Grandview students use documentaries to teach local history

By Sara Wiercinski

Grandview High is the only public school in the region to offer a course on local history.

Instructor Diane Euston – who is also a Telegraph contributor – first proposed the class to the district back in 2016, modeled after a project-based course taught at Rockhurst High School. The district loved the idea, and Euston has taught Kansas City History every school year since 2017.

Students learn city history and take field trips, and conclude the semester by creating a short documentary about a notable city figure or landmark. They work in small groups to gather sources, organize information, interview experts, write a script and produce the film.

“Having students create documentaries really challenges them to dive deeper into various topics about Kansas City – topics I don’t even necessarily think of myself,” said Euston.  

The documentaries premiered at the Kansas City History Symposium on December 18 at Grandview Auditorium in front of a panel of judges: Erik Keith Stafford, local historian, author and founder of Kansas City Tour Company; Bob Fescoe, host of 96.5’s “Fescoe in the Morning”; and Chris O’Hare, Film/Television Producer.

Students revise their documentaries based on judges’ feedback, and then publish them on YouTube.

“We often don’t think that the younger generation really cares about the past,” said Euston. “This project immerses them in our collective history and brings to life tangible history — things they can feel connected to.” 

This semester’s projects featured The River Market, the Odd Fellow’s Home in Liberty, MO; the Kirkwood Mansion in midtown, Thomas Swope and the Bushwackers before and during the Civil War.

Video projects, including films from previous years, are available for public viewing at  bit.ly/kchistory.

Euston is proud of her students’ success: “History comes alive when they feel connected to it on field trips and they hear the stories of the people who lived here before them. This project is a lot of hard work, but it’s something I know they will remember for a very long time.”