Creator: Library of Congress | visit site
Grade Range: 8 - 11
The Veterans History Project is both a valuable historical resource and a terrific jumping off point for a serious student or group project. The Veterans History Project uses volunteer contributors to gather remembrances from war veterans and civilians who worked in support industries. The Project includes audio interviews, interview transcripts, letters, and other primary documents related to US wars beginning with World War I up through the present conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Use the site to search for and access already preserved accounts, or to design a student project to gather new accounts (note however that volunteers are limited to students in 10th grade or older).rn<br><br>rnTo fully experience this site, you need Adobe Acrobat and Real Player. You can get both from the <a href="/tools.cfm ">TeachersFirst Toolbox page.</a>
In the Classroom
Primary documents are a vital link between the students of today and the experiences of real people from the past. Students can access these interviews and accounts through searching by time period (WWI through the present), branch of service, gender, or POW status. As your class studies a particular conflict, assign students different accounts to research and then have them "portray" that person in a panel discussion about the war. Compare the experiences of persons filling similar roles across conflicts. Examine gender differences or the differences between those serving in the Navy and the Army. For a powerful long-term project, download the site’s "field kit" and consider gathering new accounts for the project in your community.
At Home
Do you have a family member that served (or is serving) during wartimes (either overseas or back home)? If so, use this site to share your family’s story.
Tags
afghanistan, iraq, korea, resources, veterans, vietnam, korea, resources, veterans, vietnam, world war 2, world war 1,
Subjects
Current Events, Current Events, Social Studies, Social Studies, Social Studies, Social Studies, American History, History & Culture: World,