Hometown Heroes Inquiry

Compelling Question: How do global conflicts impact local communities?


Supporting Question 1: How did soldiers describe their war experience to their loved ones at home?

Featured Sources:

Samuel Derby Letter 

Joseph Lawton Letter


Supporting Question 2: How did local communities honor those who served?

Featured Sources:

Cohoes Homecoming

Additional Resources


Supporting Question 3: What did the war cost local communities?

Featured Sources:

Bassett Questionnaire and Funeral Description

Samuel Derby Article

Matthew Cleary Article


Summative Assessment: Create a museum exhibit showing how World War I impacted local communities in New York State using documents from this inquiry.