A (hopefully) organized collection of Library of Congress resources reflecting rural life in America

A (hopefully) organized collection of Library of Congress resources reflecting rural life in America

Hi all, 

Katy Connolly here from The Right Question Institute -- I don't know every single person in this group but have chatted with many of you virtually while facilitating the "Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Primary Source Questions" course and have also spied on some of the great conversations in this group over the years. The Right Question Institute has loved every minute of collaborating with the Rural Experience in America program and we would like to invite those of you who will be in Boston for the 2024 conference to join us for a happy hour reception on Sat, Nov 23 from 5-7p if you're so inclined. It will be located at the Harvard Club of Boston, which is a 5 minute walk from the Hynes Convention center. If you can make it, we will have a short program starting at 5:45p and live musical entertainment throughout. Let us know if you're thinking of coming here - we'd love to see you!

Hi all, 

Katy Connolly here from The Right Question Institute -- I don't know every single person in this group but have chatted with many of you virtually while facilitating the "Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Primary Source Questions" course and have also spied on some of the great conversations in this group over the years. The Right Question Institute has loved every minute of collaborating with the Rural Experience in America program and we would like to invite those of you who will be in Boston for the 2024 conference to join us for a happy hour reception on Sat, Nov 23 from 5-7p if you're so inclined. It will be located at the Harvard Club of Boston, which is a 5 minute walk from the Hynes Convention center. If you can make it, we will have a short program starting at 5:45p and live musical entertainment throughout. Let us know if you're thinking of coming here - we'd love to see you!

The Maine Department of Education & National Council for History Education are excited to announce a series of professional learning opportunities made possible by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program specifically designed for rural Maine PK-12 teachers to acquire strategies for designing and implementing a community civics and inquiry-based project.

Details are included below: 

Part A: Teaching with Primary Sources Online Course (December 2, 2024 - March 31, 2025) - Free, asynchronous, online Teaching with Primary Sources Course to acquire new strategies for analyzing primary sources, incorporating inquiry into your instruction, and accessing primary sources from the Library of Congress and more.

Part B: Saturday Colloquia (March 8, 2025, April 12, 2025, May 17, 2025 from 9am - 2:30pm) - Free, synchronous, online professional learning workshops led by expert historians, education specialists, and spotlight educators related to this year's theme:  Geography of the Place We Now Call Maine.

Part C: Onsite Colloquium (Summer of 2025) - Free, onsite (TBD) professional learning opportunity in the summer of 2025.  Sessions will focus on developing a community civics & place-based inquiry project with students.  15 teachers will be selected and receive up to $750 for project funding.

A flyer is attached with additional information.  If you or someone you know is interested, sign up today to reserve your spot in 1 or all 3 parts.   Stipends available for participation.

Samantha Smith: America’s Youngest Ambassador - TPS Album Resources

This album was created to give educators in Maine, the U.S., and across the world information about a young Mainer who made a global impact, Samantha Smith. 

Who is Samantha Smith?

Samantha was the girl from Manchester, Maine, who, in 1982, as a ten-year-old, wrote to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov, questioning his commitment to world peace. Shortly after receiving the letter, Andropov invited Samantha and her parents to tour the Soviet Union, which they did in a highly publicized two-week visit. The Maine State Museum’s collection includes objects and photographs from that visit.

 In 1982, at age 10, Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, sent a letter to Yuri Andropov, leader of the Soviet Union, asking him why he wanted “to conquer the world or at least our country.” Andropov answered Samantha’s letter, telling her he didn’t want to go to war and that the Soviets only wanted peace. Shortly after receiving the letter, Andropov invited Samantha and her parents to tour the Soviet Union, which they did in a highly publicized two-week visit. The Maine State Museum’s collection includes objects and photographs from that visit. Tragically, in 1985, at the age of 13, Samantha was killed along with her father in a plane crash as the plane attempted to land at Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn Regional Airport.

Selections from the Samantha Smith Collection at MSM https://mainestatemuseum.org/learn/samantha-smith-americas-youngest-ambassador/

Grade appropriate approaches:

For younger grades (lower elementary): 

• Show the image of Samantha holding the letter and engage in inquiry with the class about what they see.  Some compelling questions could include: 
• What do you see?
• Who is in the picture?
• When do you think the picture was taken?
• What is she holding? 
• Why do you think this picture is important? 
• Teaching suggestion for younger learners is to focus on the idea that a young person wrote a letter that made a difference and that Samantha wanted peace.  Encourage young learners to use their voice to make a difference that positively affects their community.  

For older grades (upper elementary): 

Primary Source Analysis Tool from the Library of Congress 

• Start with the same image of Samantha holding the letter using the same compelling questions. 
• Add in the Primary Source Analysis Tool and go deeper (depending on the age of your students)  into the history behind the photo (the Cold War), politicians (Presidents of the US and USSR), and ambassadors. 
• To help contextualize her time in the USSR and relate it to Maine, educators can share the images of Samantha at the Artek camp.  (Many Maine children have experience going to a camp during the warm summer months.)

For Middle and High School: 

Build on what’s above and add in the political cartoon from the Maine State Museum website.  

Background on the Cold War

• https://historyforkids.org/the-cold-war/
• https://titanmissilemuseum.org/about/cold-war-timeline/
• Russia - USA Nuclear Arms Control
  • https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-russia-nuclear-arms-control

Remembering Samantha-Additional Resources

• Carol Highsmith’s photo of the Samantha Smith statue in front of the MSM
• Resolution submitted to the House by John Baldacci that a postage stamp should be issued in her honor 
• Accompanying Senate bill by Olympia Snow to get postage stamps made of young people who made a difference, including Samantha Smith
• https://www.mainememory.net/record/25182 Soviet Union issued a stamp in memory and honor of Samantha Smith in 1985
• Anne & Samantha Day-Anne Frank and Samantha Smith Day happens twice every year: https://medium.com/@checkiday/its-anne-and-samantha-day-june-20-2024-1b1c2aa0481d
• www.SamanthaSmith.info website dedicated to the life and memory of Samantha Smith (the What’s New tab has recent articles and stories about Samantha and her legacy)

  TPSCelebratingRuralMaine  #ColdWar

Samantha Smith: America’s Youngest Ambassador - TPS Album Resources

This album was created to give educators in Maine, the U.S., and across the world information about a young Mainer who made a global impact, Samantha Smith. 

Who is Samantha Smith?

Samantha was the girl from Manchester, Maine, who, in 1982, as a ten-year-old, wrote to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov, questioning his commitment to world peace. Shortly after receiving the letter, Andropov invited Samantha and her parents to tour the Soviet Union, which they did in a highly publicized two-week visit. The Maine State Museum’s collection includes objects and photographs from that visit.

 In 1982, at age 10, Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, sent a letter to Yuri Andropov, leader of the Soviet Union, asking him why he wanted “to conquer the world or at least our country.” Andropov answered Samantha’s letter, telling her he didn’t want to go to war and that the Soviets only wanted peace. Shortly after receiving the letter, Andropov invited Samantha and her parents to tour the Soviet Union, which they did in a highly publicized two-week visit. The Maine State Museum’s collection includes objects and photographs from that visit. Tragically, in 1985, at the age of 13, Samantha was killed along with her father in a plane crash as the plane attempted to land at Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn Regional Airport.

Selections from the Samantha Smith Collection at MSM https://mainestatemuseum.org/learn/samantha-smith-americas-youngest-ambassador/

Grade appropriate approaches:

For younger grades (lower elementary): 

• Show the image of Samantha holding the letter and engage in inquiry with the class about what they see.  Some compelling questions could include: 
• What do you see?
• Who is in the picture?
• When do you think the picture was taken?
• What is she holding? 
• Why do you think this picture is important? 
• Teaching suggestion for younger learners is to focus on the idea that a young person wrote a letter that made a difference and that Samantha wanted peace.  Encourage young learners to use their voice to make a difference that positively affects their community.  

For older grades (upper elementary): 

Primary Source Analysis Tool from the Library of Congress 

• Start with the same image of Samantha holding the letter using the same compelling questions. 
• Add in the Primary Source Analysis Tool and go deeper (depending on the age of your students)  into the history behind the photo (the Cold War), politicians (Presidents of the US and USSR), and ambassadors. 
• To help contextualize her time in the USSR and relate it to Maine, educators can share the images of Samantha at the Artek camp.  (Many Maine children have experience going to a camp during the warm summer months.)

For Middle and High School: 

Build on what’s above and add in the political cartoon from the Maine State Museum website.  

Background on the Cold War

• https://historyforkids.org/the-cold-war/
• https://titanmissilemuseum.org/about/cold-war-timeline/
• Russia - USA Nuclear Arms Control
  • https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-russia-nuclear-arms-control

Remembering Samantha-Additional Resources

• Carol Highsmith’s photo of the Samantha Smith statue in front of the MSM
• Resolution submitted to the House by John Baldacci that a postage stamp should be issued in her honor 
• Accompanying Senate bill by Olympia Snow to get postage stamps made of young people who made a difference, including Samantha Smith
• https://www.mainememory.net/record/25182 Soviet Union issued a stamp in memory and honor of Samantha Smith in 1985
• Anne & Samantha Day-Anne Frank and Samantha Smith Day happens twice every year: https://medium.com/@checkiday/its-anne-and-samantha-day-june-20-2024-1b1c2aa0481d
• www.SamanthaSmith.info website dedicated to the life and memory of Samantha Smith (the What’s New tab has recent articles and stories about Samantha and her legacy)

  TPSCelebratingRuralMaine  #ColdWar