Summer Institute 2009 Archive

Summer Institute 2009

Nation at the Crossroads: Rediscovering the Federal Writer’s Project
July 28-30 at the UNC Lowry Center – Denver

Participants at the TPS Summer Institute 2009 discovered local, regional and national treasures through the stories of ordinary people from Depression era America and investigated how today's paths meet at the crossroads of life 75 years ago.

Agenda and Resources

Day 1
8:00-9:20 Classroom	Welcome, Introductions Kim Paxton, Professional Development Coordinator, TPS Course Overview and expectations Anne Bell, Director, TPS
9:20-9:30	Regrouping/Break
9:30-10:30 Classroom	Inquiring activity - examining primary sources [Download Materials] Kathy Ferrel, Assistant Director, TPS
10:30-10:40	Break
10:40-11:40	Understanding the New Deal and the Cultural Context of the 1930s Dr. Susan Schulten, Associate Professor of US History, University of Denver.
11:40-12:00	Inquiry: Reflection & Dialog [Download Materials]
12:00-12:45 Classroom	Lunch Book Connections: Elementary Focus Erin Hunt, Instructional Designer, TPS (after the book talk feel free to go outside, make calls, check e-mail) [Primary Source Sets for: Out of the Dust, Potato, Kit series]
12:45-1:45 Classroom	The Federal Writers Project and the American Guides Susan Schulten
1:45-1:55	Q & A
1:55-2:05	Break
2:05-3:00 Computer Lab	Overview of Library of Congress Collections: Materials produced by New Deal Programs Erin Hunt [Link to Collections] [Oral History Examples]
3:00-3:45 Computer Lab	Searching on your own - Begin to build a Personal Primary Source Set [Creating a Personal Primary Source Set] [Personal Primary Source Set Worksheet] [Strategies that support inquiry]
3:45-4:00	Closing: Prizes and announcements
4:00-5:00	Optional extended lab time

Evening	See suggested locations for dinner 7:00 pm - "Movie Night" - optional but all welcome! Dustbowl documentaries running in Hospitality Room at Doubletree - snacks provided
	Black Blizzard - The Plow that Broke the Plains - Surviving the Dust Bowl

Day 2
8:00-9:00 Computer Lab	Computer lab time – Individual searching; collaborating with peers Building Personal Primary Source Set
9:00-9:50 Computer Lab	Oral History Investigation: Former slave interview in Colorado - read and make connections [Download Activity] [Sample Lesson]
9:50-10:00	Regrouping/Break
10:00-10:30 Classroom	A visit from FDR
10:30-11:00	Questions for FDR
11:00-11:30	Questions for FDR re-enactor - Richard Marold - (out of character)
11:30-12:15 Classroom	Lunch Book Connections: Middle School Focus Kathy Ferrel, Assistant Director, TPS
12:15-1:15 Classroom	Photo Detectives: FSA in Colorado Mary Ann McNair [Download Activity] [Resources]
1:15-2:15 Computer Lab	Discovering Juan Menchaca's Legacy through Oral History, Paintings & Dioramas Mary Ann McNair [Download Legacy Activity] [Download Interview] [Download Setting the Scene]
2:15-2:25	Break
2:25-2:45 Computer Lab	Inquiry: Reflection & Dialog Investigate/Construct [Download Materials]
2:45-3:45 Computer Lab	Searching on your own - Building Personal Primary Source Set [Clarifying Lesson Plan assignment] [Editable Lesson Plan Template] [Thinking Toward Lesson Plan]
3:45-4:00	Closing: Prizes and announcements
4:00-5:00	Optional Extended Lab Time
Evening	See suggested locations for dinner

Day 3
	Breakfast on your own
8:50	Meet at Colorado History Museum for 9:00 group entry [map and parking details]
9:00-11:00	Getting to know New Deal arts-related resources
11:00-11:30	Return to UNC Center at Lowry
11:30-12:15 Classroom	Lunch Book Connections: High School Focus Anne Bell, Director, TPS
12:15-12:45	Inquiry: Synthesizing, Reflection, & Dialog [Download Materials]
12:45-1:15 Classroom	A Turn of Phrase: What's in your community? Mary Ann McNair [Download Activity] [Resources]
1:15-1:40	Your students as today's "Federal Writers:" American Guides Project - http://www.americanguides.org/ Kevin Obenchain
1:40-2:40	Two Groups
	Group 1: Computer lab time: Completing primary source sets; working on Lesson Plans	Group 2: More ideas for community engagement (classroom) Artifact Exchange Collecting Oral Histories Unit Veteran's History Project Digital Storytelling Activity: Adapting Federal Writers' Guidelines to Today
2:30-2:40	Break/Groups switch
2:40-3:40	Group 1: More ideas for community engagement (classroom) Artifact Exchange Collecting Oral Histories Unit Veteran's History Project Digital Storytelling Activity: Adapting Federal Writers' Guidelines to Today	Group 2: Computer lab time: Completing primary source sets; working on Lesson Plans
3:40-4:00	Closing: Prizes; certificates