11 Ways to Get Kids Excited About Preservation

Historic places hold the stories of our past, are an important part of building community, and create connections between who we were and who we aspire to be. But how effective is the work of preservation if the next generation doesn't understand the value and significance of these places to our present moment? How do we ignite a passion for history and culture, sparking a lifelong affinity and understanding of the power of place along the way?

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2. 1. Explore family history

Ask kids to investigate the places that
are significant to their family—like
where their parents or grandparents
went to school, grew up, or got

married. Look at old photographs, and,
if you live in the same area, visit these
places if they're still around. Talk about
how they compare to the photographs
and what has changed.

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Current image by Joa

3. Encourage kids to talk to neighbors
who have lived on their street for a
long time. Find out what they
remember about living there and
about the people who have moved
on. Maybe they have old
photographs of how the street and
houses used to look.

4. 3. Take a walk down Main
Street

These authentic and traditional commercial
districts are full of historic buildings and feature
locally owned stores that are a vital part of the
community. Take this time to begin a discussion
about why buying local and supporting local

to talk about the places in their community they
connect with and why. Discuss together how
these places might be protected.

5. Talk about what stories are told at these places.
You can often find an original map of the area at
the historical society or museum. Make a project
out of comparing old maps to today's roads and
borhoods. What's changed? What's stayed
same? Another way to keep kids engaged i

hem a camera and have them create
ures. Ask them about the images they make
and why that particular view caught their eye. T
helps give them a sense for how buildings and
landscapes fit together, providing a vocabulary

6. 5. Assign a group history
report

Ask students to research various aspects of
their city—architectural styles, changes in
neighborhoods, stories of the people who
lived there, construction of important
historic buildings like City Hall, and more.
What about each of these elements makes

your city unique? What does this e
information tell you about how the city has
changed?

7. 6. Participate ina
community project

‘Ask your historical society or local
preservation organization if there are
any projects that your kids can get
involved in. Help clean up and repair
neglected buildings, plant trees in or.
around historic areas, or clean
headstones in a local historic cemetery.

7. Write letters to
local public officials
or congressmen

Ask kids to write to a member of
Congress about a certain historic
place and explain what make it
special and worth preserving.

8. “8. Create a historical
record for a landmark

Brainstorm the items that should be
included in a historical record, like
photographs, construction dates,

architectural styles and features, and stories
of who lived there or used the building.
What kinds of things would someone want
to know about this place in 50 or 100 years?
Then, put together your own historical
record.

9. 9. Volunteer at a museum
or historical society

Volunteering can offer kids an opportunity
to organize historical records, set up
displays, or create exhibits by collecting

photographs and artifacts and writing label
descriptions. Look for opportunities to
become a junior docent at a historic site or
help with research. (Note: Some of these
activities might be better suited for an older

age group.)

10. =e. .

10. Create a historic walking Pr |
or biking tour of your city

Ask kids what places they think are historic in
your city or town. Draw a map of where these ”

places are and create a tour. This is a great way
to get kids thinking about what buildings are
historic and how they all tell a story of the fi
history of their city. If you live in an area with a
biking path or greenway ask how these
pathways provide connections from one part
of the city to another. You can also talk about
the value of sustainable and walkable cities.

11. 11. Introduce history
through different forms of

media

Kids absorb information through a variety
of different forms of media. From books to
podcasts to programs like the PBS Kids
show "Xavier Riddle and the Secret
Museum,” each of these options meets
children where they are and provides even
more opportunities to build connections
between the past and the present.