1 Local History Sites & Education: Standards & Lesson Plans Ivan Jurin, Social Studies Consultant Delaware Co. I. U. # 25 May 21, 2011

2 Source of image: (Sturbridge Village Education webpage) Hooking students on learning history with engaging questions and activities.

3 Big Questions: What do public historians and docents need to know about recent changes in K-12 education? >> What teachers must focus on: standards, standardized testing and accountability. How can historical and cultural sites communicate their integral part of educating America’s students, even in a time of standardized testing and limited budgets? What are standards? What are the most important standards that public historians need to make connections with? What is a basic lesson/presentation plan format modified for use by public history and cultural sites? Your big questions:

4 School Teacher’s Lesson Plan Format (primary focus of public history sites’ use in blue) Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________ Lesson Title: ____________________________________________ Grade/Level: ______ Standard(s): –PA Standards for History –Common Core Standards (possible National standards) Instructional Objectives: what you want students to learn Materials: artifacts, activity sheet, props, etc. Subject Matter: (content topic; big questions, concepts & big ideas) Procedure: a) Set: Brief introduction & hook students in topic b) Development: (strategy, activities, series of big questions, etc.) Teaching students new learning and/or experiences. Continued

5 Lesson Plan format - continued c) Closure: Review and/or summary of new learning or experience Assessment checking for student understanding of learning objective(s): Assignment(s): Self-evaluation: Reflect- how effective was the lesson or presentation? Students’ response, meet objective(s), etc.

6 Docent / Historical Interpreter’s Lesson Guide Lesson’s Title: _________________________________________ Objective(s) of lesson/presentation: Related PA Standards : _____________________________ Parts of Lesson/Demonstration: 1. Introduction & “hook” students: 2. *Teaching Students New Learning and/or Experience (new knowledge, skills, feelings/belief, etc.): 3. Students use new learning: 4. Brief summary or review of new learning or experience: *See handout of Lesson Guide

7 Pennsylvania Standards Includes 4 social studies subjects: Civics and Government Economics Geography 8.0 History: Historical Analysis & Skills Development Pennsylvania History United States History World History Language Arts, Math & Science Standards can be “naturally” integrated in your lessons/demonstrations. See those standards at:

8 PA History Standards - strong connection with student learning at historical & cultural sites * I have selected specific standards that have strong connection to museum or cultural sites educational goals. You can review the History standard at: Cite in your curricular document and in education brochures: 8.1.__ (denote grade: 3, 6, 9 or 12): Historical Analysis and Skills Development, such as thinking & research skills, use primary sources. Example: 8.1.3: Conduct teacher [docent] guided inquiry on assigned topics using specified historical sources. *(Refers to RWSL Standard Research) 8.2.__ : Pennsylvania History - the social, political, cultural, and economic characteristics, events and contributions of individuals and groups. 8.3.__ : United States History - the social, political, cultural, and economic characteristics, events and contributions of individuals and groups.

9 Include connections with basic concepts, skills of Language Arts, Math and Science. Examples: a) students use observation skills b) students collect data c) *students use thinking skills to make hypotheses, draw conclusions, make connections >> like a historian, scientist, writer, mathematician, etc.

10 Common Core Standards - likely to become national standards PA has approved their implementation, along with 41 other states. Most remaining states expected to approve. At present CCS emphasizes: a) Language Arts: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, Language (vocabulary development), Media & Technology. b) Mathematics: practice applying mathematical ways of thinking to real world issues and challenges c) English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science & Technical Subjects (using L.A. skills in History & Social Studies) at: **Recommendation: Review to find basic connections to your lessons and demonstrations, then cite in your brochures.

11 Summary - Big Ideas of K-12 Connections Have your docents’ lessons and presentations aligned to the state & the Common Core national standards. *Mention this in your publications, print and online, to schools. Ask school districts and teachers how you can “tweak” your lessons and presentations to be more relevant to students and teachers’ academic needs. Use the best practices lesson format: hook; new learning or experience; review or summary. Engage students with good questions and active learning. Students learning to be “history detectives.” Your thoughts, suggestions, questions:

12 Sources and Resources DCIU #25, Morton, PA: a) Ivan Jurin, Social Studies Consultant at: b) Social Studies Advisory Council at: Pennsylvania History Standards at: PA Standards Aligned System at: National Common Core Standards at: Pennsylvania social studies wikispaces at:

13 National Organizations: National Council for History Education: National Council for Public History: National Council for the Social Studies: Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations: