Part of commemorating America250 is connecting to the past to inspire our future. Just as the people and communities that make up America are many and varied, so are our histories.
Through partnership and collaboration, America250 is exploring the compelling, complex, and rich histories that make us who we are. Here are a few of our programs that will launch in 2021.
“Histories Of…” article series
We will have a little something for everyone — including the kids. This series focuses on the lesser known stories of American history — or the less known aspects of well-known histories. At least once per month, there will be an age-appropriate history and activity for kids to engage with.
Podcast250
Working with noteworthy partners, our podcast series will present key American histories in a new and exciting way. Look for several installments of Podcast250, each of several episodes.
What we’re reading
More interactive than a reading list, less effort than a book club. Focused on historical fiction and memoir, join our conversations with authors and historians. We’ll ask the hows and whys of these types of writing, and also get into the nitty gritty of the historic periods. Have you read the book and have questions? There will be time to ask!
Teaching and learning highlights from our partners
Native Knowledge 360°
From the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian
Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures. NK360° provides educational materials, virtual student programs, and teacher training that incorporate Native narratives, more comprehensive histories, and accurate information to enlighten and inform teaching and learning about Native America. NK360° challenges common assumptions about Native peoples and offers a view that includes not only the past but also the vibrancy of Native peoples and cultures today.
Building a More Perfect Union Lesson Book
From the National Endowment for the Humanities and National History Day
Working with scholars and teachers across the country, the National Endowment for the Humanities and National History Day created two essays on the American Revolution and 15 lesson plans for middle school and high school social studies classrooms. Together, these explore events, legislative accomplishments, and civic actions throughout U.S. history — from foreign policy to civil rights to debates surrounding citizenship — that collectively moved us toward a more perfect union.
Teaching and Learning with Historic Places
From the National Park Service
Teaching with Historic Places offers teaching tools, lesson plans, and other resources to help educators engage young people with powerful stories representing America’s diverse history. Historic places in National Parks and elsewhere enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects.