Today’s post comes from Chelsea Tremblay, former social media intern in our Education and Public Programs division.
On November 13, we hosted our first Educators’ Open House. Educators from various grade levels came to learn what the National Archives has to offer. Snacks were served, laughs were had, and resources were shared!
Here are just some of our programs that we featured:
Distance Learning
Videoconferences and webinars are a great way to utilize our resources without having to travel. 
We offer both videoconferences for students and professional development webinars for educators. Visit our website to learn more and request programs.
The Constitution-In-Action Learning Lab
This fun, hands-on activity available for student field trips takes place in our replica “stacks” (where documents are stored) and research rooms. Groups of 12-36 participants can sign up for this simulation with an in-depth focus on the U.S. Constitution.
Student groups focus on different parts of the Constitution while helping the president’s “press secretary” organize a mock Constitution-in-Action campaign. As “archivists” and “researchers,” they must demonstrate why the Constitution is important and how it has been influential throughout history.
The lab is free but a reservation is required. Visit our website for more information.
Bill of Rights eBook and iPad App
The Center for Legislative Archives, part of the National Archives, launched a free mobile app and eBook called Congress Creates the Bill of Rights, in honor of the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights’ proposal, on Constitution Day (September 17). Both describe the tedious process of writing and agreeing upon the first 10 Constitutional Amendments, and why they were necessary.
The eBook and app are available for free at the iTunes store and the webpage of the Center for Legislative Archives.
Online Resources
DocsTeach — Our online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives offers tools for building online activities using digitized primary sources. An entire section of this website is dedicated to National History Day. Other special DocsTeach Pages can be found on our website.
Founders Online — Our searchable archive of the correspondence and other writings of six of the Founding Fathers.
Our main online catalog — Our database provides the most expansive access to our millions of digitized primary sources.
Exhibits
During the Open House, we extended our museum’s exhibit hours so that visitors could see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and our permanent and temporary exhibits. You can visit them yourself seven days a week, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day).
Check out images from our Open House on Flickr and keep your eyes peeled for our fall 2015 Educators’ Open House!
The Educators’ Open House was made possible in part by the Foundation for the National Archives through the support of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.
thanks for brining history to life and making educational interactive tools!!
It’s indeed great to have these video conferences and webinars! Now people that are far can still learn about the constitution and its history. Big thanks to the technology!