Learning Labs

This program explores how the actions of the Federal Government are based in our Constitution. Participants take on the roles of archivists and researchers completing a very important assignment: providing the President of the United States with real-life examples of our Constitution in action.

Working in replica storage and research spaces, participants will find, select and analyze document facsimiles. They will mine these primary sources for historical examples of Constitutional ideas like checks and balances and separation of powers, and connect them to specific passages in the Constitution to gain a greater understanding of the role it plays in our government and daily lives.

Details

• Reservations required
• Ages 11–adult
• 12–36 participants
• 2 hours
• Free

To Reserve

• Reservations are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Choose 1st and 2nd dates of choice for your visit, and your preferred time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. or 12:30–2:30 p.m.
• Complete the online application.

Prepare your group before arrival

Divide them into six teams, each assigned to review a particular portion of the Constitution:

Team 1 = Article 1, sections 1-7
Team 2 = Article 1, sections 8-10
Team 3 = Article 2, all sections
Team 4 = Article 3, all sections
Team 5 =Article 4, all sections
Team 6 =Articles 5, 6, and 7

Submit participants’ names according to team number.

Complete the online pre-visit preparation activities on DocsTeach, our online tool for teaching with documents.

Review the following ideas contained in the Constitution:

Representative Government: A system of government in which the people elect officials to govern for them. These officials are held accountable to the voters through periodic elections.

Federalism: A form of government in which there is a constitutional division of power between a central government and regional governments.

Checks and Balances: A system of overlapping powers of the separate branches of government that permits each branch to limit, restrain, or inform the actions of the other branches.

Separation of Powers: A basic principle of American government that places different governing duties and powers among three independent and coequal branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

Enumerated Powers: The powers of governing that are specifically defined and authorized in the actual wording of the Constitution.

Implied Powers: The powers of government that, while not specifically defined and authorized in the Constitution, are not specifically prohibited.

Civic Responsibility: Actions by the people that demonstrate their interest and participation in the governing of their country.

This program prompts critical thinking through individual analysis, as well as small-group and whole-class discussion and debate. Set as a scenario, participants will help Congress decide if a new holiday recognizing and remembering the Civil War should be celebratory or commemorative in nature.

The lab features primary source documents that focus on different aspects of the Civil War. Students work in groups to analyze different documents based on one aspect of the Civil War. The experience builds up to a large group discussion and debate to see how the different aspects of the Civil War support either a commemoration or a celebration.

Details

• Reservations required
• Ages 13–adult
• 12–36 participants
• 1 hour
• Free

To Reserve

• Reservations are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Choose 1st and 2nd dates of choice for your visit, and your preferred time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m., 12:30–1:30 p.m., or 2–3 p.m.
• Complete the online application.

Prepare your group before arrival

Divide them into six teams, each assigned to consider a particular aspect of the Civil War:

Team 1 = Government
Team 2 = Technology and Tactics
Team 3 = Ideology
Team 4 = Soldiers
Team 5 = Civilians
Team 6 =African Americans

Complete the online pre-visit preparation activities on DocsTeach, our online tool for teaching with documents:

• Debate Definitions introduces Civil War-related terms.
• The Civil War: Commemorate or Celebrate? gets students thinking about the ideas of commemoration and celebration and prepares them for the lab activity.

In this program, elementary-aged students will delve into the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. At the end of the hour, they will present their findings in a simulated White House press conference.

This document-based program teaches critical thinking, teamwork, and historical skills through interactive document exploration, discussions, and play.

Details

• Reservations required
• Ages 7–10
• 12–36 participants
• 1 hour
• Free

To Reserve

• Reservations are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Choose 1st and 2nd dates of choice for your visit, and your preferred time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m., 12:30–1:30 p.m., or 2–3 p.m.
• Complete the online application.

Prepare your group before arrival Divide them into six teams. Submit participants’ names according to team number at least one week prior to your visit. Complete the online pre-visit preparation activities on DocsTeach, our online tool for teaching with documents:

• The Rights and Responsibilities Learning Lab Pre-visit Activity presents students with documents to be sorted on to two sides of a scale labeled “rights” and “responsibilities.” In the assessment portion of the activity, students will be asked to consider the documents and their prior knowledge in order to define “right” and “responsibility.”