Teaching With Documents and Works of Art: Focus on the Constitution

Details July 16, 2012through July 18, 2012 National Archives Building and Smithsonian American Art Museum Washington, DC Earlybird Registration Deadline: January 11, 2012 Advance Registration Deadline: June 11, 2012 Topic: $200

Description

Teaching With Documents and Works of Art: An Integrated Approach

Focus on the Constitution

This three-day workshop will provide a varied program of lectures, demonstrations, collaborative work, and analysis of documents and works of art in order to introduce teachers to the holdings, resources, and programs of the National Archives and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Workshop attendees will participate in and develop classroom activities that utilize both visual images and primary source documents as teaching tools in ways that sharpen students' skills and enthusiasm for history, social studies, and the humanities. The content focus will be on the U.S. Constitution, as we celebrate the 225th anniversary of its ratification.

Course Objectives

• Identify the various types of primary source documents held by the National Archives
• Learn about a wide range of artworks in various media in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
• Learn, develop, and share exciting methods and materials for teaching with visual images and documents as primary sources
• Describe the opportunities available for educators and students from the National Archives and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (workshops, tours, videoconferences, publications, online tools and resources)

Participating Organizations

• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (American Art)
• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

Principle Presenters

• Lee Ann Potter, Acting Director of of Education and Public Programs, NARA Michael Hussey, Ph.D., Historian and Education team Member, NARA
• Elizabeth K. Eder, Ph.D., Assistant Chair, National Education Partnerships, American Art

TENTATIVE AGENDA

Day 1 - July 16, 2012

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) 9:00 am Continental Breakfast and Registration; Overview and Workshop Objectives
9:30 am Visit the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
10:00 am Special document display
11:15 am Hands-on Workshop (Part 1): Strategies for Teaching with Documents related to the Constitution
12:45 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Hands-on Workshop (Part 2): Developing learning activities using DocsTeach, a website from the National Archives.
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Group Sharing Time
4:00 pm Summary and Evaluation

Day 2 - July 17, 2011

Smithsonian American Art Museum (American Art) 9:00 am Continental Breakfast and day's overview
9:30 am Introductory tour of the Museum and collection focused on its history
11:00 am In-Gallery Learning Activity I: Exploring American Art's permanent collection of artworks related to the topic of the Constitution
12:15 pm Lunch
1:15 pm In-Gallery Learning Activity II: Integrating related artworks on the topic of the Constitution into the curriculum
2:30 pm Behind the Scenes Visit to American Art's Print Study Room
3:15pm Videoconference with NARA and American Art
4:00 pm Summary and Evaluation

Day 3 - July 18, 2011

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) 9:00 am Continental Breakfast and Check-in
9:15 am Tour "Public Vaults" exhibitions focusing on Constitution
10:00 am Introduction to Online Resources from American Art
11:15 am Integrating Documents and Works of Art: Model Exercise
12:15 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Integrating Documents and Works of Art: Practice
3:00 pm Group Sharing Time
3:30 pm Summary and Evaluation
4:00 pm Conclusion

Conference Registration