Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's Education Department invites teachers back to school 

Complimentary fall workshops announced

[SEPT. 13, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Education Department of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is inviting teachers "back to school" with its fall lineup of complimentary workshops for educators. Under its "Teaching Teachers" initiative, the library and museum is committed to providing educators with strong content-based programs on a variety of topics relevant to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and Illinois history. Content-rich lectures are paired with hands-on classroom application programs to provide educators with ideas and methods for teaching historical content across the curriculum, using digital resources, primary documents and material culture. Workshops are designed for educators in most subjects and in all grade levels.

"The library and museum offer such wonderful and varied resources for teachers," said Erin Bishop, director of education for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. "Through our workshops, the Education Department connects teachers to these materials and helps them identify ways to utilize them creatively in their classrooms."

The Education Department is offering a teacher orientation workshop this week on Wednesday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The four-hour workshop will introduce educators to the resources available at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Learn how to schedule a tour, how to prepare your class for their visit and methods for making the most of your school trip to the museum. In addition, find out how to access digital resources from the library collections, how to use the library for research, and other opportunities for professional development and classroom activities available through the ALPLM Education Department. The session will include a tour of the museum.

On Oct. 4, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., teachers may attend "Madame President." Offered in conjunction with the special temporary exhibit in the Illinois Gallery, "Mrs. President: From Martha to Laura," this workshop will introduce teachers to the fascinating lives of some of our most memorable first ladies. Learn about their roles in the White House, their political interests, and the triumphs and tragedies that befell these remarkable women. Lesson plans and classroom activities will also be presented. The workshop will include a tour of the new exhibit.

"Artifacts: Tangible, Touchable, Teachable Tools" will be offered on Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Using artifacts in the classroom to explore stories from the past is an excellent way, not only to study history, but to improve oral language development, which in turn can enhance students' reading and writing skills. In this hands-on session, participants will analyze reproduction artifacts, including objects, primary documents, images, political cartoons and more to learn methods and criteria for selecting teachable primary sources for their classroom. Participants will learn how to analyze these materials and activities to use them across the curriculum.

All workshops are free, and professional development units will be offered for each workshop. Sessions will be in the first-floor classroom of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. To register, contact Carol Manning, education coordinator, at 217-558-8929 or via e-mail to [e-mail]. For additional information, visit www.alplm.org.

[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum news release]