As I prepare for this summer's Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute, I must consider the objectives of the program:
Elementary school sessions focus on the daily life of colonial Virginians and the transition from subject to citizen that occurred during the Revolutionary War period. Teachers will be immersed in hands-on activities at Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown that highlight the stories of the people living during this time. During the session, teachers will:
- Identify and analyze significant seventeenth- and eighteenth-century economic, political, and social events that led to American independence from Great Britain.
- Chart the evolution of citizenship, from being British subjects to becoming American citizens.
- Explain how Native American, European, and African interactions shaped and defined the American character.
- Examine colonial social levels, gender roles, and specific populations such as gentry, middling sort, lesser sort, free and enslaved African Americans, and Native Americans.
- Integrate primary, secondary, and technology resources in classroom instruction focused on early American history and citizenship.
- Create opportunities for continued professional development in social studies education with fellow teachers and Colonial Williamsburg educators.
There is a lot here, covering two centuries of colonization and settlement, the establishment of slavery in America, and war with the natives, as well as the idea of uniting the colonies, creating a new nation, and fighting for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As an educator, I will receive an overwhelming amount of information and experience while I there. I predict I will return with many rich ideas for the classroom.
In order to accomplish these objectives and cover the broad amount of time, crossing eras and seeing changes in the English monarchy, as well as the attitudes of the colonists - English citizens, entrepreneurial excursionists, and religious pilgrims - the teacher institute has designed some extensive programming. Says the website:
In order to accomplish these objectives and cover the broad amount of time, crossing eras and seeing changes in the English monarchy, as well as the attitudes of the colonists - English citizens, entrepreneurial excursionists, and religious pilgrims - the teacher institute has designed some extensive programming. Says the website:
During the week, teachers will:
- Identify and analyze significant seventeenth- and eighteenth-century economic, political, and social events that led to American independence from Great Britain.
- Chart the evolution of citizenship, from being British subjects to becoming American citizens.
- Explain how Native American, European, and African interactions shaped and defined the American character.
- Examine colonial social levels, gender roles, and specific populations such as gentry, middling, free blacks, lesser sort, enslaved, and Native Americans.
- Integrate primary sources, secondary sources, and technological resources in classroom instruction focused on early American history and citizenship.
- Create opportunities for continued professional development in social studies education with fellow teachers and Colonial Williamsburg educators.
- Experience 42 program contact hours.
I look forward to collaborating with teachers from across the country as we fulfill the week of requirements associated with the program.
