Educator Resources

New York City Workshops for Teachers

We offer free professional development workshops on a variety of topics related to the records of the National Archives. These workshop sessions are suitable for educators, student teachers, administrators, homeschooling parents. Each lasts from 90 (minimum) to 120 minutes and can take place on- or off-site (exceptions noted). Contact us for information about registration.

Educational Resources of the National Archives

You will be exposed to the educational resources of the National Archives. With over 10 billion records of the federal government from the American Revolution to the 1990s, our holdings include some of the essential documents of our national experience. This workshop includes an overview of our holdings, strategies for using primary sources in the classroom, and a look at our free educational materials available online.

Primary Source Research at the National Archives

You will learn about the variety of primary sources available at the National Archives and how to access them. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work with facsimiles, digitized records, microfilm, and original records from our holdings. (Half- or full-day, on-site only.)

Exploring DocsTeach

DocsTeach is our online tool for teaching with documents. It is an interactive website designed for teachers and their students. You'll not only learn how to explore the thousands of documents available on DocsTeach, but will discover ways to use the ready made tools to create their your educational activities.

Getting Ready for National History Day

Whether new to National History Day or looking for a refresher course, the Getting Ready for National History Day workshop provides teachers, advisors, and parents with the primary sources and skills to create one's project. You will learn about National History Day, the importance of primary sources, and how to find and use primary sources in the finished project.

Family History Research

You will learn the basics of doing Family History research and gain the skills to find Passenger Arrival records, Census records, Naturalization records and others detailing the lives of your ancestors.

Exploring Our Ethnic Heritage

This workshop will explore the diversity of America through a variety of documents that help students uncover the past of various ethnicities. The workshop will feature hands-on activities investigating the primary sources of the National Archives. You will leave with examples of the census, passenger arrival, and naturalization records in addition to documents that help enlighten the history of various ethnic groups. You'll also learn strategies for using these documents in the classroom and how to continue researching additional sources.

Exploring Our American Symbols

You will explore the primary sources of the National Archives related to symbols such as the American Flag, the Great Seal of the United States, and the Statue of Liberty. You'll receive copies of these primary sources and will discuss methods of incorporating the documents into the classroom, and gain an understanding of how to find other resources from the National Archives.

Teaching with Documents: Using the U.S. Constitution

What does the light bulb have to do with the U. S. Constitution? Or the board game "Monopoly"? How about the letter you wrote to the president when you were in elementary school? The answer to all three questions is: plenty—if you know your Constitution.

Teaching with Documents: Using Immigration Records

The United States is often called a nation of immigrants. You will explore primary sources of the National Archives to broaden your students' understanding of the diverse nature of immigration. Among these are photographs, Chinese Exclusion case files, and Board of Special Inquiry transcripts.

Teaching with Documents: Using Records related to Civil Rights

 
Documents in the National Archives give voice to our national struggle for personal rights and freedoms. From the Emancipation Proclamation to the five cases that comprised Brown v. Board of Education, this workshop features a sampling of documents that help explain the growth of civil rights.
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