Bring History to Life for Your Students
This analysis-based program virtually connects students and teachers with individual members of the enslaved community while discussing the institution and legacy of slavery at Mount Vernon.
During this program, our expert staff will use Mount Vernon’s private collection items and historic locations to discuss important events and themes in the lives of the enslaved people at Mount Vernon and the institution that fought to take away their humanity. The students will gain digital access to original primary source documents, objects, and places.
We are excited to offer this program through the partnership with the 2023 Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP)
Program Outline
During your tour, you'll receive:
- A welcome and brief introduction on program and technological logistics from a facilitator
- A staff-led exploration of the virtual tour of Mount Vernon’s historic grounds, interwoven with primary source analysis thinking routines of original documents, objects, and places.
- An interactive discussions with the interpreter
Program Audience
- All grades are welcome for all sessions, but sessions are designed with middle school ages in mind
- Teachers may sign up as a class and view together or provide the links to their students to log-in individually
- All teachers and students will need internet access
- Please only register for one session total
Program Highlights
- Live presentation with personalized discussion
- Access to chat for engaging conversations and questions
- Source analysis activities
- Reflections on how we still see history's impact in our lives today
Program Outcomes
Students will:
- Learn about Mount Vernon's enslaved community and the 18th century.
- Understand that people in the past were complex individuals who faced many challenges and rose to meet them with personalized tools that are still used today.
- Improve critical thinking skills by analyzing sources, asking questions, and drawing conclusions.
- Have a fun/engaging/memorable experience by visually connecting with Mount Vernon and their classmates.