Fall Programs for Kids 
Press Release · Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Washington, DC

Join us for great fall programs for kids!. Students will be able to “meet” Frederick Douglass and learn more about Native American leaders, the Constitution, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These are free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Young Learners Programs include documents from the holdings of the National Archives and links to educational activities in our free DocsTeach.org resource.

National Archives Comes Alive! Young Learners Program: Meet Washington Irving
Thursday, October 28, at 12 p.m. ET, View on YouTube; Register online
Meet Washington Irving, the father of the American short story and author of one of the most famous and iconic Halloween stories: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Neill Hartley portrays Washington Irving, sharing Irving’s life and excerpts from his short stories.

Veronica Robles - Día de los Muertos
Saturday, October 30, at 11:30 a.m. ET, Register online
Join Veronica Robles as she shares her personal experience with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with songs, dance and music. Explore the real concept of celebrating the Day of the Dead beyond any commercial promotion. A tradition that originated in Mexico, this celebration goes beyond costumes or face painting — it’s about honoring and remembering your loved ones and celebrating life. This program is hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Foundation.

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present
Wednesday, November 3, at 11 a.m. ET, View on YouTube; Register online
For National Native American Heritage Month, we present author, educator, and podcaster Adrienne Keene, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She will share biographies from her young adult book, Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present. The biographies of the historical indigenous people will be paired with historical records from the holdings of the National Archives and related DocsTeach activities. 

Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 
Wednesday, November 10 at 11 a.m. ET, View on YouTube; Register online 
November 11, 2021, is the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Author Jeff Gottesfeld will read from his children’s book Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which tells the story of how the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier came into being. He will be joined by a Tomb guard who will explain the rigorous process of being selected as a guard and the 27-hour shifts of their duty.

The National Archives Comes Alive: Young Learners Program: Meet Frederick Douglass
Monday, November 15, at 11 a.m. ET, View on YouTube.
Meet Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman (portrayed by Phil Darius Wallace). Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838. He became an influential force in the abolition movement with his powerful speeches, including “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” and his antislavery newspaper, The North Star. Douglass continued to fight for rights of African Americans after slavery was abolished with the 13th Amendment. In 1889, Douglass was appointed U.S. Minister to Haiti. 

The Constitution and Our Community for Grades 3-5
Friday, November 19, at 11:15 a.m. ET, Register online
In this 45-minute program, students will explore the idea of community, hone their primary source analysis skills by examining government records, and connect the Constitution to their own lives.

The Constitution Rules! For Grades K–2
Friday, November 19, at 1:15 p.m. ET, Register online
In this 30-minute program, students will explore the idea of different responsibilities in their community and analyze images that highlight the jobs of the three branches of government.

Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers
Saturday, November 20, at11:30 a.m. ET, Register online
Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers share stories of both their history and modern culture in a virtual performance that culminates with a dance in honor of Native American Heritage Month. During this virtual program, from wherever you are, the whole family can learn new movements and words in this participatory performance. This program is hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Foundation. 

Stay in your PJs and watch our earlier Virtual Pajama Parties!  

• Sylvia and Aki by Winifred Conkling, with title character Sylvia Mendez herself!
  The book explores the friendship of two third-grade girls: Sylvia Mendez and Aki Munemitsu. When the Munemitsu family is sent to a Japanese internment camp in Arizona during World War II, the Mendez family takes over the Munemitsu family farm in California. Sylvia looks forward to the start of school, only to learn that she and her siblings cannot enroll, although her lighter skinned cousins could, because of the discriminatory policy.
• I Got This: To Gold and Beyond with Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez!
  Participants learned more about gymnastics, the Olympics, and women in sports as Hernandez shared and answered questions about her life in gymnastics, training for the Olympics, and post-Olympic experiences, while emphasizing the importance of trying new things, setting goals, and hard work. Special appearances by Deputy Archivist Debra Wall and Archivist David S. Ferriero.
• The Hero Two Doors Down with author Sharon Robinson
  Jackie Robinson’s daughter shares her book The Hero Two Doors Down about her dad’s barrier-breaking baseball career and lifelong commitment to civil rights. Participants read Robinson's inspiring book, learned about historical documents in the National Archives, and created and shared their own artwork and writing based on themes from the book.