Project: Travelling through Time: Discovering History through Orality

# Background

Hi, young historians! Have you ever stopped and thought how time is one of the most fascinating concepts of our existence? And that the way we deal with it, orality, is one of the main ways of transmitting History from generation to generation? That's right!

History studies time in many different ways. We can divide it into eras, periods, centuries, decades, years, months, days, hours, and even minutes and seconds. These divisions are important so that we can better understand how things happened and how they related to each other over time.

Orality, on the other hand, is a way of transmitting information and knowledge verbally, through speech. Orality is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of communication and information transmission. Through orality, people tell stories, share experiences and knowledge, and preserve the memory of a people.

# Introduction

Did you know that for a long time, History was told only orally? That's right! Before writing was invented, stories were passed on by word of mouth, from generation to generation. The historian's work was (and still is) very important in this process, since they research, analyze, and interpret information so we can understand how things happened in the past.

When writing was invented, the way History is told changed. Now, we can read books, newspapers, magazines, and documents that tell us about the past. But that doesn't mean orality has lost its importance. On the contrary, orality is still a very valuable way of learning about History.

In this project, we will explore a little more about time and orality in History. We will see how these two concepts are related and how important they are to our understanding of the past. And best of all: we will do so in a fun and creative way!

# Practical Activity: "Travelling through Time"

## Project Objective

The main objective of this project is to help you better understand how time is divided in History and how orality is used to transmit information about the past. Additionally, the project aims to develop skills like teamwork, communication, time management, creativity, and proactivity.

## Project Description

In groups of 3 to 5 students, you will create a "Book of Time" that tells the story of a period in History, chosen by you. But, be careful, this book will not be written. It will be told orally!

## Materials Needed

1. Cardboard or poster board
2. Coloured pencils, markers, crayons
3. Blunt-tip scissors
4. Glue
5. Old magazines, newspapers, leaflets (to cut and paste)
6. Coloured sticky tape or double-sided tape
7. Internet access (with adult supervision, if necessary)

## Step by Step

1. Choosing a Period in History: As a group, choose a period in History that you would like to learn more about. It could be Prehistory, Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, Colonial Brazil, etc. Research this period together, write down the most important information, and discuss what you want your "Book of Time" to tell.

2. Dividing Time: Now, think how you will divide the time of the chosen period. For example, if you chose Prehistory, you can divide it into the Stone Age, the Polished Stone Age, and the Metal Age. If you chose Colonial Brazil, you could divide it into the Pre-Colonial period, the Colony, and the Post-Colonial period.

3. Organizing the "Book of Time: Take the cardboard or the poster board and draw a horizontal line in the centre, which will be the timeline. Above the line, draw or paste images representing each division of the time you chose. Below the line, write or paste information about each of these divisions.

4. Preparing for the Oral Presentation: Once your "Book of Time" is ready, you will prepare the oral presentation. Rehearse together what each one will say and how you are going to tell the story of the period you chose. Remember, the presentation must be fun and interesting!

5. Final Presentation: Each group will present their "Book of Time" to the class. After the presentations, all students will have a chance to ask questions about the periods in history that were presented.

Remember to work as a team, listen to everybody's ideas, and respect each other's opinions. Creativity and fun are also very important in this project!

Enjoy yourselves, and have a good journey through time!