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Lesson Plan: Exploring Henrico County Apprenticeship Indentures
Overview
The main purpose of this lesson is for students to use primary sources to compare and contrast the experiences of 18th and 19th century children and teenagers of varying genders and races who were contractually bound as apprentices. Working in pairs, students will have an opportunity to view and discuss a particular young person’s apprenticeship indenture (contract) in the context of the time period, and what was expected of both parties. They will record their findings for their individual, and then come together as a class to present their person’s contract. The class may discuss the what they have learned about the legal, economic and social circumstances of these young people. Students may also discuss those experiences compared with expectations of society today.
Essential Question: What can the exploration of a child’s or teenager’s apprenticeship indenture from the 18th or 19th century tell us about the life experiences of those young people in context, and how does that compare to young peoples’ lives today?
Grade Level(s): middle school or high school U.S. history; Virginia history
Time Needed: 30-45 minutes
Objectives
Learning Objectives or Topic:
- Students will use primary sources to identify and analyze a particular historical experience and place it in a broader context.
- Students will investigate the idea of a binding contract and what that means for both parties of the contract.
- Students will work together to use primary source evidence and their own knowledge and experience to draw conclusions and make meaningful generalizations.
