TEACHERS CONTENT GUIDE
TRADE DIRECTORIES

Trade Directories Objectives

To understand that we find out about the past from official documents.

To develop further, historical skills of enquiry through an investigation of the document.

To ask and answer questions using the historical evidence.

Key Question

What is this document?

Why was it written?

What does it tell us about a) our locality b) the period of time it was written?

What does it tell us about some of the people in our locality?

How has this changed today?

Are there any surnames you recognise there?

National Curriculum Ref

4a 4b Historical enquiry
Unit 7 Local Study

Resources

Trade Directories online from Staffordshire Places and available at Stafford, Stoke, and Lichfield Record Offices.
Recent trade directories from the library

Activity 1

In pairs ask children to read through original document, either hard copy or online.

Ask them to write down all the words they understand as they do.

Each pair then works with another pair to share ideas.

Each group now attempts to fill in any gaps by looking at the document again.

In the plenary show transcribed document and ask groups to compare it with their writing. A point system could be used to mark each correct word.

Activity 2

Use the questions above as a starting point when investigating the document further. Get children to record their answers.

Compare the old directory with a recent one. Children record how the area has changed e.g. illustrations, list, and written comparison according to ability.

Cross curricular

Geography Local Study

Literacy Reading and Writing

Opportunities for Extension and Support

Extension

Children could use Excel to display their findings in graph form
No of shopkeepers, Inn Keepers, farmers etc

Support

Children who have difficulty reading often find this activity enjoyable as it doesn't always comply too the normal rules of reading. It is more detective work. However an adult may be used to scribe their dictation.

Opportunities for ICT

Use of Staffordshire Past Tracks trade directory online

Use of Excel for representing information as data.