At the 4th Grade Overnight program, we use living history to create excitement and authenticity.
What is living history?
It is giving participants a first-hand view of history. Living history appeals to students’ imaginations to bring a period of time to life for them. First person interpretation is acting like a person from a certain time in history with no recognition of the modern day. The goal is to speak, think, and act like someone who traveled on or was associated with the Oregon history.
Why is it important to our program?
Bringing history to life makes it fun and allows students to feel more association with the past than they normally would through books or other educational materials. Using a living history approach on the 4th Grade Overnight program adds educational value to everything we do.
Who are we?
Each staff member and student leader at the 4th Grade Overnight program chooses to create a character that fits into Oregon history. There are many options available for choosing / creating a character. It is difficult to become an actual person from history and remain historically accurate. We, therefore work to create a fictional character from the period. Using personal experience as much as possible, and remaining oneself in terms of personality, attitudes, gender, race, etc. is important. We simply create “ourselves" living in the past.
Where are we studying Oregon History?
Since 1998, the Oregon Trail Overnight program curriculum focused almost exclusively on the pioneer experience. As we examined our curriculum, we reconsidered the sole perspective of the pioneer narrative we have told and have changed the name to the 4th grade overnight while we work to update our program curriculum.
Oregon recently enacted Senate Bill 13: Tribal History / Shared History which has given us a starting point to shift our program towards a place-based experience. We believe it is crucial that the curriculum allows students to see reflections of themselves and others. We want the outdoor, overnight program to be inclusive, engaging and relatable for all students.
In order to do this, we need to tell a broader array of stories and hope to emphasize the marginalized or hidden. We anticipate including more social studies topics, leading with Geography and Multicultural Studies.
What is living history?
It is giving participants a first-hand view of history. Living history appeals to students’ imaginations to bring a period of time to life for them. First person interpretation is acting like a person from a certain time in history with no recognition of the modern day. The goal is to speak, think, and act like someone who traveled on or was associated with the Oregon history.
Why is it important to our program?
Bringing history to life makes it fun and allows students to feel more association with the past than they normally would through books or other educational materials. Using a living history approach on the 4th Grade Overnight program adds educational value to everything we do.
Who are we?
Each staff member and student leader at the 4th Grade Overnight program chooses to create a character that fits into Oregon history. There are many options available for choosing / creating a character. It is difficult to become an actual person from history and remain historically accurate. We, therefore work to create a fictional character from the period. Using personal experience as much as possible, and remaining oneself in terms of personality, attitudes, gender, race, etc. is important. We simply create “ourselves" living in the past.
Where are we studying Oregon History?
Since 1998, the Oregon Trail Overnight program curriculum focused almost exclusively on the pioneer experience. As we examined our curriculum, we reconsidered the sole perspective of the pioneer narrative we have told and have changed the name to the 4th grade overnight while we work to update our program curriculum.
Oregon recently enacted Senate Bill 13: Tribal History / Shared History which has given us a starting point to shift our program towards a place-based experience. We believe it is crucial that the curriculum allows students to see reflections of themselves and others. We want the outdoor, overnight program to be inclusive, engaging and relatable for all students.
In order to do this, we need to tell a broader array of stories and hope to emphasize the marginalized or hidden. We anticipate including more social studies topics, leading with Geography and Multicultural Studies.