History on Tap

Sarah and I hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing break!  See you all in January!

I have info for two new summer institutes.  The first is with Colonial Williamsburg, and is a week long institute, usually in July.  There is a scholarship to apply for, which will cover meals and lodging, though you are responsible for getting to Williamsburg.  You also receive a $200 stipend.  I attended this institute  last summer, and it was wonderful.  If you have any questions about it, please ask!  The application can be found at http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchsti_scholarship.cfm.

The second institute is with the Virginia Geographic Alliance.  (Sarah went to Ecuador with this group this past summer, and two teachers from Simonsdale went to England with this group.)  They will have a trip from June 29th-July 16th that begins in New England, and goes through Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Quebec.  Check out http://www.geography.vt.edu/worldlandscapes/2009/ for more information.

The December lead teacher meeting will be Monday, December 15th at John Tyler Elementary at 4:15pm.  We’ll be in the large conference room.

I have a set of 4 CD-ROM’s on Westward Expansion to give away to a 6th grade teacher.  A few eligibility requirements:

• Must be a 6th grade teacher yourself (you cannot answer for someone in your building)
• Must be a Portsmouth teacher
• Previous winners of 6th grade items are not eligible this time (we want to give others a chance-but those who always post the first comment, thank you for checking the blog regularly)

First comment gets it!

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is excited to announce its 2009 Summer Teacher Institute!  Information on the Institute and the application process is available at http://historyisfun.org/teacher-institute.cfm.  Lodging, meals, a transportation stipend and materials are provided at no charge to participating teachers.

Participants will demonstrate 17^th- and 18^th- century skills in costume while interacting with visitors, take part in interactive SOL correlated sessions, receive a kit of reproduction artifacts to use in the classroom, develop lesson plans and earn up to 35 certification points! 

If you have questions about the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation 2009 Summer Teacher Institute, or need more information, please call Heather Hower, Assistant Director of Outreach Education and Special Services, at (757) 253-4454 or e-mail at teacher.institute@jyf.virginia.gov.

There’s an interesting story on CNN today about this famous Depression era photograph.  The article discusses the hardships faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression, and is told from the viewpoint of one of the children in the photograph.  (She is now 77 and lives in California.)

I think this would be an interesting article for students to read, especially in conjunction with the photograph.

The Ashbrook center is offering free week long summer institutes for teachers at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. 

There are many institutes to choose from, all dealing with American history.  All meals and housing will be provided by Ashland University.  At the conclusion of the institute, teachers will receive a stipend for $500. 

Applications are on-line, and are due by March 1, 2009.

For more information, check out http://teachingamericanhistory.org/institutes/.

We have a File Folder Games Workshop for grades K-4 next Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 4:15 in the John Tyler Elementary library. 

Please RSVP to Mrs. West as soon as possible and let her know that you are attending.  Please include your grade level in your RSVP.  (393-8555 or mary.west@pps.k12.va.us)  We will have materials for your specific grade level.  If we do not know you will be attending, or if we do not know your grade level, we will not have materials for you! 

I have a HUGE copy of the Constitution to give away to a Portsmouth Civics and Economics teacher.  (I hope you have some wall space!)  First Civics and Econ teacher to leave me a comment gets it.  I’ll probably have to drop it by for you, I don’t want to put it in the pony and risk it getting messed up!