Professional Development
We’ve created this space to help communicate directly with teachers about American history content and classroom practice, and to share information about new resources developed here at the Museum. We invite you to become part of our larger team by participating in quick polls, focus groups, advisory panels and by emailing us with your ideas and suggestions. Let us know how we can support you in the classroom.
Check this page periodically to see what’s new on Smithsonian’s History Explorer, what we are planning, and to join our online community of American history educators.
- Teaching in a digital classroom
Over the past few months, the Museum has dipped its toes into the wild world of webinars (presentations given over the Internet, in live time). What makes online learning worthwhile for you? Or what’s your webinar “pet-peeve?”
- Want to change your seven-year-old's life?
Do you remember the experience that made you into museum fan?
- Using objects with English language learners
Education specialist Jenny Wei wants to know: What are the advantages or disadvantages to using objects in your classroom?
- Crisis & Opportunity: A History
The last national mobilization to reform education resulted in an increase in Doctoral candidates in math and science and a man on the moon. What will this one bring?
- My tweenage historical bookshelf
What historical fiction books did you love as a middle schooler? Who was your favorite American Girl? What historical fiction books does your 5th-to-8th-grader love? Better yet, if you’re a middle schooler reading this: Write in with a few suggestions of historical fiction that’s popular today.
- Doing history
“Teacher… Why are we learning about this stuff? It happened so long ago. Why does any of it matter?” An 8th grade history teacher interning at the Museum for the summer talks about engaging students with history.
- More blog posts about Teaching & Learning
The War of 1812
Though critical to understanding the history of America as a young country, the War of 1812 gets little attention in many social studies textbooks. Delve deeper into the issues and events of the War of 1812 through examining objects and reading rich background information from the Museum’s curators.
This topic connects to NCHS Era 4, Standard 1A.
Museum artifacts, like other primary sources, bring a powerful sense of authenticity to classroom learning. Similar to oral histories, photographs, and documents, physical objects provide first hand evidence about a person, place, or event that can bring history to life for students.
Here are resources that will help you use objects to bring your classroom to life:
