| Pictograph Cave and Independence Rock |
- Discuss why people might have left symbolic drawings on Pictograph Cave and their names on Independence Rock. With students, prepare a list of similar ways people communicate today (e.g., a painting on the side of a building, a mason's mark on stones, a silversmith's signature, cemetery monuments, war memorials). When kids and adults write and draw on buildings, subways, bridges and rocks today, are these personal expressions art, history, or vandalism? Who decides? Explain that time, professional critics and public opinion may influence our decision. [K-12: art, history, social studies]
- Visit a local cemetery which has some old markers. Compare the old markers to newer ones. Use clues (e.g., dates, art, words) on the markers to help determine the history of the people who are buried. Have students design a marker for themselves. How would they like to be remembered? Have older students do follow-up research in the library or a local historical society to determine a deceased person's family tree or other history. [3-12: art, history, social studies]
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| Mark Twain House |
- Read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women or another book which gives us a child's perspective of a way of life or a historical event significant to our nation. Other suggested readings are provided at the end of this guide. [K-12: reading, history, social studies]
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Mutual Muscians's
Association Building
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- Prepare slips of paper with the names of past and present musicians who are important in American Music. Each student draws a slip and researches this person's contribution or influence then presents the findings to the class. Musicians could include: Marian Anderson, "Count" Basie, Ira Gershwin, Rogers & Hammerstein, Scott Joplin, Elvis Presley, Bessie Smith, Isaac Stern and Michael Jackson. [4-12: music, reading, history, social studies]
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Bell Telephone
Laboratories
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- Create a time line of the various methods of communication (telephone, radio, records, movies, and television) developed in the Bell Telephone Laboratories. Debate which development has had the greatest influence on society. [5-8+: communication, history, science]
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| Pictograph Cave, Mark Twain House,
Mutual Muscians's Association Building, and
Bell Labortories
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- Post illustrations of the above landmarks on a bulletin board. Discuss how these landmarks represent forms of communication. Divide the class into groups and have each communicate a story using a different method (e.g., paintings, photographs, song, tape recording, or written words). Have each group share its story with the rest of the class. After sharing, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Do some students feel they were able to tell or understand the stories better with some methods than others? How might factors such as time, cost, skills, access, and privacy influence the method they chose? [3-8+: art, history, music, reading, science, social studies]
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