family work history

We’ve discussed in class how it wouldn’t be a good idea to spend the first two weeks of school focusing solely on discovering our student’s funds of knowledge, or simply stop learning about our students after the first of the year. So I decided to plan my family work history activity to coincide with a history unit on the Industrial Revolution. This lesson would take place a little later in the year. (November/December)

Part of this unit involves students participating in a Read/Think-Pair-Share in which the Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s is compared and contrasted with the more recent technological revolution. Students would be assigned to learn about either the Industrial or Technological Revolution by answering the following questions. (This activity would be incorporated over the course of a few days, allowing students to go home and ask their parents about some of the questions)
Industrial Revolution

1. What new jobs became available during the Industrial Revolution?

2. Do any of these jobs still exist today? If yes, describe the jobs. If no, describe why they no longer exist.


3. Do you have a relative who participated in any of these jobs?

4. Would you like to work at any of these jobs? Why or Why not?

Technological Revolution

1. What new jobs became available during the Technological Revolution?

2. Do you have a family member that participates in any of these jobs?

3. Would you like to work at any of these jobs?

4. Do you think these jobs will still exist in 20 years?

As a pair-
1. Come up with two similarities and two differences between the Industrial and Technological Revolutions.
2. Share the results of the questionnaire.

For homework (individually)

1. Describe your dream job. It can be a job that already exists, or something you make up. In your description, make sure to answer the following questions-
a. What kind of environment will you be working in? (An office, outside, a lab, etc.)
b. What kind of skills or education will you need?
c. Is there someone in your family who has these skills or education back -ground? If so, who, and describe what skills they have? If not, where will you learn these skills?

Share the dream jobs in a whole class discussion.

and there you go.