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 Facing History and Ourselves website:

"Facing History and Ourselves' newest online seminar, 'Choices in Little Rock,' is a rich and engaging exploration of the 1957 desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The seminar traces the legal and personal struggles of African Americans from Jim Crow America through the landmark supreme court decision on Brown v. Board of Education, and ultimately, to the courageous actions of nine young men and women determined to make desegregation a reality. Their efforts would lead to a crisis that historian Taylor Branch once described as 'the most severe test of the Constitution since the Civil War.'

This online seminar takes place over seven weeks. Each week, participants will engage in a variety of activities that will include reading materials, viewing video clips, creating journal entries, and participating in online facilitated discussion forums. Participants are expected to complete approximately four hours of work each week at their own pace.

Each participant will receive a copy of our teaching guide, Choices in Little Rock, as well as some additional resources, prior to the start of the seminar."

From the Facing History and Ourselves website:

"Using Facing History's principal resource book, Holocaust and Human Behavior, as well as video, primary sources, and presentations by survivors and leading scholars of the Holocaust, participants will experience a rigorous encounter with this powerful history. During the Seminar, a wide range of innovative teaching strategies are used to help teachers confront the Holocaust. At the conclusion of the Seminar, participants leave with a thorough grounding on how to incorporate these teaching tools into their classrooms in ways that will help students connect the history of the Holocaust to the ethical choices they face today."

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 Chicago History Museum website:

"This two-part series delves into the history of Chicago's Great Migration through compelling historical-fiction short stories based on the Museum's collection.

"Go in-depth into two stories A Bronzeville Story (elementary) and It's a Long Way from Home (middle and high school). Participate in an interactive workshop using the unit plans for each story. Enjoy time in the Museum's galleries."

NOTE: This entry is for part one of the seminar only. To view information on part two, refer to this entry. For more on the Chicago History Museum, refer to NHEC's Museums and Historic Sites listing.