American Heritage
- Do ONE of the following:
- Make a map of your area. Mark the points of
historical interest. Show your map in your
classroom or troop meeting place. Tell about the
points of historical interest.
- Research an event of historical importance that
took place in or near your area. If possible,
visit the place where the event took place. Tell
your class or troop about the event and its impact
on local history. Describe what it looked like then
and now.
- Find out when, why, and how your town or
neighborhood started. What ethnic, national, or
racial groups played a part? Find out how it has
changed over the past 50 years. Try to explain why.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Explain what is meant by the National Register of
Historic places. Tell about any National register
properties in your area. Describe how a property
becomes eligible for listing.
- Find something in your area that seems to qualify
for National Register listing. Bring it to the
attention of the Historic Preservation Officer for
your state. Assist him or her, in any way possible,
to nominate it for inclusion in the National
Register.
- Choose ONE of the following; describe its adoption;
tell about any changes since its adoption.
- The flag.
- The Pledge of Allegiance
- The seal
- The motto
- The national anthem
- Choose an event, a period, or person from United States
history that you would like to know more about. Do
FOUR of the following for the subject chosen.
- Read a biography, approved by your counselor, of
the person chosen. Tell some things you admire
about the person. Tell about some of the thing you
do not admire. Explain why you think this person
had made a good or bad contribution to America's
heritage.
- Read about the subject in three sources. List the
major points upon which all agree. List areas of
disagreement. Decide which source is mostly true.
Tell how you decided.
- Read a historical novel or see a television show, a
play, or a movie about your subject. Tell how true
you think it was. Tell how it added to your
understanding of the subject.
- Select an important speech related to your subject
and tell when and why it was made. Read the speech
to your class or troop. Then lead a discussion
about the effect it had at the time.
- Gather records of four songs that are related to
your subject or be able to sing or play them
yourself. Play the records, or play or sing the
songs yourself, for your class or troop. Tell about
each song.
- Collect copies of four cartoons about your subject
or draw two in the style of the period. Tell about
the meaning of the cartoons.
- Collect copies of paintings about your subject.
Show them to your class or troop. Tell about them
Discuss their accuracy or symbolism.
- Collect copies of photographs about your subject.
Show them to your class or troop. Tell how they
reflect the photographer's point of view.
- Build a model to show something about your subject.
Show the model to your class to troop. Tell about
what it shows.
- Visit a historic site related to your subject. Tell
your class or troop about the visit. Tell how it
has enlarged your view of the subject.
- Make a time-line for your subject. Tell how the
main events on your chart have affected life in
America today.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Take an active part in a program about a historic
event or person. Report to your Class or troop
about the program, the part you took, and the
subject.
- Pick and organization that is directly concerned
with the preservation or perpetuation of local,
state, or national history. Talk with an officer of
the organization about its goals. Find out how you
can help meet these goals. Carry out a project that
will help meet the goals.
- Set up a historic trail or walk in your area.
Prepare a guidebook. Include maps and related local
history. Develop and carry out a plan to bring your
trail to the attention of your community.