Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will investigate Collecting250, a digital collection of American objects featured by the Decorative Arts Trust in recognition of the United States 2026 Semiquincentennial. First guided by the teacher and then working independently, students examine various objects in the collection and then consider the underlying history of those objects through the question, “What story does this object have to share?” Finally, students create a historical fiction narrative that threads the stories of various objects from the collection into a storyboard that interweaves personal student stories with the stories told by objects found in the collection. This lesson guides learners into a deeper understanding of how objects can tell the story of America through the interrelation of personal narrative and historical investigation.

Grade Level: 8-12
Estimated time: Six 45-minute class periods/sessions