NHD Theme Book 2016 | Page 31

EXPLORATION, ENCOUNTER, EXCHANGE IN HISTORY Complete your investigation of encounters and exchange as illustrated by San Francisco’s Chinatown with two news items documenting two different possible fates for the neighborhood after the earthquake. Historical newspapers offer insight into the past that is different from any of the previous primary sources, concisely presenting both fact and opinion using text, graphs, charts, and images. First, have students note the headlines from each article. Continue by offering both full stories. As students react to the text, ask: • What can you learn about San Francisco’s Chinatown that is different from what you learned from the 1885 map and the photographs? • Speculate: What might have happened between the dates these two articles were published to explain the different approaches described? • In what way do the articles add to the story of encounter and exchange in San Francisco’s Chinatown? What new questions do they raise? Throughout this process students have looked at items individually as well as in reference to each other. Lead a discussion of the items as a set, in order to help students synthesize an answer to the guiding question: How can primary sources help us to examine one cultural or ethnic group’s The San Francisco Call, May 17, 1906 Library of Congress chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1906-0517/ed-1/seq-1 exploration of the United States as a new home and the ensuing encounters and exchanges with those already living here? Ask: • When viewed together, what story do the items tell about how exploration, encounter, and exchange related to the experiences of immigrants during the late 1800s and early 1900s? • What aspects of the story will you need to research further in order to form a more complete picture? What do you still want to know? • Why is it important to consult a variety of formats, as well as varied points of view, when creating a National History Day project? Visit the Library of Congress collections at www.loc.gov/ to find primary sources related to the experiences of immigrants to America throughout history. You can also find items related to exploration, encounter, and exchange from a variety of points of view to aid with your National History Day project. In addition, resources for teachers working with National History Day students can be found on the Library’s website for teachers: www.loc.gov/teachers. For a complete bibliography and links to download these resources, go to www.nhd.org/themebook. The San Francisco Call, May 24, 1906 Library of Congress chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1906-0524/ed-1/seq-14/ 29