Connecting ESSEX LINCs

Educators Participate in Summer Institutes on Topics of Governing and Working

This July, Essex County teachers from 13 different districts will take part in two summer institutes designed to help them use primary source materials and reproductions to ignite interest in American History. Educators with such varied assignments as kindergarten through 5th grade, art, special education, reading resource teachers and educators of English language learners will bring home classroom ready lessons and a whole lot more....

The first institute is a repeat of the popular "Governing" Summer Institute from last year. Teachers will visit 5 historic sites; Amesbury, Marblehead, Gloucester, Salem and the African American history trail in Boston. They will discuss such topics as local Declarations of Independence, how to use architecture to discuss political parties and the roles of disenfranchised people in government.This year a new site and lesson will be added to highlight Gloucester's role in local history and point in particular to a local personage of Judith Sargent Murray.

As always, teachers will have a number of local documents, scanned and transcribed at their fingertips for immediate use. Reproductions of kid-friendly materials, including a quill pen and 3 cornered hat, architectural wooden blocks, and reproduction colonial money will be provided as well.

A second institute, "Working" has been added this year. The focus on the occupations of Cape Ann residents from farming, to fishing, to commerce and entrepreneurial pursuits will be closely examined and discussed. Sites visited include the newly rennovated Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center (this day includes a schooner sail on the Thomas Lannon), the Spencer Peirce Little House in Newbury, the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, and the Peabody Institute Library and George Peabody House.

Lessons include a "mystery object" activity, an Essex County themed game, and creation of an ABC book to teach about "working." Teachers will also take home 19th century sheet music and facsimiles of money from local banks.

“The primary resources are terrific & I didn't even have to find them -- you've made my life easier!”

Connecting ESSEX LINCs: Connecting Elementary Teachers, Sources, and Scholarship to Explore Local History in a National Context.

Beverly Public Schools (BPS) in partnership with Salem State College (SSC), the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) and the National Archives and Records Administration—Northeast Region (NARA) presents Connecting ESSEX LINCs: Connecting Elementary Teachers, Sources, and Scholarship to Explore Local History in a National Context. This project increases elementary school teachers’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of events and topics in American history through an intensive professional development program.