“There are never enough hours in the day,” especially for teachers with limited time trying to balance social studies and science lessons. Using artifacts, primary sources and innovation, we’ll explore ideas for engaging students in hands-on history lessons that include STEM!

Presented by Laurie Robertson, JYF Master Teacher and 5th grade classroom teacher. 

The stories of witchcraft in early America are full of myths and legends, with most centering around the infamous Salem Trials of 1692. However, every colony had their own witchcraft cases, especially Virginia. Between 1626 and 1730, Virginia had over two dozen investigations, accusations, and trials. Join us to learn the truth of what really happened and why.

In the turbulent years leading up to the American Revolution, colonial artists transformed images into powerful tools for change. This session explores iconic works including Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 “Join or Die” snake and Paul Revere’s 1770 “The Bloody Massacre,” to reveal how these images captured the hopes, grievances, and ideals of the era while also inspiring public action. Participants will gain practical classroom strategies and ready-to-use resources designed to help students critically analyze and engage with these powerful expressions of resistance.

Presented by Catherine VanDyke, JYF Education Resource Specialist.

Woven Through Time: Peopling the Past - Session One

Explore the stories of people who became the catalysts for early cultural exchange.

Presented by Catherine VanDyke, JYF Education Resource Specialist.

History is a complex fabric of interwoven stories. Using People of the Past, a new and growing resource incorporating primary sources from our collections, the Library of Congress, and others, we’ll explore the lives of individuals, both famous and little-known, who lived during the colonial era. We’ll discover how personal stories are intricately linked through time and events.

The four-part series is funded in part by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program.

Woven Through Time: Peopling the Past - Session Two

Tobacco touched the lives of almost everyone in early Virginia. Learn about those whose lives were impacted by Virginia’s cash crop.

Presented by Catherine VanDyke, JYF Education Resource Specialist.

History is a complex fabric of interwoven stories. Using People of the Past, a new and growing resource incorporating primary sources from our collections, the Library of Congress, and others, we’ll explore the lives of individuals, both famous and little-known, who lived during the colonial era. We’ll discover how personal stories are intricately linked through time and events.

The four-part series is funded in part by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program.

Join Jeremy Goldstein, VP of Programs for the Trust for the National Mall, in this interactive session as we explore the National Mall. We'll discuss the monuments and memorials, as well as a newly launched National Mall Gateway resource that will connect more educators and students to this iconic space and park for the nation's 250th anniversary and beyond.

Presented by Jeremy Goldstein, VP of Programs for the Trust for the National Mall

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal….” Students may recognize these words from the Declaration of Independence, but do they know what the founding fathers meant or what those words mean today? Together, we’ll analyze the Declaration of Independence through 18th and 21st century lenses. Participants will walk away with an activity they can recreate in their classrooms.

Presented by Stephen Phillips, JYF Secondary Education Specialist.

Woven Through Time: Peopling the Past - Session Three

The American Revolution was not the first “rebellion” in the colonies. Learn about individuals who stood against the norms of the day.

Presented by Catherine VanDyke, JYF Education Resource Specialist.

History is a complex fabric of interwoven stories. Using People of the Past, a new and growing resource incorporating primary sources from our collections, the Library of Congress, and others, we’ll explore the lives of individuals, both famous and little-known, who lived during the colonial era. We’ll discover how personal stories are intricately linked through time and events.

The four-part series is funded in part by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program.

Woven Through Time: Peopling the Past - Session Four

Leadership took many forms in early Virginia. Learn about people who assumed or had leadership thrust upon them.

Presented by Catherine VanDyke, JYF Education Resource Specialist.

History is a complex fabric of interwoven stories. Using People of the Past, a new and growing resource incorporating primary sources from our collections, the Library of Congress, and others, we’ll explore the lives of individuals, both famous and little-known, who lived during the colonial era. We’ll discover how personal stories are intricately linked through time and events.

The four-part series is funded in part by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program.