I held an internship with Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace, a North Carolina State Historic Site, in the Summer of 2021. I created three lesson plans to be included in a developing traveling trunk aimed at elementary school students in the site’s service district. These lessons were created with the site’s resources and North Carolina State Standards in mind.

The first, “History Mystery,” utilized artifacts in the traveling trunk to learn more about the experiences of diverse populations on the developing mountain ‘frontier.’ The second, “Interview an Appalachian,” leads students through the process of recording oral histories to create personal connections to the region. The third, “Tourism Exploration,” creates awareness of their valuable local natural resources, culture, and history.

I have included the first two pages of the History Mystery teacher’s guide. To view the rest of the lesson plan or any of the other lesson plans, please contact me.