This seminar examines the era of the American Civil War, with emphasis on its origins, scope, and consequences. Through lectures, class discussion, examination of historical texts, and visits to historic sites, the instructors and participants will examine the central role of slavery, the ways in which military and civilian affairs intersected and influenced one another, the question of what the war left unresolved, and how Americans have remembered the conflict. In many ways, the issues that divided the nation during the Civil War era continue to resonate today. This seminar will seek to make those issues clear, while at the same time providing a sense of the drama and tragedy of this tumultuous period.

Designed for middle/high school social studies teachers who teach United States history and government, this intensive week-long workshop will immerse participants in early American history "on location" in Williamsburg, the restored capital city of 18th-century Virginia, and nearby Jamestown and Yorktown. 25 teachers and a returning mentor teacher will be selected for each session. Participants will be involved in an interdisciplinary approach to teaching social studies with colonial American history as the focus. Teachers will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with noted historians, meet character interpreters, and take part in reenactments of 18th-century events. They will review various interactive teaching techniques with a mentor teacher and with each other. Instructional materials in a variety of media will be provided to participants to use in their classrooms. Together with Colonial Williamsburg staff, teachers will prepare new instructional materials for use in their own classrooms.

From a Densho email announcement:

"Oral histories offer a valuable way to preserve and document the memories of individuals. They are also useful for creating innovative educational materials. This workshop is for individuals who collect or want to collect oral history interviews for educational use. The 3-hour training will look at real world examples like videos, websites, classroom activities, books, and multimedia presentations. The session will examine important factors to consider in preparing oral histories so that effective educational materials can be created."

To register, contact info@densho.org.

From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website:

"The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in cooperation with Arizona State University, will present this forum, designed for secondary, pre-service, and community college educators. The forum will explore the content, methodologies, and rationales for teaching the history of the Holocaust; increases teachers' knowledge of the Holocaust; and examines contemporary issues associated with this history."

From the Continuing Education Options website:

"The Twin Cities is blessed by having various outstanding organizations and institutions willing to share their facilities, information and talents with the community. While participating in this class you will visit a number of organizations throughout the area and have an opportunity to meet with education directors and be given extensive tours of their facilities. You will visit The Hubbard Broadcasting Company (KSTP TV and radio) and the Star Tribune. You will tour the various facilities of MNDOT and see the communication and technology systems that are involved in monitoring and maintaining our roadways. On the U of M campus you will tour the Bell Museum of Natural History where children and adults can explore wolves, loons, moose and other Minnesota wildlife. We will also visit the Weisman Art Institute. In St. Paul you will be given a tour of the State Capitol and see government come alive. Finally, the past will be tied with the present when you visit historic Fort Snelling, which was once a symbol of American ambition in the wilderness."

From the California History-Social Science Project website:

"This institute focuses on the theme of Changing Definitions of Citizenship in the U.S. for 5th, 8th, and 11th grade teachers of U.S. History/English-Language Arts. The goal of the series is to increase content knowledge in U.S. History and learn how to incorporate reading, writing, and thinking strategies into standards-based classrooms. The institute includes professor lectures each day on a variety of U.S. history topics followed by models of teacher-created lessons tying lecture topics into the standards-based citizenship theme and integrating reading and writing strategies in the curriculum. Teachers will receive standards-based, grade-specific model lessons and develop strategy-based lessons involving primary and secondary sources with other committed U.S. History teachers."

From the California History-Social Science Project website:

"Celebrate the best of Teaching American History in the region! Join us and participate in three of the 50-minute workshops offered per grade level.

At each interactive workshop led by teams of 5th-, 8th-, and 11th- grade teachers from Sacramento and Placer Counties teachers will share lessons developed through programs funded by federal Teaching American History grants.

You will leave refreshed with classroom-tested ideas and resources from your fellow history teachers."