Primarily Me 1: Out My Window

The Primarily Me Challenge

How do we know about the past? Most of what we know comes from what people left behind. Everything from what they wrote to what they created is a record of life lived. Each record, or primary source, tells a story about people, how they lived, and the environment they lived in. What will people in the future know about how we live today? That depends on what we leave behind!

You can also find each challenge and responses by following along on social media using #WMNHSPrimarilyMe!

Sketch of Whitman Mission by Paul Kane done in 1847

Royal Ontario Museum

When telling a story, we usually start by setting the scene. The sketch above is of Whitman Mission in 1847 by artist Paul Kane. It may look like there is not a lot of detail, but we can still learn something about life at the mission when we look at it. What does the sketch tell you about life at the mission in 1847?

Activity 1: Set the Scene

Now it’s your turn to set the scene. Where does your story take place? Take a couple of minutes to look out your window and note what you see. Are there animals, plants, people, or buildings?

The first Primarily Me challenge is to record what you see. You could draw, paint, or write a poem about what is out your window.

Having Trouble Getting Started?

You might want to ask yourself...

• What is my favorite thing about where I live?
• What is special about where I live?
• What kinds of animals are there and what are they doing?
• What kinds of plants are there? What do they look like?
• Are there a lot of buildings? Are the buildings new or old, big or small, close together or far apart?
• Are there people or signs of people like cars, lawn decorations, or businesses?
• What is the weather like?

Ready for the next challenge? Go to Primarily Me 2: Oral Histories

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