Lessons Menu - Lesson 1 - Lesson 2 - Lesson 3 - Lesson 4 - Lesson 5 - Lesson 6 - Lesson 7 - Lesson 8

OVERVIEW
This lesson introduces students to the actual Sacramento History Online collection (SHO) at http://www.sacramentohistory.org and provides activities for practicing database searches. You can view or print most single images directly as a JPEG file. However, some documents in the database are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and must be viewed or printed through an Acrobat viewer. In Lesson 2, students will use the database materials online.

STUDENT OBJECTIVES
1. Find a specific database record, using a Keyword search.
2. Find a specific database record, using a Restricted search.
3. Use the SHO database to find specific historical information.

CALIFORNIA HISTORY STANDARDS
This lesson emphasizes database search strategies and how to use the SHO collection to find information about transportation, rather than teaching specific history content.

BACKGROUND ARTICLE 2
CLICK to open this article in a separate window that can be printed with most browsers.

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET 2 AND KEY
CLICK to download this PDF document, which then can be viewed and printed with Adobe Reader.

DOCUMENTS TO DISCUSS (view online or print screen)
The images below provide screen print examples of keyword searches, a restricted search, search results, and an individual entry. CLICK on an image to view or print it.

Screen 4.
2-Keyword
Search
(steam + boat)

Screen 5.
2-Keyword
Search
Results

Screen 6.
2-Keyword Search,
Restricted to Decade
(steam boat +
decade 1850 -1859)

Screen 7.
2-Keyword Search,
Restricted to Decade
Results

Screen 8.
Single Database Record

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Print any of the images and PDF files shown above that you will use in your discussion, as well as Student Activity Sheet 2 and Key.

2. Read Background Article 2. You may wish to read it to your students or have them read it by themselves. Discuss any questions that they may have.

3. Introduce students to the SHO database by using printouts from Lesson 1 and from the images above. Ask students what kinds of images they think might be included in a database about transportation.

4. Using Screen 1 above or the online database, lead students through the process of using the database. Start with the Home page at http://www.sacramentohistory.org.

5. Show them the broad Transportation Browse search button above the keyword entry on the Home page. The Browse search is also available on the Browse page.

6. Show students how to use the button at the top of the screen to go to the Search page. With Screen 2 above or the online database, show them the Keyword search entry area.

7. Enter a sample keyword. (boat) (Screen 2) How many items are returned? (Screen 3)

8. Discuss how you can narrow the search by adding more keywords, such as steam. (Screen 4) (steam boat) How many items are returned? (Screen 5) What terms for boats powered by steam might be used as keywords? (paddlewheel, steamboat, riverboat)

9. To further narrow the search, show students how to restrict the results to a decade (1850-1859). (Screen 6) How many items are returned? (Screen 7) How many items do students think would be returned by leaving the decade as 1850-1859 but changing the keyword to automobile? (none) Why? Which decades do students think might include automobiles? (The earliest autos in the SHO database are from 1900-1909.)

10. Show students a sample database record. (Screen 8) Ask them to find the summary and date fields.

11. Give students Activity Sheet 2: Using the Sacramento History Online Database (printed from the PDF file). Work through the first question together, asking students how they would begin to search for the answer using the SHO database. After they have finished the activity, discuss their answers as a group.

FOLLOW-UP
1. Use the online database to find materials for a report on transportation. Try your own keyword and advanced searches. Discover what types of keywords are most useful in finding materials for this report.

2. Search the database for one photograph related to transportation that you particularly like. Print the photograph. Pretend that you are the photographer. Write a story about the day that the photograph was taken, what the photo shows, and why you took it

3. Search the database for one piece of ephemera related to transportation that you particularly like. Pretend that you are the person who saved the item. Write a story about the day that you got the item and why you saved it instead of throwing it away.