Lesson Plans and Historical Content
With all our investigations, we recommend using our Investigation and Discussion Questions for Artifacts and Images guide.
Let’s Compare Then and Now
A lesson plan for grades K – 3rd using images from the Harbor History Museum collection to help students understand chronology through exploring how familiar places have changed over time. They will also learn about some individuals associated with the places and their connections to local history.
- Let’s Compare Then and Now Lesson Plan
- Let’s Compare Then and Now Worksheet
- Let's Compare Then and Now Image Sets
- Let's Compare Then and Now Mini-Bios
- Let's Compare Then and Now Photo Sets Answer Key
History Detectives
A lesson plan for grades 1-4. By analyzing the clothing of people in the past to determine when the photo was taken, students will practice the skill of looking carefully at primary sources for historical evidence.
History Detectives: Trendy Times Lesson Plan
Chronology and Change Over Time
A lesson plan for grades 4th – 8th, using artifacts and images from the Harbor History Museum collection to help them understand historical chronology and how individuals and technology have shaped history.
- Chronology and Change Over Time Lesson Plan
- Chronology and Change Over Time Artifacts and Images
- Chronology and Change Over Time Timeline
Galloping Gertie: A Disaster Waiting to Happen
A module of useful content, materials, and discussion questions telling the story of the first Narrows Bridge. Adaptable for all grade levels.
- Galloping Gertie Module
- Galloping Gertie Slideshow
Vignettes
Short pieces, discussion questions, and related content on influential people from the local area. Their stories help us understand the changes over time in this area, while also connecting to broader themes in Washington and US history. Adaptable for all grade levels.
Sam and Anna Jeresich
- Sam and Anna Jerisich article
- Jeresich Family slideshow
- Collections Corner: Sam Jerisich’s pocket watch
- Collections Corner: Anna Jerisich’s basket
Dr. Alfred Burnham
- Dr. Alfred Burnham article
- Dr. Alfred Burnham slideshow
The Goodman Family
- The Goodman Family article
- The Goodman Family slideshow
Gig Harbor Through Time Slideshows
Use these slideshows of images from the Harbor History Museum collection to explore the concepts of historical chronology and change over time. These photographs are all primary sources and an important source of evidence for how people lived in place and time.
- The Harbor Itself: Exploring Change Over Time in Gig Harbor
- Fishing in Gig Harbor: Exploring Change Over Time
- Logging: Gig Harbor and Vicinity, 1880s – 1950s
- Gig Harbor Through Time Slideshow Discussion Questions
Document Analysis
Use this set of documents from the Harbor History Museum collection to help further your historical investigations and enhance your units of study. For grades 9-12.
We recommend using these with the materials from the National Archives about teaching with documents:
Understanding Perspective in Primary Sources
Analyze a Written Document