Young Chautauqua is a nationally recognized youth program in which young scholars portray historical figures. Through monologues and question-and-answer sessions, young scholars--in and out of character--engage the audience in lively discussions with people from the past and then provide insight into historical study. The Young Chautauqua program is a valuable way to increase young people's understanding of and engagement with history.
What is Young Chautauqua?
Young Chautauqua is comprised of a series of workshops of research, planning, writing, creating, practicing, and presentation. Students bring history to life by immersing themselves in the writings and lives of historical characters. Young people select an inspiring person in history who possesses the qualities, values, and life circumstances that they can identify with in their own life or that they find intriguing. Each student researches a character of their choice and prepares a presentation for an audience of their peers, families, and community. Generally, the presentation takes place in an intimate setting that is suitable for audience interaction.
Ted Dumont as Charlie Chaplin
7th grade 2012
Who might you be?
A musician?
Ted Dumont as Amadé Mozart
5th grade 2010
A queen
or king?
Anna Roberts-Briggs as Queen Elizabeth
5th grade 2016
A writer?
Lydia Pita as Agatha Christie
5th grade 2016
Environmentalist?
Scientist?
Physician?
Mason Wignall as John Muir
5th grade 2016
Amelia Bryant as Doc Susie
4th grade 2016
Inventor?
Activist?
Artist?
Actor?
Politician?
CONMAN?
Entrepreneur?
Philosopher?
Warrior?
Explorer?
Three Guiding Questions:
and how did I overcome them?
during the time period in which I lived?
Young Chautauqua research starter:
Get Your Character's Vitals!
1. Name:
2. Birth date, location, interesting circumstances:
3. Parents' names and occupations:
4. Siblings and anything interesting about them:
5. Death date, location, and circumstances:
6. Spouses, relationships, children:
7. In what time period did your character live? What kinds of things were going on?
8. What are the significances of where your character lived and traveled?
9. What is the educational background of your character?
10. What hardships did he/she face and how did he/she overcome them?
11. What significant contributions did your character make to the world?
12. How did social, political, and cultural views affect your character?
13. For what one thing is your character most remembered in history?
http://www.famousscientists.org/list/
http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/inventors.html
http://www.biographyonline.net/royalty.html
http://totallyhistory.com/art-history/famous-artists/
You must select someone preferably born before 1930 and deceased.
(An occasional exception to this rule might be allowed.
For example, Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be an excellent choice.)
Don't forget to document your resources AS YOU USE THEM!
This will help you be a responsible researcher.
For each source, record the following information:
(if it is a website, you might not see an author or publisher)
Title of book or article: _________________________________________
Author/s: ___________________________________________________
Publisher name: _______________________________________________
Publication location and date or URL: ______________________________
THE RESEARCHER'S BEST FRIEND: INTER-LIBRARY LOAN
How to take advantage of your new best friend: Inter-library Loan!
It is very easy, and I am now going to walk you through it!
Have your library card # ready, and know your last name!
Later, you will meet the researcher's second best friend: EASYBIB.COM
For now, just make sure you are documenting all your sources.