Today’s opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, makes 13 Presidential Libraries that are administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Part of the Library and Museum’s mission is to encourage students of all ages to learn more about the Presidency, the First Lady, American history, and government, as well as to serve as a resource for the study of the life and career of President George W. Bush.
The education staff has developed a full offering of resources for teachers, students, and visitors.
Lesson plans and classroom resources are available for teaching students to differentiate between primary and secondary sources, and to engage students as historical detectives in analysis of images and objects. Your students can learn about the role of the First Lady through interactive modules. And if you’re looking for an engaging and fun hands-on way to supplement existing curriculum, you can reserve a Traveling Trunk for your classroom.
Training programs and resource workshops for professional development are also available. Participants use primary source analysis methods to explore how to effectively incorporate documents created by the United States government into teaching world events.
On the website, kids are invited to have fun exploring the Kids’ Clubhouse for a sneak peek at artifacts, documents, and photographs; to play games and trivia; or to find a new book to love through a list of Mrs. Bush’s favorite books. There is also a Homework Zone for kids and a Parents’ Corner for learning more about the resources and programs that the Museum has available for children and families.
The Museum opens to the public on May 1 and field trips may be scheduled beginning May 6, 2013. Looking forward to Fall 2013, you’ll have the option to choose a theme for your students’ visit—such as citizenship, conservation, or the three branches of government. Programs will include pre-visit and post-visit activities.
It is very interesting to see the shift in the way people perceive Bush. While he was in office liberals looked at him like a war criminal, now it seems he has gotten respect from the left with him recently speaking out about Trump. I live in DC and have seen the shift first hand, in one of the most progressive cities in the country.