Acadian Memorial Foundation, Inc.    Save Our History Grant 2005 -2006

Let the Children Speak!

Educator’s Guide                             

Lesson 4

Purpose of Lesson

To learn how to search for Acadians in primary and secondary source documents and online sources

To learn how to write “first-hand” stories based on historical research..

Resources

Arsenault, B. Histoire et Genealogie des Acadiens, 4.

Atacapas y Opelousia 1771.  Census Report.

Brun, Regis S. Liste des prisonniers acxadiens au fort Edward, 1761-1762.SHA, Vol III, n.4, Avril, Mai, Jun 1969, pg. 160-164.Census de Attakapas 1771

Census de Attakapas 1776  (Relevant copies prepared for this project)

DeVille, Winston.  Attakapas Post: The Census of 1771

DeVille, Winston and Jane G. Bulliard, eds. Marriage Contracto of the Attakapas Post, 1760-1803, and Bulliard, Jane G. and Liona T. David, eds.  1774 Census of Attakapas Post.  Attakapas Historical Association, St. Martinville, LA 1966.

Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records. Vol. 2, 1770-1803

Les Acadiens a nantes au 18eme Siecle.: Depart Pour La Louisiane. Feuille Maritime de Nantes. Juillet 20, 1785, L’Amite Ship Manifest

Hebert, Rev. Donald.   “Southwest Louisiana Records:  Church and Civil Records Vols. I, IA & 2, Eunice/Cecilia, LA.: Private printing, 1974-90.  [NOTE:  Many libraries have this book in CD format which can be searched in the library.]

Padroylista de los Milicianos y Habitantes Acadianos. 25 de Abril 1766. Orchivo General de Indias A Santo Domingo 2595.Library of Congress

Segura, Pearl M. Jean Mouton: Pioneer, Patriot.  Attakapas Gazette, Vol. XXII, No. 1, Spring 1987, pgs. 1-7.

Voohries, Jacqueline and Carl Brasseaux. Quest for the Promised Land.

Westerman, Audrey B. First Land Owners and Annotated Census of Lafourche Interior Parish, LA (Lafourche & Terrebonne)

Winzerling, Oscar W.  Acadian Odyssey.  Baton Rouge:Louisiana State University Press, 1955.

Save Our History Educators’ Manual, Grades 5-8, Activity 3: Oral History

Human Resources

Early Acadian Resource List <ADD URL>

Librarians and/or volunteer Genealogists in the Genealogy section of public libraries Genealogical Societies.

Internet Resources

Acadian and French-Canadian Ancestral Home

An Acadian Parish Remembered 

Beginner’s Guide to Family History Research

Bibliography 

Cajun and Cajuns:Genealogy, History and Culture

Early Acadian Resource List <ADD URL>

Ensemble Encore 

Family Search.org 

Fieldwork Basics,  Louisiana Voices, Unit 2

Jean Mouton Script

Personal Experience Narratives

The Beginner’s Guide to Family History Research

The Family Tree Magazine 

 

Worksheets

Ancestral Chart Worksheet

Ancestral Chart Worksheet PDF format

Bibliography Worksheet <ADD URL>

Notetaking Worksheet (Add URL)

Research Notes Worksheet (Add URL)

Family Group Record

Story Map 

 

 

Evaluation Instruments

Rubric for Firsthand Biography

Oral Presentation Rubric

 

Activities

1.       Using the name of one of the Acadian children assigned or chosen, demonstrate how to find that child’s record in the on-line Ensemble Encore Database. 

·         Click on Life Lines to access the Search  screen.

·         Type the last name in the Surname  box, press RETURN.

·         Search the list that is accessed for the Acadian child’s name.

·         Click on that name to access the data.

 

2.      Have students enter the child’s, name on Line 1 on the Ancestral Worksheet <http://c.ancestry.com/pdf/trees/charts/anchart.pdf>.  Then, enter any other information found, such as: born - date and place; married - date, place, and spouse; died - date and place. The following codes indicate information that may  be located for each:

·         b.    =  born -  place and date

·         bt.   =  baptized or christened - place and date

·         d/o =  daughter of

·         m.   =  married - place and date

·         d.    =  died - place and date

 

3.      Continue adding information for: Father (Line No. 2) and Mother (Line No. 3).

 

·         Enter the Father’s and Mother’s names in the Ensemble Encore search box to find information on them.

·         Search in Southwest Louisiana Records for information on Paternal grandparents (Nos. 4 & 5), and Maternal grandparents (Nos. 6 & 7). :  Many libraries have this book in CD format which can be searched by computer in the library.

 

4.      Contact your local public library to find out if they have the books and documents listed in the Resource list above and/or in the Let the Children Speak Bibliography and find out if librarians, volunteer genealogists, or members of the local Genealogy Society can assist students in researching in them.  Arrange for students to visit the library.

 

5.      Explain to students that they are doing actual historical research and must document all sources that they use for their stories.  Introduce the Bibliography Worksheet <ADD URL> and show them how and where to record information.   Refer to the Bibliography for correct format for citing reference materials

 

6.      Distribute the Research Notes (ADD URL) Worksheet for students to use for notetaking as they do further research in each Category: Life in Acadia Before the Deportation, Life Immediately After the Exile, Life in Louisiana.  Show them how to enter important dates in the Time Line section. and explain that they should enter dates as they are found, and rearrange them chronologically later.  Remind students to record all bibliographic information on their Bibliography Worksheets.

 

If students need lessons on how to take notes, access Fieldwork Basics

 

[NOTE:  The Research Notes worksheet is a Word document designed to be printed on both sides of one sheet of paper.  Another option is to just print the file as two pages and staple them together.  To print on both sides, follow these directions:

·         Click on the file and select "Open", then select "Print" from the File Menu.

·         Select "Layout" on the print screen then choose “Print both sides”. This step may not be necessary with some printers.

·         Follow directions for reinserting printed page(s) so second page will print on back of first page.

·        The worksheet must be folded in half to produce a four-sided “book” for recording information.]

 

6.      The Family Group Record can be used if students desire to record information on the extended family.  Two different ones are linked in the Internet Resources section above; choose the one that will work best for your students.

 

7.      Search in the Census de Attakapas 1771 and Census de Attakapas 1776 for the child’s name,  New information for categories on the Ancestral Worksheet might be found here and can be added.  Also, students may find interesting facts about siblings, material goods that were owned, slaves, etc.  These should go on their Research Notes worksheets or in a Journal.

 

8.      Have students do further research in resources listed in the Let the Children Speak Bibliography. You may be able to check out some of the books from local libraries, but many primary source documents cannot be brought to the classroom.  Enlist the help of parents to get students to the public libraries and court houses, and request help from librarians, genealogists, and local genealogy societies.  Remind students to record all bibliographic information on their Bibliography Worksheets

 

9.      Encourage students to have their parents take them to do further research by visiting area museums and Commemorative areas and the Center for Louisiana Studies in the Dupre Library at University of Louisiana Louisiana.  See the Early Acadian Resource List <ADD URL> for places and names of contact persons.

 

10.   Have students rearrange the entries in their Time Lines chronologically, then complete a Story Map to outline the major points in their stories. 

 

11.    Access the Jean Mouton Script script and either print copies for the students or display it on a large screen in the classroom, then read it to them as they follow.  This is one of the actual scripts used for the Audio Interactive Exhibit that accompanies The Arrival of the Acadians Mural at the Acadian Memorial, and should be shared as a model of the type of story that students will be writing.  Point out how it is written as a “first-hand” account, contains actual historical facts, and reveals the emotions of the child.

 

12.   Students should now be able to begin writing stories about the child they researched.  Have them:

·         use the Story Map as a guide.  They should expand on each entry, to include factual information discovered in their research;

·         write as though they were the actual child, viewing and telling about what they lived through;

·         include emotional wording and statements.

 

If they need help with story writing, access Personal Experience Narratives for guidance.

 

13.   Have students cite references by copying their bibliographic information at the end of their stories.

 

14.   Plan a format for presenting the students stories.  You might consider oral presentations in the classroom or for the public, or perhaps sound or video recordings of the presentations.  After the presentations, have them share what they liked about each student’s presentation by making specific “I liked . . . “ statements about such things as the accurateness of the facts, the relevance of the insights, the student’s voice modulation and expressiveness, etc.

 

Evaluation

1.   Evaluate student stories with the Rubric for Firsthand Biography

 

2.  Evaluate student performances with the Oral Presentation Rubric

 

Extensions

1.       Students may be able to find more information on their subjects on some of the major genealogy sites on the Internet.  Have them search on the following sites:

·         Family Search.org  

·         The Family Tree Magazine  

·         Acadian and French-Canadian Ancestral Home

·         Cajun and Cajuns:Genealogy, History and Culture

 

2.      Learn more about how to search for family histories at The Beginner’s Guide to Family History Research

 

 

Louisiana Content Standards

ELA-5-E2    Locating and evaluating information sources (e.g., print materials, databases, CD-ROM references, Internet information, electronic reference works, community and government data, television and radio resources, audio and visual materials).   (1, 3, 4, 5)

ELA-5-E3    Locating, gathering, and selecting information using graphic organizers, simple outlining, note taking, and summarizing to produce texts and graphics.  (1, 3, 4)

H-1A-M4     Analyzing historical data using primary and secondary sources.  (1, 2, 3, 4)

ELA-6-E1     Recognizing and responding to United States and world literature that represents the experiences and traditions of diverse ethnic groups.  (1, 4, 5

ELA-1-E6     Interpreting texts to generate connections to real-life situations;  (1, 2, 4)

ELA-2-E3    Creating written texts using the writing process.  (1, 4)

H-1A-M2     Demonstrating historical perspective through the political, social, and economic context in which an event or idea occurred.  (1, 2, 3, 4)

H-1B-E2       Relating the history of the local community and comparing it to other communities of long ago.  (1, 2, 3, 4)

H-1D-M1      Describing the contributions of people, events, movements, and ideas that have been significant in the history of Louisiana.  (1, 3, 4)

H-1A-M1      Describing chronological relationships and patterns.  (1, 3, 4)

ELA-5-E5    Giving credit for borrowed information by telling or listing sources. (1, 4)