Drafting Our Plaque Proposal - Civic Action

Recite Place Promise. Review Voice-Audit findings from lesson 12: who was missing?

• Affirm: 'We are doing the historian's work.'
• Bring forward marginalized voices

Today we take ACTION. From our Voice-Audit work in lesson 12 we know whose voice has been missing from our local landmarks. Today we propose a NEW PLAQUE - for a person, place, or event whose contribution has not been formally recognized in our town. We draft a letter to the [Historical Commission / Council / School Board]. The letter has 5 paragraphs: (1) INTRODUCE the class; (2) NAME the unrecognized person/place/event; (3) Give 2 reasons WHY they deserve a plaque; (4) Give 1 piece of PRIMARY-SOURCE EVIDENCE; (5) CLOSE with our request and signatures.

• We lift up missing voices.

  model Teacher-localized: [Local marginalized figure - e.g., a Black neighborhood organizer, a local Indigenous community member, an immigrant business founder, a working-class labor leader, a women's club founder].

  prompt Who could our class propose?

• Name the 5 paragraphs.
• Why does our letter need primary-source evidence?

• Class collectively drafts 5-paragraph letter on chart paper.
• Each child writes/dictates one personal sentence on signed sticky note attached to the letter.

M-3-F-CIV-17-A Illustration

11x17 chart paper template with 5 numbered paragraph boxes: (1) INTRODUCE THE CLASS (we are 3rd graders at...); (2) NAME THE PERSON/PLACE/EVENT (we propose a plaque for...); (3) TWO REASONS (because... and because...); (4) PRIMARY-SOURCE EVIDENCE (we know this because [newspaper/elder/photo/etc.] tells us...); (5) CLOSE (we ask you to... [signed]). Decorative border. Class signs at bottom.

• Read your personal sentence aloud. Why does this person/place/event deserve a plaque?

• Seal and mail letter together
• Preview: tomorrow capstone walking tour

M-3-F-CIV-17-B Photograph

Plan: photograph the class collectively sealing the envelope and walking it to the school mail. Caption-ready. Used in lesson 18 gallery as documentation of civic-action completion + parent newsletter.

• Prepare for tomorrow's capstone: which landmark, civic figure, or place-name will YOU present?