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Humanities and Social Studies Curriculum  FOR SECOND & THIRD GRADES 

Spanish Flu &
COVID-19

What can history Teach Us? 

COVID-19

Unit 1 - The 1918 Spanish Flu & COVID-19

COMPLETE UNIT WITH PLANS FOR THREE LESSONS 

UNIT OVERVIEW:

 

Students will learn that America has faced a pandemic before - in 1918.  They will compare and contrast the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic with COVID-19 today. Students will learn about the purpose of an archive and record their own experiences with COVID-19 in a time capsule. Students will have the opportunity to submit their time capsule to be preserved in the archive of the Fresno County Historical Society.

1918 FLU HEADLINES.pub.jpg

UNIT INCLUDES: 

  • Learning Activity #1: Defining an Archive

  • Learning Activity #2: Video Reflection - What did we learn from the Spanish Flu?

  • Learning Activity #3: My COVID-19 Time Capsule Project

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

 

Below are links to download documents, and handouts for this lesson along with links to web resources and additional material that will be helpful in presenting the concepts of this unit to your class. 

Web Resources: 

What’s an Archive?
https://www.archives.gov/about/info/whats-an-archives.html

Fresno County Historical Society Mission
https://www.valleyhistory.org

National Archives News – The Flue Pandemic of 1918

https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/flu-pandemic-1918

Primary Resources:

Images from the 1918 Flu Pandemic from the National Archives and Pop Laval Foundation.  (Hover over image to view caption.  Click to view/show  full screen) 

Newspaper articles from the Fresno Weekly Republican and Fresno Morning Republican Newspapers from 1918 and 1919.  Click Image for Downloadable PDF Documents. 

School Flu Ban Off 1919 .jpg
6th Grade Home Study 1919.jpg
Visiting to blame  1919.jpg
1918 FLU HEADLINES - Halloween.jpg

Public Health Announcements from Government Offices.  Click Image for Downloadable PDF Documents. 

 

                                   1918-1919                                                                                                 2020

Influenza Spead Warning - Dept of Treasu
How to Make A Mask 1918.pdf.jpg
page1-463px-Stop_the_Spread_of_Germs_upd
FCDPH Infographic.jpg

Workbook:

My COVID-19 Time Capsule for Students .  Click Image for Downloadable PDF Documents. 

time capsule.jpg
US Census

Unit 2 - Everybody Counts: Learning about the US Census

UNIT SUMMARY:

The Country is working to complete the 24th Census of the United States this year.  This lesson will help students to learn what the Census is and why it is important to our daily lives. Students will be able to explain what the Census is and how it is used. Finally, students will complete a family census to share with the class.

UNIT INCLUDES: 

  • Learning Activity #1: Understanding the Census

  • Learning Activity #2: Complete a Family Census

  • Extension Activity: Understanding Representative Government - VOTE

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

 

Below are links to download documents, and handouts for this lesson along with links to web resources and additional material that will be helpful in presenting the concepts of this unit to your class. 

What Is the Census? | Civics 101 downloaded from PBS LearningMedia, https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/7ac3c35d-5afc-4beb-b9b2-85d5cc182614/civics-101/. Rights to use this asset do not expire.

Asset Copyright: © NET 2020.

  • Project funded by: Humanities Nebraska

Handout:

Family Census Activity Sheet 

Family Census Worksheet k-1.jpg
Oral History

Unit 3 - Your Story Matters: Understanding and Collecting Oral History 

UNIT SUMMARY:

Oral Histories are primary-source first-person narrative recordings that help to round out the story of the past.  At times, an interview may serve as the only source information available about a certain place, event or person.  Oral history helps us understand how individuals and communities experienced life in a specific time and/or dealt with major historic events.  This lesson will introduce students to what an Oral History is.  They will have the opportunity to listen to a recorded oral history and learn how to collect an oral history from someone that they know.

UNIT INCLUDES: 

  • Learning Activity #1: Understanding Oral History 

  • Learning Activity #2: Complete an Oral History with a Family Member

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

 

Below are links to download documents, and handouts for this lesson along with links to web resources and additional material that will be helpful in presenting the concepts of this unit to your class. 

Web Resources:

Oral History from Story Corps - “Tubby” Johnston: The Girl Who Changed Little League Baseballhttps://storycorps.org/stories/tubby-johnston-the-girl-who-changed-little-league-baseball/

 

From Storycorps.org. CREDITS: PRODUCED BY MIA WARREN AND JUD ESTY-KENDALL and FACILITATED BY ELA BANERJEE.  MUSIC - “SEND OFF” BY EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY & DAVID WINGO FROM THE ALBUM PRINCE AVALANCHE: AN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Handout:

Family Oral History Interview Placemat 

Placemat Image.jpg

Credit: Originally from Storycorps.org.

Antique Photos

Unit 4 - A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Analyzing Historic Photos  

UNIT SUMMARY:

Historic and antique images are a valuable part of understanding history.  They provide the clearest and most accurate depiction of the past.  By studying a photograph, we can draw conclusions about places, people and events that we may otherwise not be able to fully understand.  This unit will teach students local Fresno County history through photographs from the turn of the century as well as helping to improve visual literacy and critical thinking skills. 

With photos from the Fresno County Historical Society Archive and from the Pop Laval Collection students will learn to view historic images and analyze them.  Students use their imaginations and creativity to fill in the missing half of a historic photo before seeing and learning the history of the real and complete image.

UNIT INCLUDES: 

  • Learning Activity #1: Analyzing and Understanding Historic Photos 

  • Learning Activity #2: Draw-Pair-Share Art Activity  

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

 

Below are links to download documents, and handouts for this lesson along with links to web resources and additional material that will be helpful in presenting the concepts of this unit to your class. 

Web Resources:

As Pop Saw it: Valley Stories as photographed by Claude C. “Pop” Laval by Valley PBS
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4370276781091

Reading:

"Education In Fresno County In the Early 20th Century"

School Photos:

Handout:

"What Do You Notice?" Questions Sheet 

Lesson 1 Handout - Questions.jpg

Handout:

"What Is Missing?" Activity Sheet  

What is missing activity sheet - Christm

Photo:

"What Is Missing?" Activity Sheet Complete Photo
1916 Gottschalks Santa with Helpers. Photo courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation. 

PLF - GottschalksChristmasDecember6-1916

City Scenes Photos: 

Innovation/Invention

Unit 5 - Invention & Innovation: The History of Everyday Things  

UNIT SUMMARY:

The everyday things that we rely on in our homes were all created by someone, somewhere.  Most of the items that we use to keep things clean, to communicate and to entertain ourselves today are all innovative advancements on much simpler designs and early inventions.  This unit will examine those early innovations from our history. 

Students will learn the historical beginnings of four everyday things. The phonograph, typewriter, washboard and rug beater lead to the I-Pod, computer, washing machine and vacuum cleaner.  Understanding that the everyday items that we rely on today have their roots in historic antique machines will allow students to understand the process of innovation and give them the opportunity to consider how these and the other everyday items that they rely on may change over time.

UNIT INCLUDES: 

  • Learning Activity #1: Inventions of the 19th Century 

  • Learning Activity #2: Past, Present & Future

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

 

Below are links to download documents, and handouts for this lesson along with links to web resources and additional material that will be helpful in presenting the concepts of this unit to your class. 

Reading:

"Invention & Innovation: A Brief History of Everyday Things"

Innvention and Innovation of Everyday Th

Photos:

Handout:

"Then and Now" Activity Sheet  for Lesson 2

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Curriculum made possible by: 

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