City Guide

City Guide

Required:

• Home or library reference books
• Paper and pen

If you'd like to see your city or town like you've never seen it before, ask your child to be your guide.

First, take a trip with your child to the local library. Using the library's resources (old newspapers, history books, and so on), compile background information about your town, such as when it was established, who the first settlers were, and so on. Then switch gears and find out about current buildings and places such as the schools, libraries, parks, etc. Take notes on who built them and when, and any other interesting facts you and your child uncover.

When your child has become an expert, request that he or she take you on a walking tour of your city or town (perhaps other family members will want to accompany you). Your guide can point out important features (such as the oldest school, the first house built in the community, and the like) and offer whatever information and anecdotes his or her research turned up. Perhaps your own home can be turned into an unofficial storehouse for your city or town's rich history!