Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Interview: Life History”

In this activity, students will conduct an interview with a person in their community about a specific historical event.

In the account, Phillip Hoose incorporates interviews with the people who lived during, and even participated in, the civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama. For this activity, you will select a person from your community (e.g., a friend, family member, acquaintance, etc.) that has lived through a particular historical time period and ask them a series of questions in order to learn more about their experience. In particular, make connections to the themes Perseverance Through Hardship and Injustice and The Importance of Questioning The Status Quo in your interview questions.

• First, create a list of questions for your interviewee. Keep in mind that 4-5 questions are sufficient, allowing the person the possibility to expand on other points and topics. Be sure to ask your interviewee permission to either record or take notes of the answers.
• Then, following Hoose’s format, compile your interview into a summary where you share your interviewee’s answers along with relevant historical information.