Join us for summer PD!
Primarily Teaching
Primarily Teaching is our summer institute for educators on using historical documents in the classroom. At each location, we’ll explore a specific topic using original documents in our archival holdings:
- The National Archives at Atlanta (Morrow, GA): Equal Opportunity on the WWII Homefront: The Commission on Fair Employment Practices and the South, June 27–July 1
- The National Archives in Washington, DC: Native American History, July 25–29
- The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: Truman and Civil Rights: The Desegregation of the Military, August 1–5
Digitization is our priority. Each participant will identify between 3 and 5 items (documents, photos, maps, etc.) to scan and describe. We will add these to DocsTeach.org —our online tool for teaching with documents — during the workshop. Participants will produce a DocsTeach learning activity using these digitized primary sources.
After guided research in the case study, participants will have the opportunity to continue researching that topic, or to go on to independently research a more specific topic.
Participation in each session is limited to 10. The fee is $100, which includes all materials. Participants will receive a stipend upon successful completion of the course. Graduate credit is available for an additional fee.
Primarily Teaching workshops are made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation, through the support of Texas Instruments.
Primarily Teaching Online
In the online version of our summer institute for educators, participants will learn tools and techniques to identify primary sources related to the theme Taking a Stand in History in the main online catalog of the National Archives. We’ll add discoveries to DocsTeach.org and participants will create a DocsTeach learning activity for their final exam.
Eight live webinars using GoToMeeting (accessible on most computer and hand-held devices and phones) will be held on Thursdays (8–10 p.m. ET) and Saturdays (12 noon–2 p.m. ET) from July 21 through August 13. Participants may choose to attend the whole series or just a few classes (please note that the July 21st webinar is required for admittance to all others).
This is a free course. One graduate credit hour is available for a fee. Professional development clock-hour certificates are available upon request.
The White House History Teacher Institute
For more than 215 years, the White House has been intrinsically tied to American history, serving the roles of home, office, museum, and stage for each president and first lady who lived there. It also serves as a symbol, representing the nation and our democracy. Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution grants the president many powers and responsibilities that carry large and sometimes difficult implications for the country, and many momentous decisions and events have taken place within the walls of the President’s House.
Join the White House Historical Association, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum, the National Archives, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and National History Day for a four-day teacher institute from July 25–28 that will evaluate the history of the White House and its occupants. Teachers will participate in interactive workshops, visit historic sites throughout Washington, D.C., and learn from experts about White House history, presidential history, and the presidency of Herbert Hoover. Using primary sources, historic sites, and artifacts, teachers will explore many ways that the White House can be utilized in the classroom within the core and C3 curriculum. Each teacher will receive a professional development certificate for 25 hours of professional development.
Participation is limited to 30 junior high and high school teachers. Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2016.