Teaching with historic sites

Danice Toyias, MCHCEBiographies of the Nation, June 17-20,

2013Great Falls, MT

Why teach about place?

Historic sites enable our students to be inspired by the same surroundings that inspired those from long ago.

Place intersects time and space.

Things to Consider…..

Teaching with Historic Places encompasses a wide range of locations and types of sites.

Some may be preserved to maintain their historic importance.

Some may be lost in our historical memory. Some may have historical significance with

contemporary use—and its modern necessity may have overruled its historic worth.

Focus of this presentation

How to use historical thinking skills to analyze historic sites.

How to source a site like a primary source. Content gathering for our trip to

Malmstrom. Practical application through our field

experience. Extension through our guest speaker. Discussion of ways to integrate into our

classrooms.

Focus: Malmstrom Air Force BaseApplication: Historical Thinking Skills First Step: SOURCING (Applied to a historical

site) What is the site called? (Include all names for

it.) Where is it located? When was it created? Who created it? What kind of site is it? How was it created? We won’t be asking the “Why” questions until

we contextualize the site.

Focus: Malmstrom Air Force BaseApplication: Historical Thinking Skills Second Step: CONTEXTUALIZATION

(Place the site in time and space.) When was it used? What was its initial purpose? Is the site still being used today? What is it being used for now? If is is still in use, how is it being used now? Why was it created?

Questions and Highlights

Things to consider before Step Three: Many places are created and used for

multiple purposes by multiple people. Why might one narrative be louder than the

others? Highlight important people, places, dates,

and other items that will help guide you as you study the site further.

Focus: Malmstrom Air Force BaseApplication: Historical Thinking Skills Third Step: INTERROGATE

Ask questions! What information would you like to know

more about? Seek out primary and secondary sources

that will help answer your questions. Do more background reading if necessary.

Focus: Malmstrom Air Force BaseApplication: Historical Thinking Skills Fourth Step: CORROBORATE

Seek out primary and secondary sources that support one another to ensure an accurate understanding.

List differences in conclusions among the sources.

Try to determine why there are differences. Can those differences be reconciled?

Focus: Malmstrom Air Force BaseApplication: Historical Thinking Skills Fifth Step: CONCLUSIONS

Based on the evidence you have consulted, what do you think?

How important is this site to American history?

Why is this site important? What are some of the consequences of its

creation? What are some of the unintended

consequences because of its creation?

Sources

History of Malmstrom Air Force Base: http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/library/history/malmstromhistory.asp

Centennial of Army Aviation (Army Air Corps): http://www.army.mil/aviation/aircorps/index.html

Commentary—Wing historian reflects on honor, heritage of one of Malmstrom’s oldest squadrons: http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123063281

Factsheets: Lend-Lease: Aircraft to the Soviet Union: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1668

Missions Part One: From the Signal Corps to the Air Corps: http://www.airforce.com/learn-about/history/part1/

Soviet Air Power and Victory in World War II by Dr. George W. Collins: http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1974/may-jun/collins.html

Army Air Forces Historical Association: Was it the Air Corps or Army Air Forces in WWII? http://www.aafha.org/aaf_or_aircorps.html

Chapter 5.0 ALSIB Lend-Lease and the Air Transport Command: http://www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/WWII_LaddField/Ch5.pdf

Step Five: CONCLUDE

Step Four: CORROBORATE (Choose 2 ?’s to research further)

Source 1: Source 2: Source 3:

Question 1:

Loc: Loc: Loc:

Summary

Question 2:

Loc: Loc: Loc:

Summary

Step Three: INTERROGATE Questions I have:

1.

2.

3.

Highlights

People:

Places:

Dates:

6. How was it created?

5. What kind of site is it?

4. Who created it?

3. When was it created?

2. Where is it located?

1. What is the site called? (Include all names for it.)

Step One: SOURCING

4. What has been its purpose over the years?

3. What is it being used for now?

2. What was it used for when it was created?

1. When was it used? Is it still being used?

Step Two: CONTEXTUALIZATION

Step Five: CONCLUDE

Most critical mission during WWII was the Air Base’s support of Russia’s defense against Germany through the Lend-Lease Program. This is largely down played because of the Cold War. Evidence from the Russian perspective is difficult to locate and narratives were largely re-written as the Soviet Union rose to power.

Step Four: CORROBORATE (Choose 2 ?’s to research further)

Source 1:

Source 2: Source 3:

Question 1:Army Air Base?

Loc: www.airforce.com

Loc:www.army.mil

Loc:www.aafha.org

Summary

1920 Army Reorganization Act made Air Service under the Army

Army Air Service re-designated in 1926. Kept w/in Army b/c air supported troops on the ground.

Army traditionally assigned to branches (Corps) Air Corps a branch of Army in 1926. Became Army Air Force in 1942—autonomy b/t Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces

Question 2: Importance to Russia?

Loc: www.airpower.au.af.mil

Loc:(Handout/Malmstrom History)

Loc: www.usarak.army.mil

Summary

1,663 aircraft delivered by 11/1/42. Cold War difficulties/Stalin & historical record.

8,000 in 21 mo period (to 1945) 1,717,717 lbs of cargo

Bi-lingual nature of exchange site (Ladd), translation, attitudes, weather, intelligence, COC.

Step Three: INTERROGATE Questions I have:

1. Why was it called an Army Air Base?(Army vs. Air Force??)

2. What was the ALSIB?

3. How crucial was the base for the Lend-Lease Program with Russia during World War II?

Highlights

People: Sens. Wheeler and Murray, WASPs, Col. Axel MalmstromPlaces: Alaska, Germany, ALSIB Route, Russia, Soviet Union, Cuba, North AmericaDates: 1942 Creation, 1947-Air Force, 1948-Berlin Airlift, Korean War, 1956-Malmstrom, 1962-Cuban Missile Crisis

Human Construction6. How was it created?

Military Installation5. What kind of site is it?

Sens. Wheeler and Murray4. Who created it?

Construction began June 8, 19423. When was it created?

East of Great Falls, MT2. Where is it located?

Great Falls Army Base, GTF Air Force Base, Malmstrom AFB1. What is the site called? (Include all names for it.)

Step One: SOURCING

Operational Support, Surveillance, Minuteman Missile Defense, North American Air Defense, Berlin Airlift Training, Support for Alaska-based personnel >WWII, Air raids over Germany, Air route for Lend-Lease to Russia (ALSIB), Heavy Bomber Training4. What has been its purpose over the years?

Surveillance, Training, Support, Defense3. What is it being used for now?

Training and Support2. What was it used for when it was created?

1942-Present (Still Used)1. When was it used? Is it still being used?

Step Two: CONTEXTUALIZATION