Here's a fun set of images that you could use in a variety of ways for science, history, culture, or just for fun. Children's playgrounds look significantly different now than they did in the 'olden days'. Did you grow up with push merry-go-rounds, tetherball, and monkey bars? Do your students play dodge ball? Take a look at these images for an engaging - and fun way to investigate motion and force, sports and fitness, play and culture, all while digging deeply into the past.
Katy Connolly of the Right Question Institute suggests that you could pair these historical images from the Library of Congress with a more clear and modern picture of people playing on similar equipment.
Other ideas include using (for example) the may pole image - which is not playground equipment really - as a Q-focus for the QFT which could generate questions that take students into harvest and planting traditions that cover many centuries of cultural events.
Playground equipment - may day pole
playground equipment - monkey bars
playground equipment - wooden swings
playground equipment - roundabout
playground equipment - large doll house
playground - girls' dodgeball game
The Strong Museum of Play offers online exhibits covering things like computer games history, pinball, bicycles, gaming - the most interesting topics to trace to their origins!
Share these images and see how discussion flies!!
World wide primary sources relating to kids and teens that include diaries, images, cartoons, and more. These entries will break your heart, open your eyes, and engage your students as they explore how kids and teens grew up in history.