The family artifacts I chose was my grandfather’s watch which is special in my family because this is the only thing we have that belong to him after he passed away. My grandfather was many things, a father, a grandfather, and a teacher. He was an amazing person. We got this watch right after most of his belong was put away in a storage in Bangladesh. He lived till he was 78, and he was also a college professor as well. We had this watch for almost 20 years, but my grandfather had this watch for all his life.
Family engagement is a key component of a successful culturally responsive early childhood classroom. Learning about the diversity of cultures of children and their families can help educators to create engaging curriculum and learning activities that support young children’s emergent literacy.
Family is also a key theme in many children’s books. Watch this video of Faith Ringgold, a NYC artist, author, and activist, read Tar Beach, a story about her own family.
For this assignment, you will create a short video on Flipgrid to share a family artifact with the class. You will find my video there as well. If the link doesn’t work, go to: https://flipgrid.com/7c9de364. The Join code for this assignment is: 7c9de364.
What is a family artifact?
In Patricia Polacco’s book, The Keeping Quilt, the family artifact passed down through the generations is a handmade quilt, created from scraps of clothing. In this video, Polacco talks about the quilt, how it came into being, and what it has meant to her family through the years:
A family artifact communicatesa story about your family’s history. It might be a cultural object, an object with historical value, or simply an object with sentimental value to your family. A family artifact may be very old or relatively new, something passed down through generations or something more recent. It can be a beloved photograph, a letter, a book, an article of clothing, or a cherished family recipe.
Objects that my students and I have shared include a packet of letters written between grandparents (while they were still courting) during WWII, a handcrafted lace tablecloth passed down from generation to generation, a large iron pot used for cooking rice, an old wooden doll, a prom dress, and a variety of special recipes for everything from Irish soda bread to pot roast, from spanakopita to Jamaican cornmeal porridge.
Why do we share these items?
Our artifacts have great meaning for us and they also have great value in the classroom:
Building relationships between the classroom and the children’s home and family
Fostering deeper cultural understanding
Sparking curiosity
Reinforcing the value of inquiry-based curriculum that emerges from children’s experiences and interests
Providing students with an opportunity for self-expression
Preparing for your presentation
Think about why you chose this artifact. What does it mean to you and/or your family?
Find out as much as you can about the history and meaning of the artifact.
