Professional development workshops at the Connecticut Historical Society and Old State House provide teachers with practical information, materials, and classroom strategies for integrating hands-on history teaching in their schools. In addition to CHS staff and specialists, workshops take advantage of our award-winning exhibitions and extensive museum and library collections.

The Connecticut Historical Society is an accredited provider of Connecticut Continuing Education Units.

Contact us at (860) 236-5621 ext. 232 or at education_assistant@chs.org for more information or to register for any of the workshops below.

Conflict & Compromise in History: History Day in Connecticut 2008

After an introduction to the theme of “Conflict & Compromise in History,” teachers will have a chance to work with related materials from the CHS library collection and to explore strategies for integrating the History Day in Connecticut program into their classrooms. An overview of History Day in Connecticut, including contest categories and rules, will also be provided for teachers new to the program. Refreshments will be served.

• Date: October 17, 2007
• Time: 4-7pm (.3 CEUs)
• Location: Connecticut Historical Society
• Price: $15 per person

Slavery in Connecticut

This workshop brings out the story of slavery in Connecticut from the 1600s through abolition. After a short introductory talk, teachers will take part in a cross-exhibit focus tour and visit the CHS library to examine original letters, broadsides, newspapers, and other documents related to slavery in Connecticut. Every participating teacher will receive a packet of reproduced primary source materials for use in the classroom and will have the chance to try out various strategies for teaching this material to different age groups. Refreshments will be served.

• Date: November 7, 2007
• Time: 4-7pm (.3 CEUs)
• Location: Connecticut Historical Society
• Price: $15 per person

Old State House: Hartford Begins Here

Spend an evening exploring this fascinating historic building and the hands-on exhibit History is All Around Us. Teachers will visit the restored historic rooms to investigate symbols of democracy in the early Republic and early Connecticut government. In History is All Around Us, the group will explore how a city changes over time and also practice techniques for teaching visual literacy and artifact analysis skills. Refreshments will be served.

• Date: March 19, 2008
• Time: 4-7pm (.3 CEUs)
• Location: Old State House
• Price: $15 per person

For groups of 10 or more, let us customize a professional development workshop to meet your needs. Programs may take place at your school, at the Connecticut Historical Society, or at the Old State House. Popular topics include: finding and analyzing historic resources online, slavery in CT, teaching local history, visual literacy and artifact analysis for the classroom, government and the history of the Old State House, teaching change over time, integrating history across the curriculum. Program lengths are flexible and CEUs are available. Call (860) 236-5621, ext. 252 for more information.