On September 26, 2009, the Smithsonian Institution has invited hundreds of museum and cultural venues to participate in Museum Day 2009. Register for free to receive a pass on the website, and present it at one of the participating organizations (search for those near you on the site) for free admission.

From the Minnesota Historical Society website:

"* Classroom Strategies & Materials
* Student Research Resources & Topic Ideas
* Graduation Standards & Performance Assessment
* Project Development (See real, live students do their thing!)

Workshop sessions will be led by History Day coordinators and experienced teachers. Participation is strongly encouraged for teachers with experience at all levels."

From the North Carolina Museum of History website:

"The stock market rises and falls. A shaky economy means job losses, business closings, changed lives. Is it 1929 or 2009? Lessons from the past can help us cope with hard times today. How do government and businesses stimulate growth? How do people reshape their lives as they hope for returning prosperity? Topics include work, social programs, home life, food, entertainment, and recreation.

Join fellow educators for an engaging four-day program in Raleigh as we explore the Great Depression and the New Deal, the effect on North Carolina, and its comparison to the economic crisis of today. Take a variety of resources, including primary source material from this relevant period, back to your classroom. Interact with speakers, participate in discussions, and try new hands-on activities."

Participants will engage in a week of creating art and learning new teaching strategies for bringing enriching art experiences into the classroom. Using the uniquely beautiful photographs of Ansel Adams as a jumping off point, participants will use a combination of art techniques, poetry, and music to explore a sense of place through the lens of art, history, and culture. Artist studio visits and special events further enhance this learning experience.

Over the past five years, pre-service through first-year teachers have enriched their teaching and content knowledge by completing this program. Its goal is to expose beginning and future teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to strategies and programs which will help them be better civic educators. The institute content includes discussions and practical application of concepts dealing with local, Texas, and national government and the U.S. Constitution. In addition, each level has special programs designed for that grade level. All materials distributed are correlated with the TEKS standards and the TAKS test. Lessons also include gifted and talented/advanced placement extensions.