SPRINGFIELD, IL: The Education Department of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum announced today its spring lineup of complimentary workshops for educators. Under their “Teaching Teachers” initiative, the ALPLM is committed to providing educators with strong contentbased programs on a variety of topics relevant to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and Illinois History. These intense “history lessons” will assist educators in developing a solid background on unfamiliar topics or in mastering a discipline they already know and love. In addition, the Education Department’s hands-on classroom application programs will provide ideas and methods for teaching historical content across the curriculum using digital resources, primary documents and material culture.

The series will kick off on Saturday, February 25, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. with a two-hour hands-on workshop entitled “Teaching with Primary Sources.” Bringing primary sources into the classroom exposes students to multiple perspectives on historic issues and helps them develop analytical abilities. When students work with primary sources they ask questions, think critically, make inferences and develop reasoned explanations and interpretations of past events. In this workshop, teachers will explore ways to bring primary sources into the classroom. Beginning with the special-effects presentation Ghosts of the Library, this session will delve into the importance of preserving primary sources and the stories they can tell us about our past. Participants will examine documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library collections, including Civil War letters and political cartoons. They will learn how to identify primary sources, determine their credibility as a source, and analyze their content. They will also become familiar with print and digital resources available through the ALPLM.

In March, educators are invited to attend a Teacher Orientation Workshop. This two-hour workshop will introduce educational resources available at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Teachers will learn how to schedule school tours, how to prepare their class for a museum visit and methods for making the most of a school trip to the Museum. In addition, educators will learn how to access digital resources from the library collections, how to utilize the library for research and other opportunities for professional development and classroom activities available through the ALPLM Education Department. This workshop will be offered on Saturday, March 25, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and Wednesday, March 29, from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 12 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. one workshop will be offered on the Lincoln family in the White House. Entitled “’This Damned Old House,’ Abraham Lincoln in the White House,” the workshop will cover the adjustments the Lincoln’s experienced in moving from Illinois to the White House and the impact of Washington’s social scene on the family. The daily routine of President Lincoln will be examined from the burdens of the Civil War, to dealing with office seekers, his lack of privacy and the responsibilities of the presidency. Participants will also explore Mary Lincoln’s renovations and how her endeavors were viewed by her contemporaries. Practical ideas and activities will be offered for incorporating the Lincoln’s experience into the classroom curriculum.

All workshops are free and will be held in the first floor classroom of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Two continuing professional development units (CPDUs) will be offered for each workshop. To register, contact Carol Manning, Education Coordinator, at 217-558-8929 or via email at mailto:Carol_Manning@IHPA.state.il.us For additional information visit the museum website at www/alplm​.