Orleans Learning Center teacher tries to make history come to life with artifacts

Posted 27 March 2023 at 1:33 pm

Provided photo: John Osterhoudt, wearing gas mask, likes to shares historical artifacts with his class.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – John Osterhoudt started his career as a teacher aide at the Orleans Learning Center.  He has since earned his certification and degree to be a teacher.

He is now teaching Global 1&2, Participation in Government/Economics and United States history at the building. Teacher aide Heather Parsell said, “He loves getting the students involved and excited about history. One way he does this is by doing hands-on activities that involve historical actual artifacts.”

Mr. Osterhoudt said he has always had a love of history and has collected items with historical significance since he was 13 years old.

“I wanted to be able to incorporate these items into my class lessons,” he said. “The students get to touch them and try them on. It is a great teaching tool.”

The students are fascinated by some of the collectibles he brings in, especially when he reveals their age, some are over 100 years old.

“They are in disbelief over the age and what they were used for, especially my World War I collection,” he said.

The students have experienced some of his collectables from the 1920s as well like a telegraph machine and a typewriter.

“I like to bring in something from every era that we study here in class,” Osterhoudt said. “I think it makes history come to life.”