Local Hero Interview

Level: Classroom
Grades: Middle School (6-8)
School Quarter: 2

Related School Level Activities:

Oral Storytelling Assembly

Activity: Local Hero Interview

Theme Alignment: New Mexico’s Contribution

Toolkit Overview (In this toolkit):

• Background
• How to implement this activity
• Resources

Background:

History often focuses on the action of a few people at the scale of states and nations However, events are usually the results of movements and actions of many people, especially at the local level. Through this activity, students will have the opportunity to learn about local heroes past and present, and how they contribute to historical and current events.

How To:

Link to Implementation / How to

• Overview of diversity of New Mexico’s population
  • Point out lesser known histories, including black colony established in 1900s, Buffalo Soldiers
  • German, Polish and other European groups after WW2
  • Asian, particularly Vietnamese (after fall of Saigon), Korean, Filipino, Chinese, South Asian
• Research and Interview a local hero
  • Summary:
  • Use Interview Research Process Extended version or another methodology from the Resources
  • Identify a local hero from the present or recent past
    • list of suggestions: veteran, indigenous leader, cultural figure, community organizer, founder of a local institution, scientists, athletes, first responders
  • Research what made this person a hero
  • Obtaining an Interview Appointment
    • Ask to interview them, if they are still alive
    • Ask to Interview others who knew them, if they have passed
  • Prepare for Oral Interviews
  • Write up the Interview
  • Show & Share about the research
  • Bonus: Send a thank you note to interviewees via mail

Resources:

• Oral history interviewing techniques
• Top 10 questions to ask a local hero
• Reminders of interview best practices
• New Mexico Heroes by region / county
• NM State Library Newspaper Collection
• How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America Free Curriculum
• Interview Research Process Extended version
• Oral History Association
• How to Do Oral History – Smithsonian Institution Archives
• How to Conduct an Oral History Interview: National Trust for Historic Preservation
• C-SPAN Lesson Plan: Oral Histories – A How-To
• School Library
• Local Public Library
  • Bonus activity: Request a visit from the public library’s research librarian. Ask them for a presentation on finding information about local heroes
• How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America Free Curriculum
• Voice of Witness (VOW) is an oral history nonprofit that amplifies the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice.
• Asian American Culture in New Mexico

Books:

• Mexikid – Newberry Honor Award Winner: An unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico