May 15, 2023 2023-05-15
Digital Learning • Learning Support
War, Remembrance, and Commemoration Through History
Throughout recorded history, monuments, both grand and simple, help remember sacrifices made by humans in time of conflict and war. By studying these various commemorations, students can learn about the societies that built them and compare social values and responses to conflict.
The War Memorial HQ website gives students the opportunity not only to examine the “faces” of memorial and commemorative sites but also to critically examine these primary sources. Asking who built a memorial and when it was built and where it was placed prompts discussions of the meaning and purpose of these commemorations and how they relate to the event or person being commemorated.
Observing how visitors interact with the commemorative site also illustrates the emotional response the site elicits and its effectiveness. Iconography and symbolism at the site are more subtle aspects of the imagery and memory being created. Thus, studying the design, art, architecture and geography of memorials, in addition to the history, incorporates a variety of disciplines and critical thinking skills. Memorial sites continue to develop and are subject to change over time in any society. Historical memories are subject to reevaluation, and the geographic locations of the sites also undergo change and development with the society around it.
The Teaching With Memorials webpage includes worksheet/assignment examples that can be used with the memorials on the site, along with other activities. It also includes a personal cemetery research assignment.
Cultural Awareness Social Studies
SHARE:
RELATED CONTENT
SPOTLIGHT! On the Historical Legacy of Juneteenth*
On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.
At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered, as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were Black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the South reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation, spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.
Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month
Since 1990 the US government has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States.
Video Series Celebrating Educators Making a Difference
Inspired by teachers going the extra mile to ensure that the educational process is inclusive and equal, Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) presents three series from the Committee for Children: Celebrate Native American Educators, Celebrate Black Educators, and Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Educators.BROWSE TOPICS
Digital Learning • Learning Support
Funding & Recognition
Mobile Learning
Professional Growth
Social Media
STEM • STEAM • STREAM
BROWSE FOCUS AREAS
GET OUR NEWSLETTERS
