How To Use TimePieces in Your Classroom


	What Is TimePieces?
	TimePieces is a suite of three websites: Timeline, Scavenger Hunt, and History Mystery. All three websites are built around primary sources and 400+ events of people, places and things from Minnesota's history.

	What is the Timeline?
	The TimePieces Timeline was developed to be used as a reference and survey of Minnesota History. It provides an overview of some 400 events from the 3.5 billion year old story of our state. This is not THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA but a sampling. Sometimes it's useful to see relationships in time and across topics.
	Each event has: Brief introductory text Expanded text One or more links to primary sources Links to related events in the timeline Links to further information and related resources from the Minnesota Historical Society The timeline is searchable by keyword, date and theme. You can also select a single theme to sort the timeline.
	Students can set up a "History Space" account to "collect" events and primary sources. They can even write, edit and print notes on specific events that interest them or that fulfill a project assignment.
	Tips for using the Timeline with your class: Students can use the timeline as a starting point for reports, especially for finding information or ideas for a History Day project. Use the related links feature to get your students to move beyond thinking about history chronologically and instead think of history thematically. Use the related events feature as the start to a writing exercise about the connections and relationships between events. Use the print feature in a student's "History Space" to document their historical thinking. Have your students make their own timeline from their lifetimes: what events do they find worth mentioning? Have students find, research, and suggest an event that is not on the timeline. Use it in class and even submit it to webmaster@mnhs.org. Back to top of this page.
	What is the Scavenger Hunt?
	The TimePieces Scavenger Hunt consists of several directed thematic quests. Each quest is designed to highlight primary sources or events from Minnesota's history. Students use the Timeline and a printed form to complete each quest.
	Each Scavenger Hunt: Has six tasks for students to complete. Is based around a theme. Can be used with either individual students or small groups.
	Answer guides: Work, Trade, and Minnesota Made Arts and Creativity, Minnesota Style Innovations In Our Daily Life Moving to Minnesota Tips for using the Scavenger Hunt with your class: Print the Scavenger Hunt and use as-is as a worksheet OR reformat it to suit your needs. Use a Scavenger Hunt as a fun activity for the class as opposed to an assignment. Use a Scavenger Hunt as a starting point for students to write about a topic like "Art in Minnesota" or "Innovations from Minnesota". Have your students develop their own Scavenger Hunt based around a theme of their choice. You may want to make your own Scavenger Hunts to fit with other curriculum. Back to top of this page.
	What is the History Mystery? The TimePieces History Mystery consists of several sets of primary sources. Each set of sources documents a place, event, or theme in Minnesota's History. Students examine the sources to write a conclusion about what the sources document. They can then check their conclusions against what a Minnesota Historical Society historian thought. Each mystery takes 40 - 50 minutes to fully complete. Using primary sources to investigate historical subjects involves developing several skills essential to inquiry learning and historical analysis and interpretation. History Mystery provides practice in these skills: Determine which information is most important Active looking Gathering and using data through note taking Reviewing and synthesizing information into a conclusion These develop competency in Historical Comprehension, Historical Analysis & Interpretation, and Gathering & Organizing Information, skill sets required by the Minnesota Graduation Standards. Please note: Students will have to log on by either selecting a temporary log on (no registration required) or by registering with the website. Registration is completely anonymous and is server-based so there is no trace back to your students or their computers. Any data collected from the registration process would only be used internally for audience research and will NOT be shared with any other organization.
	Each mystery has: 8 to 11 primary sources for students to examine Hints and visual clues to assist your students in learning to look at primary sources The ability to "save a game" so that the student can return to it later in the day, month or even year Printer-friendly pages so that students can use their browser's print button to produce a record of their work
	Tips for using History Mystery with your class: Schedule 2-3 sessions in your computer lab. Use the first to walk through a mystery together as a class. This is especially useful for students who haven't worked with primary sources before. Then let them go off and choose their own mystery. If they register with the site, they may return to their work within 1 year. History Mystery provides practice in the same skills needed to start a History Day project. Use it as a "warm-up" to your History Day program. Back to TimePieces Home. Back to top of this page.


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