This lesson plan is for a 7th grade history class on community history. The objectives are for students to learn how to gather information from various sources, analyze their community's development, develop pride in their community, use interactive media, and learn interview skills. Students will brainstorm what they know about their community, research its early history through pictures, maps, libraries and online sources, interview family members and city officials, and create a Voki character of a city official saying part of the interview.

1. Voki Lesson Plan
Class Title: History
Lesson Title: Community History
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Author: Stephanie Bushman
Objectives:
Students will learn
1. Locate and gather information from a variety of sources
2. Analyze the development of a community
3. Develop a sense of pride of one’s own community
4. Use interactive media
5. Learn interview skills
Materials:
1. Pictures taken in different sections of the community (includes major roads, lakes;
courthouse, etc.)
2. Large map of the community
3. Local library
4. Internet:
a. Google research
b. Voki (http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=3254806&height=400&width=300)
5. One sheet of paper per group
6. Newspaper archives
7. Poster board
8. Markers
Activities:
1. Students brainstorm as a group and make a list of “facts” they know about their own
community.
2. Continue brainstorming and make a list of things they would like to know. Guide them to
include how their community got its start.
3. Divide the students into groups of four. Give each group a picture taken in the community.
Each group determines from the picture any reason why their founding fathers might have
chosen this particular area for their city. Have students write a paragraph describing their
picture.
Share your Voki lesson plans and download others at www.voki.com/lesson_plans.php.

2. 4. Each group places their picture on the map to make a class display of the community.
5. Students talk to their parents and grandparents to find out information about the community.
6. Conduct research in the school or local library to find out the early history of the area.
7. Computer research. This can also lead to the discovery of other areas with the same name.
(Some students might want to do a comparison of the areas.)
8. Interview city officials about their knowledge of the community.
9. Create a Voki character to represent the city official. Make this character say part of the
interview. Present this character to the class.
Adapted from Roxane of teacherlingo.com
Share your Voki lesson plans and download others at www.voki.com/lesson_plans.php.