The last five hundred years of world history have brought increased global interconnectedness through a range of technological, economic, political, and cultural processes. European civilizations are often positioned as the primary engines of these developments, resulting in a skewed and imbalanced historical narrative. However, powerful multiethnic and multilingual Muslim empires spanning three continents – Africa, Asia, and Europe- were also engines of significant change. In partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this program explores the histories, legacies, and artistic contributions of global Muslim communities in the age of empire, steam and print. A scholar overview (including Ottoman and Safavid content) will ground our discussion. Then, using a range of objects in the Museum’s collection, we will explore the proliferation of art and material culture emanating from these global communities and others. Throughout this program, which includes tours of the MFA’s galleries, Dr. Nadirah Mansour, the Museum’s Assistant Curator of Islamic Art will lead us in conversation around innovative and nuanced approaches to the comparative study of Muslim societies.

Standards:
[WHI.T2] Development and diffusion of religions and systems of belief c.500 BCE-1200 CE
[WHI.T4] Philosophy, the arts, science and technology c.1200-1700
[WHI.T5] Global exploration, conquest, colonization c.1492-1800

Indigenous literature and art offer a window into the diverse cultures, complex histories and contemporary issues of Native communities. Join us as we work with scholars, including Marina Tyquiengco, assista­­nt curator of Indigenous Arts at the MFA and Shari Evans Professor of English at UMASS Dartmouth to explore resources and best practices for using Indigenous art and authors in the secondary classroom. We’ll analyze and interpret selected works, consider their social and historical contexts and discuss strategies for using Indigenous sources to help students consider diverse perspectives, build cultural awareness and examine issues of social and environmental justice.  

This program will be of particular interests to ELA and Visual Arts educators.

Standards:
[RL.10] Read and comprehend literary texts representing a variety of genres, cultures, and perspectives 
[US1.T6] Analyze the consequences of the continuing westward expansion… after the Civil War
[USII.T4.8] Analyze the movement to protect the rights, self-determination, & sovereignty of Native Peoples, the efforts … to preserve Native cultures, gain federal/ state recognition & raise awareness of Native American history 
[VA.11] Relate artistic ideas & works to societal, cultural & historical contexts to deepen understanding

Learning from data, in whatever form it appears, is one of the fundamental literacy skills of our time. In this hybrid program, we will learn from experts in making sense of data — and in understanding how presentations of data can sometimes mislead. Join us in this hybrid in-person/online course for work with several educational organizations whose data or map tools can enhance humanities and social science education. These include educators from the Leventhal Map & Education Center, EconoFact, What’s Going on This Graph? (from the New York Times), and Calling Bull (Data Reasoning in a Digital World). We will practice interpreting data in its various forms, consider how to integrate these tools into classrooms, and discuss how data can change narratives. 

This program will be particularly relevant for teachers of civics, history/social studies, and economics.

Standards: 
[8.T7.5] Explain methods for evaluating information and opinion in print and online media (e.g., determining the credibility of news articles; analyzing the messages of editorials and op-ed commentaries; assessing the validity of claims and sufficiency of evidence)
[Practice Standard 1] Demonstrate civic knowledge,
skills, and dispositions
[Practice Standard 5]  Evaluate the credibility, accuracy,
and relevance of each source

For over four hundred years, African American people have left an indelible mark on the history of North America. However, the depth and breadth of this lasting contribution is not fully recognized and taught. Primary Source’s Making Freedom Digital Curriculum illuminates the variety of African American experiences within this history, focusing on the collective efforts to hold America accountable to the ideas of freedom and equality. Join us for this hybrid workshop which explores resistance, agency, and joy within African American history while highlighting lessons, primary sources, and teaching strategies found within the Making Freedom Digital Curriculum.

Standards:
[6.T3g] Interactions among ancient societies in North Africa
[8.T5] The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court decisions
[USI.T5] The Civil War and Reconstruction: causes and consequences
[USII.T2.1-4]  Use primary and secondary sources to research, analyze, and evaluate figures, movements, and media related major political, economic, and cultural changes in the first two decades of the 20th century
[USII.T4.4-9] Use primary and secondary sources to research, analyze, and evaluate figures, movements, and media related to civil rights in the 20th century

Teaching elementary students about the difficult chapters of United States history requires particular attention to the developmental appropriateness of materials and the specific pedagogy used to teach topics such as slavery and the treatment of Indigenous peoples. 

This workshop provides K-5 educators with opportunities to work with scholars, including Dr. Bethany Jay of Learning for Justice’s Teaching Hard History Podcast and engage in peer conversations about how and when to introduce these subjects to students in culturally affirming, historically accurate ways.  We will unpack the state framework, explore teaching strategies and work with a variety of resources curated to help students engage with these topics in ways that explore identity, oppression, and empowerment in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.

Standards:
[1.T3] History: unity and diversity in the United States
[2.T3] History: migrations and cultures
[3.T5] Puritans, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Native Peoples, and Africans
[4.T4]Expansion of the United States over time and its regions today
[5.T4] Growth of the Republic
[5.T5] Slavery, the legacy of the Civil War, and the struggle for civil rights for all