Tracy History in the Eyes of a Third Grade Student

This is an ongoing lesson lasting approximately 3 or 4 months. Students will use the cameras to document portions of California's regions,local history,artifacts, agriculture and wildlife.

We begin our History of Tracy unit by reading The Tule People the Story of the Yokut Indians of the Tracy Area, written by Alan Hawkins, and the Tracy History newspaper, written by the Tracy Press. Over time, students read the entire newspaper, take notes, make a timeline and take a unit test. In February we visit the Tracy Historical museum. Students will make butter, learn to sew, be taught caligraphy, and make tin art. They will be taking photographs of these activities as well as native artifacts.

Once this portion of the unit is completed we will begin our pioneer unit and students will reenact life as a student in the 1800's. They will visit the historical Lammersville school, and will be instructed by a docent in a one room school house. They will also play pioneer games and eat lunch out of tin can.

As an extension,students may take additional photos of the old City Hall, Union Pacific railroad office,the native wildlife preserve of Oak Island,Old River, San Joaquin River and plant and animal life. This entire unit will be documented in a journal and students will create power point presentations to share with the class.