Lesson: Our American Story: Collecting Oral Histories

Published on January 28, 2026

Our American Story: Collecting Oral Histories

Freedom 250

📝 Overview

In this 60-minute lesson, students learn how stories help bring facts to life. Students practice their listening skills, learn about open and closed questions, and write interview questions they could use to interview friends, family members, or community members. 

📚 Teacher Goals

This lesson plan (LP) guides teachers to:
  • guide students to make predictions based on new information 
  • model active listening and clear speech 
  • help students create open and closed questions 

🎯 Student Goals

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
  • understand the difference between open and closed questions
  • identify key information from an Our American Stories video 
  • create interview questions to collect oral history 
Two photos: A lighthouse on a rocky shore overlooking the ocean; a close up of a lobster meat sandwich with lettuce on an outdoor table

📖 Key Vocabulary

Below, you can find key vocabulary related to Our American Story: Collecting Oral Histories. You will find a glossary of definitions on page 13 of the downloadable lesson plan.
 
  • closed question
  • fact
  • friendliness
  • generation
  • lobster
  • made to order
  • open question
  • oral
  • take for granted
Photo of several outdoor tables next to the ocean. People sit in groups eating lunch in the sunshine.
 
 
Our_American_Story_Collecting_Oral_Histories_DoS.docx
Our_American_Story_Collecting_Oral_Histories_DoS.pdf
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