Lesson 1: Conducting An Historical Inventory

Students analyze a local historical inventory to make inferences about local community life.

(Adapted from Historical Records in the Classroom)

Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts

Grade Levels: 6-12

Time Frame: 2 class periods

Materials Needed:

• Inventory of individuals/organizations from your own community

• Personal Inventory Sheet

• Inventory Detective Sheet

Learning Objectives: Students will:

1. Analyze a 19th century document and make observations and inferences about a person/organization based on the inventory of personal possessions.

2. Understand that possessions reflect our lifestyle and culture.

3. Compare the simplicity of life in the early centuries with modern material culture.

4. Compare items from the past to the present.

Procedure:

1. Divide students into groups and give each student a historical inventory from their community and an Inventory Detective worksheet.

2. Ask students to complete the worksheet and share their ideas with the class.

3. Hand out the Personal Inventory worksheet and direct students to complete it for homework.

4. Collect the Personal Inventories. Read one aloud to the class and see if they can guess to whom the list belongs.

5. Have students compare and contrast both inventory lists.
   

Extension:

• Have students create an inventory of one room in their home.

• Write an epitaph for the individual who had an inventory. 

• Write a play using people mentioned in the inventory.

• Compare the prices recorded for at least 20 items listed in the inventory to retail prices of the same items today.

INVENTORY DETECTIVE

After studying the inventory, give as much information as possible about the person who owned the items listed.

Example: occupation, type of land owned, dealings with other people, values, beliefs, status, quality of life , hobbies, interests, personality, etc.

Adapted Source: Historical Records in the Classroom

PERSONAL INVENTORY

From your room, choose 10 - 12 items that are important to you or tell something about who you are. Be sure the items listed are things that you are willing to share with the class.

1. ___________________________________

2. ___________________________________

3. ___________________________________

4. ___________________________________

5. ___________________________________

6. ___________________________________

7. ___________________________________

8. ___________________________________

9. ___________________________________

10. ___________________________________

11. ___________________________________

12. ___________________________________

Adapted Source: Historical Records in the Classroom

Primary Sources

Lesson 1: Conducting An Historical Inventory

Students analyze a local historical inventory to make inferences about local community life.

City of Edmonton Archives  Edmonton Historical Board Fonds, 1977-1982 Inventory of the Residences of Edmonton Mayors

Eva McKitrick Fonds, 1909-1983 McKitrick, Eva
Copy of the Edmonton Historical Board Inventory of Mayor's Residences

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Lesson 1: Conducting an Historical Inventory

Lesson 2: Historical Maps

Lesson 3:
Diary of an Individual

Lesson 4:
City Census

Download Lesson 1 in Word Document format.