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How to Ask an Elder, and Be Asked

Four short lessons for both sides of a conversation across fifty years: ask about a day, not a life; let silence work; say it back; and keep what you heard honestly.

For grown-ups, from what HeritageQuest teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1Ask about a day, not a life
  2. Lesson 2Let silence work
  3. Lesson 3Say it back
  4. Lesson 4Keep it honestly
At the table · a teenager and an elder

Eight Evenings

You'll need: eight evenings, the question cards, and a pencil.

  1. Lay one card between you.
  2. Both answer the same question.
  3. Each says the other's answer back.
  4. On the last evening, each writes the other's story in 200 words, with the three marks.

Open Eight Evenings: run it, or print the seat sheets →

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →