Victoria Deyton

How do we fit into the stories God is writing? How can we be good stewards of the legacies handed down to us? What legacy do we want to pass on to future generations? In Hands-On Heritage, we will answer these questions from three different angles: our Christian heritage, our American heritage, and our family heritage. In Unit 1, Christian Heritage, we will learn about Christianity through different eras (Early Church, Medieval, Enlightenment, and Modern) and encounter music, traditions, and heroes of the faith in each era.  In Unit 2, we will learn about our American Heritage by learning about American symbols, life in early America, Founding Fathers, the Constitution, immigration, and what it means to be an American citizen. Unit 3, Family Heritage, will introduce students to family legacies, family trees and genealogy, stewarding family stories, and using primary sources such as journals, census records, and photos to be family history detectives. In the spring we will have Heritage Night, an evening event where student can share their family trees, foods, artifacts, and stories. In all three units we will use music, read-alouds, hands-on activities, group discussion, and food (hence “Hands-On”). I aim to show students that history is actually their story, too, and to encourage an appreciation for those who have gone before us and their legacies.