Program duration: 7 hours
Program cost: $5,000
Participant limit: 30 teachers
9:00am-9:15am -- Orientation for the Day's Events and Sights
The workshop will start in the lobby of the Merchants' Exchange Building. This building if located at the corner of 3rd and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia.
9:15am-10:45am -- Teaching with Historic Sites and Primary Documents
This session provides teachers with many helpful and practical ideas for lesson plans, engaging classroom activities, and assessments that can be done using primary source materials related to Franklin's life and achievements, and daily life in the 18th century. Good teaching resources, such as books and web sites, will be shared. Teachers will be visiting the Independence Park Institute Learning Labs.
10:45am-11:15am -- Franklin Courtyard
Time will be provided to walk around the courtyard, where teachers can view the actual foundations and privy pit of Franklin's home.
11:15am-11:40am -- Franklin Court Printing Office
In this session, teachers will get to see a demonstration of how Franklin's printing press actually worked. Franklin printed newspapers, almanacs, and money, as well as contributing to many of these publications through his own writing.
11:40am-12:20pm -- President's House Exhibit
In this session, teachers will tour the President's House exhibit, where we will explore freedom and slavery in the making of our new nation. George Washington lived on this site, along with a large staff, including nine enslaved people. This interactive outdoor exhibit brings to life this often overlooked story.
12:20pm-1:15pm -- Lunch (on your own)
Teachers will have time to take a break and get something to eat before starting the second half of the day.
1:15pm-1:45pm -- Liberty Bell
During this time, teachers get to visit the Liberty Bell and learn how a cracked old bell became an internationally recognized symbol. They will get to view exhibits and see a short film about the evolution of the State House Bell from working bell to symbol.
1:45pm-3:45pm -- Independence Square
Teachers will proceed to Independence Square, where they will tour Independence Hall. This tour takes a look at the struggle to establish American Independence from Great Britain and create a new nation. Tours discuss the people and events surrounding the founding of our country. Teachers will also explore Congress Hall (where Congress met when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790-1800), and Old City Hall (home to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1791-1800). Finally, teachers will visit the Great Essentials Exhibit, which houses an original broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence, among other important documents.
3:45pm-4:00pm -- Wrap-up
Rangers and teachers share final thoughts about the day and ideas about incorporating the stories explored throughout the day into their teaching
