TEACHER WORKSHOPS

For information on our current workshops
and teacher institute offerings, see our
Calendar of Events.

Summer Teacher Workshop

Hands-On Inquiry Science with Crickets and
Network Data Collection

In partnership with the UMass Lowell Computer Science Department, we are pleased to host this teacher workshop, August 5-8, 2008.

This is hands-on workshop for teachers who are interested in using sensors, data probes, and computers for science experimentation. Working with other participants and workshop leaders, you will develop inquiry skills as you pose your own questions, formulate experimental designs, collect data, and then make sense of this data.

More information

National Endowment for the Humanities

Landmarks of American History and Culture

Summer 2008 Week long Teacher workshops

Our Summer 2008 workshops will use the rich resources of Lowell National Historical Park, Old Sturbridge Village, and Concord, MA, museums to offer one-week residential learning experiences during the weeks of:

June 22 - 27, July 13-18 or July 27-August 1, 2008

More information

For information on customizing a workshop for
teachers, see below.

Teacher Evaluation: Causes and Consequences of the American Industrial Revolution Teacher Institute: The Institute was fantastic! I have gained a much deeper understanding of the causes, consequences and ramifications of the American Industrial Revolution!When I teach I will allude to the greater social impacts of some of the scientific areas I cover and I want to coordinate topics with my colleagues to help students realize that discoveries and events don't happen in a vacuum ? I want them to see connections!

The Tsongas Center works with teachers to create educational partnerships. Teachers have been involved in the development of the Tsongas Center even before the first class visited in October, 1991. A teacher advisory board was formed as early as 1985 to advise the National Park, University staff, and consultants in the initial vision of what became the Tsongas Industrial History Center and the board continues to this day.

Teachers and schools can use the Center as a resource for historical content, interdisciplinary teaching approaches for history, science, language arts, or mathematics, re-certification points, or for curriculum planning. All workshops are participatory and provide teachers with useful teaching materials and activities.

We offer workshops for open registration, but we can tailor a single workshop or a series of workshops for teachers in your district.

For additional information: Call Sheila Kirschbaum, School Liaison, at (978)970-5080 or email Sheila_Kirschbaum@uml.edu

Teaching American History Projects: Are you involved with a Teaching American History Project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education? The Tsongas Industrial History Center has extensive experience with TAH projects, both as a school district partner and as a program provider for other organizations' TAH projects. More information

Familiarization tours of the Tsongas Center: These are physical walk-abouts at the Tsongas Center or virtual tours using slides at your schools. We talk about your objectives and our resources and plan a course of action. There is no cost for this service.

Orientation workshops in Lowell or at your school: Tsongas Center staff will suggest interdisciplinary teaching materials and strategies focusing on the Industrial Revolution in New England. Sample units illustrate successful models used in other schools. We can do a single workshop or multiple workshops. Costs vary with time spent, travel, and materials.

Theme-based Workshops for every discipline: These work best as day-long programs at the Tsongas Center. We present content usingmaterials and strategies teachers can use in the classroom, mixing hands-on and primary-source-based activities with investigations of National Park exhibits. A multiple day workshop can easily be created by adding different thematic programs. Topics include: Reading, Writing and History Farm to Factory Capital, Management and Labor Water Power and Technology Power and Pollution Inventions Immigration Cotton, Cloth and Conflict Women's History

Intensive Teacher Institutes and Workshops: With grant funding, the Center offers week long summer teacher Institutes, usually with follow-up workshops during the school year. Teachers work with Tsongas Center staff to adapt teaching materials and lessons to create curriculum units they will implement with their students. The institutes can be taken for three graduate credits or for professional development points for re-certification. Current offerings click here.

Curriculum Planning: Districts have brought curriculum teams to the Tsongas Center to create interdisciplinary units. This happens in a variety of ways. One or more teachers attend a summer Institute at the Tsongas Center, draft a curriculum unit, and then collaborate with Tsongas staff to implement in-service workshops for members of their grade-level teams. One or more people visit the Tsongas Center for a familiarization workshop followed by a planning meeting with a group of teachers and curriculum leaders. Center staff would then put together a day-long workshop and/or after-school workshops to suggest curriculum approaches. Teachers might then participate in a summer institute or attend thematic workshops at the Center. Teachers or Curriculum leaders at the district level collaborate with the Tsongas Center in submitting a grant to develop a curriculum unit or implement a professional development program.

Create Your Own Independent Study: Teachers have spent from one afternoon to several days observing students in hands-on activities, reading in the Center's teacher resource room or the libraries at Lowell National Historical Park or UMASS Lowell's Center for Lowell History, culling through files of curriculum materials, and meeting with staff.

School Leadership Retreats: Need to get your team away from school for a stimulating experience, meeting space, a good meal, perhaps with an ethnic flavor? We have provided groups with a hands-on activity, a short role-playing program, tour of the weave room or boarding house, a musical presentation just long enough to convey a key idea about the industrial revolution. An interpreted trolley ride or boat tour (April through October) can be arranged. Meeting space is available with coffee provided. Restaurants and hotel are two blocks away.