Thinking historically

The children have been listening to stories created by the Glenbow Museum, to explore the people who helped found the beginnings of the City of Calgary.

Each story talks about "possible interactions" between real people living and settling here at the time...similar to a historical fiction. 

These books have helped kids hear stories from different perspectives of : a first nation chief and his family, a missionary, a settler/farmer and the NWMP (North West Mounted Police).   

These books have also helped the children generate many excellent questions.  Like how did Sam Livingston get barb wire to make his fence?  Did he bring it with him when he travelled from the East?  

These books have also helped us develop our inferencing skills.  When reading we are learning that the words on the page do not also give all the information.  Sometimes we need to use our background knowledge, make predictions and draw inferences. 

When reading this page, the children wondered how he was paid.  Did they use money?  If so, where would Sam spend it as there were no stores yet.  Did they trade?  If so, what did they trade.? Many kids thought the NWMP would trade bullets, as Sam Livingston had a gun for hunting and they figured that would be useful.  

We decided we would use the interpreter/historian at Fort Calgary to check our predictions. 

Here is our new CAFE menu, we are using to guide our reading instruction this year.  The used the bottom strategy in the example above.  During our celebration, your child can show you the class CAFE menu, and show you which area they are focusing on.