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