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Primarily Teaching

A Summer Workshop for Educators on Using Historical Documents in the Classroom

Presented by National Archives staff at:

• The National Archives at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, June 17–20, 2013
• The National Archives at Atlanta, Morrow, GA, July 15–19, 2013
• The National Archives at Boston, Waltham, MA, July 22–26, 2013
• The National Archives, Washington, DC, July 29–August 2, 2013

Background

For decades, our highly successful workshop has facilitated teachers' explorations of the rich holdings of the National Archives, our nation's record keeper. Participants have uncovered fascinating documents, photographs, motion pictures, and artifacts. They have used these to create classroom materials to sharpen students' skills and enthusiasm for history, government, and the other humanities.

What's New in 2013

Primarily Teaching will have a national theme—Rights and Responsibilities—matching that of National History Day in 2014. You'll choose a more specific research topic that fits within this broader theme. Participation in the National History Day competition is not required.

Digitization of the documents you uncover in your research will be our priority. You will find between 3 and 5 items (documents, photos, maps, etc.) to scan and describe. We will add these to our online tool for teaching with documents—DocsTeach.org—while participants are onsite. During the workshop, you'll produce a DocsTeach learning activity using your digitized materials. Activities created during Primarily Teaching workshops will be published on a special nationwide DocsTeach page, such as docsteach.org/home/national-history-day.

Cost

• The fee for each of the workshops is $100, which includes all materials.
• Graduate credit from a major university is available for an additional fee for most sessions.
• You will receive a stipend upon successful completion of the course.

Application

See the Workshop Information for an application and further details.

Completed applications, including registration fees, are due no later than six weeks before the workshop. Participation in each session is limited to 10 members, 15 in Washington, D.C. Classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If, for any reason, you register and then need to cancel your registration, you must do so 30 days before the workshop in order to receive a refund.

Comments from Past Participants

• "I am a critical audience who is always second-guessing the instructor in courses I take, but if each teacher of social studies took this . . . , the teaching and learning of history in this country would be utterly transformed."
• "This is the BEST, most VALUABLE class I have ever taken. My vocabulary is insufficient to describe it properly. Thank you!"
• "I would highly recommend this workshop to anyone with an interest in research and/or the social studies. There is no better way to earn 3 graduate hours! I hope to come back and do much more work here."
• "I gained the confidence and knowledge and information to do my own research in the future."
• "An energizing academic experience."
• "I thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of discovery. Many thanks to all those who supported us in many ways."
• "A wealth of information and documents that will be incorporated in my teaching units."
• "I have a renewed sense of enthusiasm for beginning yet another school year."

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