Register Today! Registration is open now, so visit the project website for more information and sign up today!

The series will run from January through March of 2023. In addition to the interactive video component, each program will be live-streamed and recorded for on-demand viewing for free.

With guidance from National Park Service rangers and library educators, students will learn how to use and analyze primary sources to better understand the historical legacies of our nation’s presidents.

“Primary sources are extremely important for students to study in order to reach conclusions on their own and explore the topic unbiasedly. Presentations like these help students think critically about their history and further advance students’ critical thinking skills for the real world,” a former PPSP teacher participant shared.

Get a sneak peek of what to expect with this short clip from one of our most popular PPSP sessions below, where Jeff Urbin, education specialist at the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, shows students the wheelchair President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designed for himself.

Schedule
View the 2023 PPSP Program Schedule

*All programs are live at 11 a.m. ET and 2 p.m. ET on their scheduled day and applicable to students grades 4-12.

January 17: A New Birth of Freedom: Examining Lincoln’s Views on Democracy and Slavery, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
January 19: President Grant’s Vision of Justice, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
January 24: Slavery at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Mount Vernon
January 26: Out of Paw-office: Presidential Pets in the White House, LBJ Library & White House Historical Association
January 31: Rosalynn Carter – Partner in Chief, Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
February 2: Portraits of Presidential Power Couples, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
February 7: Civil Rights to Human Rights: JFK, MLK, and RFK, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
February 9: The Constitution and Presidential Powers, National Archives
February 14: Playing at Frontier Hunter: Theodore Roosevelt’s Experiences in the American West, Theodore Roosevelt Center
February 16: Exploring Lincoln in Washington, Ford’s Theatre and National Mall and Memorial Parks
February 21: You Are About to Embark Upon the Great Crusade, Eisenhower Foundation and National Mall and Memorial Park
February 23: Our Delicate Rights: Japanese American Incarceration, Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
February 28: The Women Behind the Women, First Ladies National Historic Site
March 2: From General to President to Me!, Eisenhower Foundation, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site & George Washington’s Mount Vernon
March 7: Women’s Rights are Human Rights, Human Rights are Women’s Rights, Clinton Presidential Library
March 9: It’s a Pioneer Life, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
March 14: 7th Street Challenge: Lincoln’s Commute, President Lincoln’s Cottage
March 16: Public Lands, Public Lens: Establishing Protected Spaces, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage and Theodore Roosevelt Center
March 21: Year of Decisions: 1948, Truman Presidential Library and Museum
March 23: Presidential Flair: Examining Campaign Buttons and the Message They Share, Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
March 28: Interrogating Presidential Photos, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
March 30: Responding to Rebellion, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, & Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
April 5: Women For a Change: Gender Equality & the Carter Administration, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

Register for one or more of the Presidential Primary Sources Project’s free, interactive sessions today!

Want to learn more about Motion Pictures resources at the National Archives and see clips of some of our historic films? Join us this Thursday evening, October 13, for our FREE interactive webinar The Film(ed) Frontier. The program is based on our article in the National History Day 2023 national theme book, but all teachers and students are welcome to register and attend, even if you have not previously participated in NHD! Check out this great interactive webinar and find out how to access and use these unique primary sources in all types of social studies projects.

Thursday, October 13, 2022 — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT

Register for this event 

Congratulations to all the students who participated in and were recognized at the National History Day 2022 contests! Your work is always inspirational, and we are happy to know that many of you used National Archives resources to research and develop your project.

Now that NHD 2022 is a wrap, the National Archives is gearing up to help teachers and students prepare for NHD 2023 – Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Here are some of our great resources for teachers and students.

First up: check out our DocsTeach NHD 2023 page. DocsTeach is the online tool for teaching with Documents, from the National Archives, and this page is full of teaching activities and primary source suggestions related to many different types of frontiers. Your students can use this page to browse topics and view primary sources related to each. From Patents and Inventions to NASA Space Programs to Civil Rights, DocsTeach will connect your students to the rich resources of the National Archives. Then help your students critically evaluate and analyze those sources with our Document Analysis worksheets, including our new “Understanding Perspective in Primary Sources” worksheet.

Second, check out our article “The Film(ed) Frontier: Twentieth Century History Captured by Motion Pictures” in this year’s national theme book. The article was written by Motion Picture Preservation Specialists and includes information about some of the National Archives Motion Picture resources, including “The Charge of the Tick Brigade” from 1919 by the United States Department of Agriculture, and polar expedition footage from explorer Louise Arner Boyd.

Want to learn more about and see some of the cool things in National Archives Motion Pictures? Join us for a webinar with the theme book authors on October 13 at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Stay tuned for details on how you and your students can register and participate in the fall webinar.

Finally, available again this fall, Discovering our Documents, by-request interactive webinars for teachers who are looking for high-quality online sources for National History Day and tips for how to access them. For details contact our Distance Learning department at ​distancelearning@nara.gov

Online Opportunities – at a Glance

• July 12–14: Truman Library Teachers Conference
• July 19, 21, 26, & 28: We Rule: Civics for All of US Teacher Professional Development Workshops
• August 2–4: Three Branches Institute

Onsite Opportunities – at a Glance

• July 11–22  in Boston, MA: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum American Studies Summer Institute
• July 25–29 in Washington, DC: Maryland Humanities Summer Teacher Institute at the National Archives

Online Opportunities – Details:

Truman Library Teachers Conference – Presidential Character and Decision Making 

July 12-14, 2022

Online via Zoom

Presidential Character and Decision Making is a three day workshop for teachers. Teachers will learn from and interact with presenters from the following presidential museums and libraries: Truman Library, Clinton Library, Hoover Library, Carter Library, Roosevelt Library, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, George HW Bush Library, Eisenhower Library, and Johnson Library.

Presenters from ten presidential libraries will each share how their president made decisions with the Constitution in mind, how it helped them and how it hindered them. Teaching activities will be shared throughout the week and in the virtual environment there will be a number of interactive sessions for teachers to learn from.

Learn more and register: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/SummerConference 

We Rule: Civics for All of US Teacher Professional Development Workshops

July 19, 21, 26, & 28, 2022 at 12:30–2:30 PM ET

Online via Zoom

Educators, join the National Archives for a summer online workshop series! Each two-hour program will explore how to use primary sources to delve into the big ideas of the founding documents. During each interactive session, participants will engage with primary sources and partake in collaborative group work and discussion to discover how to use National Archives resources and programs to teach civic knowledge and skills.

These programs are offered as a part of We Rule: Civics for All of US, a new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. Visit www.archives.gov/education/civic-education for more information.

• July 19, 2022, 12:30–2:30 PM ET – The Bill of Rights Workshop for Elementary Educators Register
• July 21, 2022, 12:30–2:30 PM ET – The Bill of Rights Workshop for Secondary Educators Register
• July 26, 2022, 12:30–2:30 PM ET – We the People: Teaching the Constitution Workshop for Elementary Educators Register
• July 28, 2022, 12:30–2:30 PM ET – The Power to Vote: Who Decides? Workshop for Secondary Educators Register

2022 Three Branches Institute

August 2–4, 2022

Online Via Zoom

In collaboration with the United States Capitol Historical Society, the Supreme Court Historical Society, and the White House Historical Association, the National Archives is pleased to invite you to participate in the Three Branches Institute.

At the Institute, you’ll learn from each organization above about their respective branch of government. Discover new ideas for teaching about the three branches in your classroom, explore new resources, and network with fellow educators. 

Registration is free and open to all educators through July 17, 2022. 

Registration Link: https://whitehousehistory.wufoo.com/forms/z1wsxrg50esoo8r/ 

Please note the White House Historical Association is coordinating the registration for this event. 

Onsite Opportunities – Details

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum American Studies Summer Institute: America’s Silenced  Histories

July 11–22 in Boston, MA

Join the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for an intensive ten-day program of thought-provoking lectures and discussions led by distinguished scholars and practitioners. The American Studies Summer Institute, an annual program co-sponsored by the University of Massachusetts Boston American Studies Department and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, offers educators and graduate students the opportunity to explore in depth a rich topic with contemporary resonance drawn from American social, cultural and political history.

The 2022 Summer Institute

Narratives of America’s past originate and evolve in specific historical and cultural contexts. The resulting stories—shaped by existing ideas about whose histories matter—have been skewed by their omissions, elisions, and pernicious distortions of the past engendered by prevailing inequalities. This summer’s program will consider our country’s untold stories, discussing the ways that voices have been silenced, misrepresented, and underrepresented in the scholarship, in archives, and in public memory. We will consider why events such as the 1921 Tulsa Massacre only recently received a national accounting and why Americans “forget” large-scale phenomena such as the influenza pandemic of 1918. Together we will delve into explanations of these elisions and their consequences for the nation. We will explore how people of color, immigrants, and other groups have preserved and recovered their histories and reinstated these in the public record.

Learn more and submit an application by May 27, 2022: https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/education/teachers/professional-development/american-studies-summer-institute 

Maryland Humanities Summer Teacher Institutes 2022 – Primary Sources and Project-Based Learning at the National Archives Research Center

July 25–29 in Washington, DC

Through a grant from the Library of Congress, Maryland Humanities is excited to offer free in-person Teaching with Primary Sources summer institutes. Participants will receive 3 MSDE CPD credits. Space is limited, and successful applicants will be notified. All K-12 teachers, specialists, and librarians are welcome to apply.

We will welcome K–12 educators for a research experience focused on exploring the National Archives. Participants will choose a research topic and use primary sources from the National Archives’ physical and online collections. Learn about the National History Day 2023 theme and complete your own mini-research project to take back to your classroom. Explore free teaching resources including DocsTeach from the National Archives and Maryland Humanities’ TPS Inquiry Kits. Participants will spend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Archives, and will participate remotely on Tuesday and Thursday. Participants will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch during onsite days, as well as a $50 travel stipend.

Apply here: https://mdhumanities.wufoo.com/forms/z1yu0mqp0eykf0v/ 

Please note Maryland Humanities is coordinating the application process for this event. 

Help your students better understand source perspective with a new document analysis tool from the National Archives Education Team: Understanding Perspective in Primary Sources.

Our latest worksheet helps students identify perspective in primary sources and understand how backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences shape point of view.

Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to carefully consider primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments.

Make sure to also check out our other worksheets available for primary grades, secondary grades, students learning English, and Spanish-speaking students. They are customized to primary source type, including photographs, written documents, artifacts, posters, maps, cartoons, videos, and sound recordings.

Milestone Documents includes primary sources such as:

• the Lee Resolution of 1776 that first proposed independence for the American colonies
• George Washington’s first inaugural speech
• the patent for the cotton gin
• the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery
• the Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson
• the G.I. Bill
• the official flight transcript of John Glenn’s spaceflight during the first manned space orbit of the earth by an American
• the Voting Rights Act of 1965
• and many more!

You and your students can access the documents through an interactive timeline at the top of the page. Or you can skip down the page to find the historical era you are currently teaching or learning about.

Each milestone document in this list has its own page including historical context and background information, a transcript, links to high-resolution images and additional pages in the National Archives Catalog, and a link to teaching resources for the document on DocsTeach, the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives.

Access all of the Milestone Documents at www.archives.gov/milestone-documents! How could you use this list for teaching and learning?

National Archives Comes Alive! Young Learners Program: Meet Rosa Parks

On Thursday, February 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST, young learners can “meet” Rosa Parks (portrayed by Marti Gobel). Watch on YouTube.

It’s December 2, 1955—just a day after her arrest for her courageous actions on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions sparked a movement permanently changing the tapestry of United States history.

Parks will talk about her life growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, what led her to take a stand on that day in December, the friends and fellow civil rights activists who helped her get released from jail, and how that single day led to a rich career dedicated to elevating the lives of Blacks in America and earned her the name “the first lady of civil rights.”

Young Learners Program: Astronaut, Artist, and Earthling Nicole Stott

On Friday, February 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. EST, young learners can meet NASA astronaut Nicole Stott. Watch on YouTube.

Stott, a former crewmember of the International Space Station, will share why she wanted to become an astronaut, what she learned about our planet by living in space, and how this knowledge inspires her art.

It might surprise students that “fake news,” sensationalism, omissions, and errors have always existed in the media. The first “fake news” stories rolled off of the earliest printing presses to sell newspapers, influence elections, and generate change – negative or positive. What is perhaps less understood amongst students is how sensationalism, exposés, and false narratives can turn into propaganda and shape public perception.

A free press is a right enshrined in the First Amendment and is vital to Democracy. Journalists are granted access to events closed to the public and trusted with reporting the event as it happened. Most legal scholars and historians will agree that a free press leads to transparency in government, law enforcement, social issues, and other elements of American life. Transparency leads to accountability. In the same vein, the National Archives exists as the nation’s record keeper – not to keep paper in boxes, but to create a transparent government open to the scrutiny of the general public.

Good journalists are acutely aware of how powerful their reporting can be and that knowledge gave birth to people like Nellie Bly and created an entire genre of reporting called “Muckraking.” Muckraking journalism is often identified as playing a pivotal role in the birth of the Progressive Movement in the late 1800s. Later, the United States would see satire and over-the-top fake news tabloids like the Weekly World News claiming that “Abraham Lincoln was a Woman” and John Wilkes Booth was her “jilted lover.”¹

Some misinformation is not as obvious as the outrageous tabloids of the 1980s that lined grocery checkout lines. The small details that are in omissions, errors, bad memories of witnesses, and perpetuated by strict deadlines can mislead the public and sometimes turn into urban legends. Presidents throughout history have grappled with bad reporting and fake news all the way back to George Washington. From chopping down a cherry tree as a child to using wooden teeth, Washington’s legacy is full of urban legends. After the Civil War it was reported his body was removed from Mount Vernon in a fake news story.²

Herbert Hoover was no exception. In 1938, then former President Herbert Hoover met with Adolf Hitler while he was on tour of Europe to celebrate 20 years since the end of World War I. The German government invited Hoover to make a brief stop in Germany on his way to Poland as a diplomatic courtesy. Although Hoover was reluctant, he agreed to meet with Hitler and dined with Herman Goering. The press was very interested in this meeting, of course. Hoover requested that Paul Smith from the San Francisco Chronicle accompany him to a private meeting with Hitler. Right before the meeting, Hoover was told Smith was not permitted to attend. “This request was refused on the grounds frankly mentioned by the Foreign Office that it was understood that the San Francisco Chronicle had been bitterly critical of Germany.”³ Paul Smith was not happy about being excluded from the meeting.

It is important to remember the full scope of the Holocaust was not known by Hoover or the United States at this time, and 1938 was prior to the existence of extermination camps.⁴ In the meeting, Hoover and Hitler mused about the progress Germany made in housing, highways, and the economy since the end of WWI. Hoover acknowledged that much of the progress was made possible by the restrictions placed upon Germans by Nazism.

In the official report that was not made available to the press, Hoover said “in America one must have such regard for spiritual and intellectual freedom that any restrictive measures such as had been adopted in Germany would not be possible there.” Hitler responded, “in the measure in which the Communistic danger of disintegration increased in the European states these states saw themselves confronted ever more urgently with the choice of either bringing about a national re-birth with the aid of certain restrictions or of succumbing to Communism, which in its turn would then have instituted far greater and more absolute restrictions of all freedom.” Hitler went on to talk about how the restrictions of Nazism helped to develop German agriculture. The men agreed that Russia and communism were a threat to the world. Hoover thanked Hitler and “renewed stressing his interest in the development in the new Germany.”⁵

The press sensationalized this meeting beyond the bounds of the truth. The press headlines read, “Hoover Flays Nazis in Talk With Hitler,” “Hoover Clashes With Hitler,” “Hoover, Hitler Talk; Fascist Rap Denied,” and more. The International News Service wrote the most salacious article based upon a “well-informed source.” Hoover refused to comment on the substance of the meeting, but Hoover and Hitler did acknowledge that the press coverage was not accurate.

On April 7, 1938 the Embassy at Berlin sent dispatch no. 22. The dispatch explains that Paul Smith was not included in the meeting, among other exclusions. “I mention these incidents as possibly having some bearing on the stories sent out by the representative of the International News Service and, it is understood, by the New York Times bureau here, wherein it was represented that a clash occurred between Mr. Hoover and the Chancellor over the issue of democracy versus totalitarianism…Mr. Smith in talking over the matter with Mr. Huss, correspondent of the International News Services, apparently represented the interview between Mr. Hoover and the Chancellor as having been something in the nature of a warm debate as the the merits of liberal and authoritarian regimes and according to the correspondent approved a story to that effect which was wired to the United States without the correspondent having talked with me. The story aroused considerable resentment in the Government here although no mention of it was made in the German-controlled press…”⁶

This moment in history presents many valuable opportunities to discuss diplomacy, the First Amendment, fake news, different forms of government, the climate leading up to World War II, and more. Students should walk away understanding that research and analyzing primary sources can be complicated and that one account of an event is not sufficient. They should recognize that new evidence can change previous accounts or interpretations – even many years after the fact. The lack of diverse sources and perspectives is one of the reasons National History Day encourages students to pick topics that are 20 years old or older. It takes time for documents and other evidence to become publicly available. Conflicting primary sources should always be expected, and linking the truth together with a variety of evidence and perspective should be best practice.

There are so many compelling questions that can spark discussion with this topic, ranging from presidents speaking diplomatically with dictators, to understanding how much the press can influence public perception, to discussing how freedom of the press creates transparency and eliminates space for false information. While the United States ran inflated news stories, the German-controlled press ran no stories. The dichotomy in press access to events presents students with the realization that not every country has a free press and they may have to dig deeper and wider when searching for primary sources outside of the United States. They are also faced with recognizing that a news source can be weaponized by a government to control its citizens.

Hoover was the only US president to visit Nazi Germany and meet with Adolph Hitler; and for that reason, this meeting is historically significant. The primary sources indicate Hoover made many observations about life in Nazi Germany and he made it a point to share his opinion with people. He understood this meeting had far-reaching implications and created an opportunity for him to see Germany without the guise of propaganda about life in Germany. More advanced students should read Hoover’s post-visit account for his opinions on the differences between German and Italian fascism, the loss of academic freedom and dismantling of German universities, and concentration camps.

The Hoover Library and Museum will explore this topic in a free, interactive session on February 1st at 11am ET or 2pm ET. Teachers can register their students for this Presidential Primary Sources Project session about the Hoover-Hitler meeting through the 2022 teacher registration form.

For access to all of the Hoover-Hitler meeting documents, contact an archivist at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum at Hoover.Library@nara.gov.

¹ ABE LINCOLN WAS A WOMAN! – Weekly World News

² Fake News is Nothing New · George Washington’s Mount Vernon

³ Summary of Dispatch no. 22, from the Embassy at Berlin, March 14, 1938. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

⁴ Concentration Camps were in use and Hoover was aware of them, but they were not the extermination camps that were used during the Holocaust. For more information about concentration camps during this time, you can visit the United States Holocaust Museum website: Concentration Camps, 1933–1939 | Holocaust Encyclopedia (ushmm.org)

⁵ “Translation of the Memorandum of the German Official Translator concerning the Conversation between the Fuhrer and Chancellor and former President of the United States of America, Herbert Hoover, in the Reich Chancellery, on March 8, 1938.” Hugh Wilson Papers. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

⁶ Dispatch no. 22. Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

Teachers and caregivers, register your students today to be the first to experience these new programs on the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

All events will be delivered via Zoom and participant comments will be shared only with presenters to ensure a student-friendly environment. Registration will close 24 hours before each event.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

11:15-11:55 a.m. ET – The Bill of Rights Protects You (Grades 6-12)

In this interactive program, students will explore the Bill of Rights and how it outlines both limits on government and the rights of the people. We will work together to analyze three case studies that underscore the remedies that citizens have to address instances where their rights have been violated. This program will introduce students to the Bill of Rights and strengthen their civic understanding.

1:15-1:45 p.m. ET – Make Your Voice Count: Learning About the First Amendment (Grades K-2)

During this interactive civics program, students will explore the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights using primary historical sources to learn about the importance of rights and how to exercise their freedoms.

2:15-3:00 p.m. ET – The First Amendment: Five Rights in One! (Grades 3-5)

Students will explore the First Amendment freedoms from the Bill of Rights in this interactive and engaging civics program based on historical primary sources from the National Archives. Students will learn about the importance of First Amendment rights, identify examples in photographs and short written documents, and discover how to exercise those freedoms.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

11:15-11:45 a.m. ET – No Conscription Without Representation: Voting Rights and the Constitution (Grades 9-12)

Using the Constitution, Constitutional amendments, legislation and a Supreme Court case, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States with particular focus on the effort to lower the voting age to 18. Additional primary source documents from the National Archives including photographs, video recordings and political cartoons will enhance student understanding of the ways in which contemporary events and public civic engagement influence their lives today.

1:15-1:45 p.m. ET – Voting Rights, the Constitution, & Representative Government (Grades 6-8)

Using the Constitution, Constitutional amendments, and legislation, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States and its impact on representative government. Additional primary source documents from the National Archives including photographs and political cartoons will enhance student understanding of the ways in which contemporary events and public civic engagement influence their lives today.

Can’t make December dates? We are looking for classes of 10+ students to pilot the new programs and provide feedback in January. If interested, email civics@nara.gov to learn more.

These programs are offered as a part of We Rule: Civics for All of US, a new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. Our interactive distance learning programs draw upon the vast holdings of the National Archives to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need for civic engagement in the 21st century. Each program is led by one of our educators located at National Archives sites and Presidential Libraries across the country. Visit www.archives.gov/education/civic-education for more information.

Additional Resources for Teaching the Bill of Rights

On December 15, 1791, three-fourths of the states ratified the first ten amendments to the Constitution. As we look back at 230 years of the Bill of Rights, the National Archives offers a variety of resources to unpack the origins and legacy of this founding document.

The Bill of Rights on DocsTeach

The Amending America page on DocsTeach is a great place to find primary sources and teaching activities for exploring how we’ve changed our Constitution to protect rights, expand participation and refine government powers.

Check out teaching activities that delve into Bill of Rights topics throughout history including:

The First Amendment (Elementary School)

Students will analyze primary sources and match them with the rights extended to Americans by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The First Amendment (Middle School)

Students will analyze documents that span the course of American history and connect them to the different phrases found within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Analyzing the 5th Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination

Students will focus on a letter written by playwright Lillian Hellman to the House Committee on Un-American Activities in response to a subpoena for testimony. Students will analyze Ms. Hellman’s arguments both for and against invoking her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and come to a determination as to why such a right exists within the U.S. Constitution.

Analyzing a Petition about Slavery

Students will carefully analyze a petition from Absalom Jones of Philadelphia regarding apprehension of freemen under the fugitive slave law.

Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test eBook

Explore some of the core concepts, or protections, found in the Bill of Rights, and how they’ve been tested throughout American history in Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test: A Primary Source Workbook.

Each chapter leads you to consider the implications of one core concept and includes:

• Background Information
• A key question or questions to frame your thinking
• Questions to help you analyze the document
• A primary source document or documents
• Discussion questions to help you consider the impact or importance of the concept

Congress Creates the Bill of Rights

Go back to the beginning with the Center for Legislative Archives and discover how Congress created the Bill of Rights with an eBook, iPad app, and activities for students. Students examine the evolving language of each proposed amendment as it was shaped in the House and Senate.

Looking for even more resources on the history of the Bill of Rights? You can find videos, online exhibits, articles and more on our website.

Image sources:

• https://docsteach.org/documents/document/demonstration-immigrant-rights
• https://docsteach.org/documents/document/torch-relay-houston
• https://docsteach.org/documents/document/integration-youth-march
• https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/agreement-ending-war-restoring-peace-vietnam

The LBJ Presidential Library and the White House Historical Association invite K-12 educators to join “Out of Paw-ffice: White House Pets,” a free event on Thursday, December 2nd.

Through this program, educators will discover stories of past White House pets and learn different strategies for incorporating this history into their classrooms.

Register today!

This professional development webinar will be hosted virtually, via Zoom, on Thursday, December 2 at 7pm EST / 6pm CST, and will last approximately one hour.

The registration deadline is Monday, November 29th at 11:59pm EST / 10:59pm CST. Details, including the link to join, will be shared with registrants the week of the program.

After the program, attendees will receive access to all session materials and will have the opportunity to complete an evaluation. Upon completion of the evaluation, educators will receive a certificate acknowledging their time spent learning during this program.

Please direct any questions to education@whha.org.