My Home Matters

By Jody Kelley

his lesson – dubbed "My Home Matters! – was written as an introduction to my classroom's study of preservation.

Overall, the objective is to broaden students' understanding of the importance of preserving our shared heritage by having them identify items and places that matter to them.

Before the main classroom lesson and activities, we reviewed the meaning of the word "preservation" as a way to get the students' wheels turning. Then, my students worked on the "My Home Matters!" worksheet as homework the weekend before.

Our goal for the main lesson was to help the students see that their homes are both unique as well as similar to other homes built in the same era. The group activity helped them to identify specific traits about their own homes, and the small group activity allowed them to compare and contrast their homes with others built during the same time period. 

I feel as though this lesson plan could be adapted to fit any curriculum or classroom. The study of the students' houses may not be appropriate for your class, but we hope this lesson plan and homework will inspire you to be creative about teaching the importance of history and preservation. For example, students could study important houses or local buildings instead of their own homes.

Jody Kelley is a second grade teacher in the Carlisle Public Schools in Carlisle, Massachusetts, where she has been teaching for the past three years. This is her ninth year of teaching. Previous to her current position, she taught first grade and multi-age in Westford, Massachusetts, Palm Springs, California, and Frenchtown, Montana.

Does your school matter? Take a class picture in front of your older or historic school building and share it with the world through the National Trust's This Place Matters campaign. No camera? No problem! Plant a flag on our interactive map.