Gene Clark
In this episode Chris interviews his grandpa, Gene Clark, who was born 12/25/1925. The interview revealed that Mr. Clark started first grade when he was only four years old and he graduated high school at the age of 16. Graduating at such an early age led to some interesting circumstances. Listen in to hear more of Chris Woods’ interview with his Grandpa Clark.
We all have stories to tell, stories we have actually lived. With this being said, sometimes we overlook the rich history that comes from sources nearest to us. For instance, it is easy to record a little bit of history by simply interviewing a family member or a family friend. Don’t overlook that many retirement communities will be glad to organize visits with residents so they can share their stories. The stories of the individuals around you are exceptional and valuable pieces of history that warrant recording for future generations.
Students will experience the power of historical documentation when they complete a historical interview. Recorded interviews also have the added value of capturing the interviewee’s voice and, if video recordings are made, the person’s image as well. Hearing the actual voices and viewing the images of your interviewee brings an extra dimension to the documentation.
To help with the interview process you may want to give your students a few questions to get started.
Such as:
- What is your full name?
- Did you or any of your relatives serve in the military?
- Which wars did you or other relatives fight in?
- Will you share some of their war stories with me?
- What jobs did you do?
- Would you like to share any old photographs?
It is also a good idea to set aside time for oral presentations so students can share fascinating facts or interesting stories that they gathered.
You can always reach Chris at:
Twitter:@dailystem
Email: cwoods@clkschools.org
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