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History and Memory

Driving Question: How does history shape our societies and the ways we think about ourselves?

History and memory are often intertwined, even though each serves different purposes and different perspectives. Your job as a historian-in-training is to decide how to assess historical narratives by analyzing evidence. But what happens when evidence is tied to a person’s memories of events or to our collective memory?

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the difference between history and memory.
  2. Understand how collective learning impacts our past, present, and future.
  3. Develop the skills and vocabulary needed to read graphic histories.

Vocab Terms:

  • collective learning
  • gutters
  • memory
  • perspective
  • symbolic langauge
STEP 1

Opener: History and Memory

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 1.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Our perspectives can impact the meaning of what we read, see, and hear. This important understanding doesn’t just apply to history—it’s true for any kind of critical thinking.

STEP 2

Graphic Biographies

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 1.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Want to know more about our historical comics? Check out the Graphic Biographies Guide.

STEP 3

The Purpose of Memory and History

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 1.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Make sure to modify, adapt, and differentiate throughout this lesson. The OER Project Differentiation Guide Locked  has some great tips for how to do this!

Now that you’re comfortable with comics, dive into a graphic biography that explores the difference between history and memory—and shows how each serves a unique purpose.

STEP 4

Sharing and Telling History

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 1.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Want some teacher takes on collective learning? Look no further than this conversation External link .

The study of history relies on our ability to share and pass down stories across generations. In this course, we call this power collective learning.

Collective Learning External link

Collective learning allows us to share, store, and pass on information. Its development was a transformational episode in human history and still affects us today.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

Closer: History and Memory

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 1.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Remember that closers are a great opportunity to informally assess student understanding. Read more about this in the OER Project Assessment Guide.

History and memory might seem similar, but they serve different purposes. Comparing and combining memories with your classmates can help you understand the distinction.