Top-notch teachers will demonstrate how to teach local California community history—including geography of the local region, the culture of the Gabrielino Indians, the daily life and economic legacy of the local ranchos, the development of the harbor, local government, and the community. Participants will each receive instructional materials kit with model lessons, maps, primary source materials, and literature books.

This Geography Awareness Week workshop will begin with a lecture on migration to the U.S. from Latin America. Lessons from the Geography Action! packet will then be introduced. The session will conclude with guided tours of four Latin-American art exhibits at the Fowler Museum.

The African Studies Association (ASA) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first annual meeting in historic Chicago, IL. As part of the larger program, the event will feature scholars, artists, and community activists from the Chicago area who will facilitate panels, workshops, and discussions tailored especially to educators.

Essex LINCs is a professional development program for Essex County's elementary school teachers. This series of American history workshops is aimed at helping educators teach local history within a national context. Participating teachers complete four monthly seminars and a one-week summer institute. ESSEX LINCs centers around four core themes in American history with direct correlation to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for elementary grades: Local History in National Context, Governing in America, Working in America, and Populating the United States. The program combines visits to local historical sites with historian-led content sessions. Hands-on training in how to use primary sources and sites from Essex County in the classroom will help educators meet Frameworks objectives while also enlivening their social studies curriculum.

This workshop will go over 15 lesson plans covering the desert environment, Native American culture, Mexican culture, ranch life, World War II, and more. Supplementary literature books are included in the registration fee.