students report three things about their partner's family to the class or a smaller group.
Pose questions such as: 'What is one way your family is the same as ______'s family? 'In what way is your family different from ______'s family?'
If students understand that families have different cultural backgrounds, are different in size and makeup and have different interests, likes and dislikes, they can begin to develop the historical understandings of empathy and multiple perspectives. It is important to acknowledge and be accepting of all types of families. Be sensitive towards students where family 'change' may include loss of family members through separation or death.
Pose the question: 'Do families change or are they always the same?'
Click on the link 'How do families change?' and watch the slide show.
Use an IWB or online tool such as bubbl.us or popplet to record:
- who was in the family
- how the baby has changed
- who joined the family
- other family members mentioned
- what happened when the baby grew up
- how and why the parents changed during the slide show.
View the bubble.us YouTube tutorial or the YouTube Popplet tutorial to get started.
Students may have different interpretations of the same event or image depicted in the animation and it is important to ensure their views and opinions are accepted and respected. By discussing the different interpretations students will begin to understand that history is contestable and that people interpret evidence differently.