This October 28, 2024 conference for teachers of grades 3 - 8 and school librarians will explore how literature can help students to understand what it means to live in and participate in a democracy. Join keynote speaker Heather McGhee and award-winning authors Alice Faye Duncan, Kekla Magoon, and Traci Sorell to discuss how children’s literature, critical thinking, and tested classroom strategies can help educators develop and implement effective and relevant social studies teaching.
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J. Drew Lanham - Keynote Speaker Dr. J. Drew Lanham is a professor of wildlife at Clemson University, where he holds an endowed chair as an Alumni Distinguished Professor and was named an Alumni
Heather McGhee - Keynote Speaker Heather McGhee is the author of the book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , which explores the societal costs of racism and
Lesson Plans & Activities
Students learn about gender discrimination in space exploration by analyzing a letter to President Kennedy from a female aviator training to be an astronaut.
Grade Level
5
6
7
8
Time Required
0-1 hour
1-2 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
English Language Arts
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civil Rights
The Cold War
Persuasive Writing and Speaking
Space
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Overview Topic: The Cold War, Civil Rights, Persuasive Writing and Speaking, Space Grade Level: 5 - 8 Subject Area: US History; English Language Arts Time Required: 1 hour Goals/Rationale Students
Guided Programs
Why do archives matter? If you were creating a museum about Kennedy and his administration, what would you put in it? What kind of work is done at an archive and a museum? In this virtual program, students consider how history is constructed as they learn about the holdings and work of the Kennedy Library.
Grade Level
9
10
11
12
Time Required
0-1 hour
Curricular Resource Subject Area
The Arts
Civics and US Government
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Arts & Culture
Civic Education and Engagement
The Cold War
The Job of the President
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Hands-On History Activities
Students can create their own campaign buttons to support a candidate or a cause of their choice.
Grade Level
4
5
6
7
8
Time Required
0-1 hour
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Campaign, Election, & Inauguration
Civic Education and Engagement
Curricular Standards
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
View materials and programs designed to engage students with civic education, including campaigns and elections.
Civics for All of US is a new national civic education initiative from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Legislative Archives and the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. As part of this initiative, the education team at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Legislative Archives and educators across the National Archives will be providing teachers with programming, curricula, and exceptional field trip experiences both online and in-person.
Guided Programs
Students investigate the civil rights movement of the early 1960s--its goals, its major events, and the outcomes of these events. This program focuses on the Freedom Rides (1961) and the integration of the University of Mississippi (1962).
Grade Level
9
10
11
12
Time Required
2-3 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Guided Programs
Appropriate for students in both US history and government classes, this virtual program focuses on the integration of the University of Mississippi (1962).
Grade Level
9
10
11
12
Time Required
0-1 hour
1-2 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Guided Programs
By examining photographs of less well-known civil rights activists and learning how they used the tools of democracy to fight for justice and equality, students discover what led President Kennedy to deliver his Televised Address to the Nation on Civil Rights. In a final activity, students reflect on a local, national, or international issue of concern and identify a civic action they can take to help address it.
Grade Level
3
4
5
6
Time Required
1-2 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
English Language Arts
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Hands-On History Activities
Students can explore late eighteenth-century America in style by making their own tricorn hat and a cravat to match the popular colonial and federal style worn by presidents — including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson — as well as many colonials and founding leaders.
Grade Level
1
Time Required
0-1 hour
Curricular Resource Subject Area
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Arts & Culture
Innovative lesson plans and online exhibits feature archival materials to fit your classroom needs. In addition to seeing resources by topic, Massachusetts educators can view lessons plans and other resources by state standards.
Massachusetts educators can view lessons plans and other resources by state standards.
Date: 21 October 1960
Telegram dated December 14, 1961 from Roy Wilkins to the President, urging him to issue executive order banning racial discrimination in federally assisted housing. Date: December 14, 1961 Creator
Letter dated December 14, 1962 from Whitney Young to the President, thanking him "for the gift of one of the pens used in the issuance of the recent Executive Order barring discrimination in federally
These digital resources from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum bring the excitement and energy of the 1960 campaign and election into your classroom.
Explore the elementary school curricular resources through Massachusetts Frameworks.
Winning Essay, 2006 Profile in Courage Essay Contest Date: June 29, 2006
Lesson Plans & Activities
Students discuss the issue of gender pay equity, examine the Equal Pay Act of 1963 for its strengths and weaknesses, and analyze the significance of the signatures, stamps, and markings on an official document.
Grade Level
9
10
11
12
Time Required
0-1 hour
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Lesson Plans & Activities
In this lesson, students debate our nation's priorities by establishing their own "simulated" budgets.
Grade Level
9
10
11
12
Time Required
3-4 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
Economics
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Persuasive Writing and Speaking
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Lesson Plans & Activities
Students conduct historical research on individual and collective efforts to achieve gender equality in the United States by reading and discussing a nonfiction picture book, analyzing an historical photograph, and researching and taking action on the current gender pay gap.
Grade Level
3
4
5
6
7
8
Time Required
0-1 hour
1-2 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
English Language Arts
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
Discover museum programs and engage in public affairs forums.