Compiled by April Grey, October 2010.
Time Line Activity (Grades 3-8)
Using The History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, students will be asked to compile information about a certain city or town. There are many towns and cities in The History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County that have chapters specifically telling their origin and history. Students will use the information in this book and from other town and city websites to create a timeline of their town’s history. Students will then take a portion of the information and use a Web-based Timeline Generator to make a timeline. Some students will have to make more than one timeline with the generator to include all the information they found.
The History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County has chapters featuring each town and city in Erie County, and students can use the scroll bar on the left to find the link to the corresponding chapter for the town. Students should also use Erie County’s list of State and Regional Municipalities to find out additional information about the town they are researching. There are also some local historical societies that have additional information about specific towns.
Students should include the date and the event when collecting information for the town research. They should also include names if available. The How People Lived in Our Community resources can also be used to help the students collect information for their research. Once research is done, students can use the Timeline Generator to make their timelines. Some students will have to make more than one timeline with the generator to include all the information they found and then attach them after printing.
Travel Brochure Activity (Grades 3-8)
Students will make a travel brochure pamphlet about the town. Students can use the State and Regional Municipalities website to find out more information about the town they are researching. Students must find the information from the Things to Include in a Travel Brochure worksheet during their research. Students can use Microsoft Publisher if available to make brochure. If Microsoft Publisher is not available, students can make the brochure by hand.
Presentation Activity (Grades 3-8)
Students will pair up and compare two different towns using the information from the Things to Include in a Travel Brochure worksheet. Students should first make a rough draft handwritten Venn Diagram using the Venn Diagram worksheet. After discussing the information and completing the worksheet, students will make a presentation quality Venn Diagram using the Microsoft PowerPoint Venn Diagram template. After students finish with the presentation diagram, they will present the similarities and differences of the two towns to the entire class.
How People Lived in Our Community
- Town of Alden Historical Society
- Amherst Museum
- Boston Historical Society
- Town of Brant
- Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society
- Cheektowaga Historical Association & Museum
- Town of Clarence Historic Preservation Commission
- Concord Historical Society
- Elma Historical Society
- Evans Historical Society
- History of Grand Island
- Holland Historical Society
- City of Lackawanna History
- Lancaster Past
- Marilla Historical Society
- Newstead Historical Society
- Town of Orchard Park Historical Society
- Sardinia Historical Society
- Historical Society of the Tonawandas
- Town of Wales Historical Society
- West Seneca Historical Society Museum
- Village of Williamsville Historical Society
- New York Local Histories (additional municipal histories)
Browse the Collection
19th C. Monographs of the History of WNY Collection Page
Collection owner: Niagara University