The first of six sessions of the 2022 Summer History Camp from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 3pm CST, with subsequent sessions held on the following Tuesdays (with the exception of July 26. This year's focus marks my first official contracted involvement with Gilder Lehrman as a Master Teacher for the institute. So far, there are around 100 students enrolled.
This year's History Camp is focused on America's National Parks, and I've attempted to design sessions to equate specific parks with character qualities. Our objectives and activities for the camp are listed below.
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum (Impact)
*Navigate the emotions of anger, confusion, and our reactions to such.
*Describe the impact of violence. Create more productive responses to challenge.
Everyday Items: How do the things you have with you right now tell your story? Create a museum exhibit to display who you are based on the items you are currently carrying.
Denali National Park and Preserve (Responsibility)
*Explore the relationship between people and the land throughout time.
*Understand the human responsibility to be good stewards of our resources.
Glacier Flow: Use three safe chemical items to make your own glacier. Then add a fourth chemical to melt it.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (Resilience)
*Connect artifacts and settings to the resilient people who lived in the past.
*Use artifact analysis to tell the story of life in the past.
Artifact Analysis: Conduct a guided artifact analysis on an object you find or have found in the past. Report about what you notice and what you wonder about the object.
Mammoth Cave National Park (Courage)
*Hear about the discovery and exploration of a natural feature.
*Connect the courage to navigate tight spots in a cave to navigating “tight spots” in life.
Cave Formation: Grow crystals of your own, using table salt and Epsom salt. Then, make your own miniature cave with a sugar cube and some clay.
George Washington Carver National Monument (Legacy)
*Discover how a seemingly insignificant person or a small park can still leave a positive legacy.
*Synthesize humility and inspiration to the ability to create important things that serve a greater purpose.
Leave an Impression: Use natural materials (especially leaves) to create a piece of art. Paint the items and press them onto a paper surface to leave the impression of the leaf.
Gateway Arch National Park (Vision)
*Evaluate the effectiveness of Manifest Destiny.
*Conclude that dreams, goals, and vision can motivate a project or an individual to successful improvement.
Vision: Use art materials and a wagon wheel template to illustrate your own visions for the future.
This year's History Camp is focused on America's National Parks, and I've attempted to design sessions to equate specific parks with character qualities. Our objectives and activities for the camp are listed below.
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum (Impact)
*Navigate the emotions of anger, confusion, and our reactions to such.
*Describe the impact of violence. Create more productive responses to challenge.
Everyday Items: How do the things you have with you right now tell your story? Create a museum exhibit to display who you are based on the items you are currently carrying.
Denali National Park and Preserve (Responsibility)
*Explore the relationship between people and the land throughout time.
*Understand the human responsibility to be good stewards of our resources.
Glacier Flow: Use three safe chemical items to make your own glacier. Then add a fourth chemical to melt it.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (Resilience)
*Connect artifacts and settings to the resilient people who lived in the past.
*Use artifact analysis to tell the story of life in the past.
Artifact Analysis: Conduct a guided artifact analysis on an object you find or have found in the past. Report about what you notice and what you wonder about the object.
Mammoth Cave National Park (Courage)
*Hear about the discovery and exploration of a natural feature.
*Connect the courage to navigate tight spots in a cave to navigating “tight spots” in life.
Cave Formation: Grow crystals of your own, using table salt and Epsom salt. Then, make your own miniature cave with a sugar cube and some clay.
George Washington Carver National Monument (Legacy)
*Discover how a seemingly insignificant person or a small park can still leave a positive legacy.
*Synthesize humility and inspiration to the ability to create important things that serve a greater purpose.
Leave an Impression: Use natural materials (especially leaves) to create a piece of art. Paint the items and press them onto a paper surface to leave the impression of the leaf.
Gateway Arch National Park (Vision)
*Evaluate the effectiveness of Manifest Destiny.
*Conclude that dreams, goals, and vision can motivate a project or an individual to successful improvement.
Vision: Use art materials and a wagon wheel template to illustrate your own visions for the future.
There is still time to enroll in the full six-week course.
For more information, head to the GLI website and check things out.
For more information, head to the GLI website and check things out.
