To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site presented "Crossing Borders - Through Literature, Poetry and Personal Stories", a conference for teachers of grades 3-8 and school librarians. Listen to excerpts from the authors' panel discussion with Alma Flor Ada, Naomi Shihab Nye, Linda Sue Park, and James Rumford.
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Letters and telegrams from key figures help tell the story of the civil rights movement during the Kennedy years. Documents included are from James Farmer, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young Jr.
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Lesson Plans & Activities
Students use a letter of advice from a young student to President Kennedy to learn about the "Space Race.”
Grade Level
2
3
4
5
Time Required
0-1 hour
1-2 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
English Language Arts
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
The Cold War
Space
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
The JFK Library is the host site for the National Student Mock Election (NSME) for Massachusetts. This voter education program is held every two years to actively engage students in grades K-12 in state and national campaigns, and emphasize the importance of voting and the power of their ballots.
Every year, the Kennedy Library recognizes up to 100 middle school students from across Massachusetts with the John F. Kennedy Make a Difference Award for the impact they have made in their communities through service projects.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Students investigate historical letters to public officials, including several to President Kennedy, and then write their own letters of concern.
Grade Level
3
4
5
6
Time Required
2-3 hours
Curricular Resource Subject Area
Civics and US Government
English Language Arts
US History
Curricular Resource Topic
Civic Education and Engagement
Civil Rights
Curricular Standards
Common Core
C3 Framework for Social Studies
National History Standards (UCLA)
National Council of Teachers of English
Massachusetts Framework - English Language Arts
Massachusetts Framework - History and Social Science
J. Drew Lanham - Keynote Speaker Dr. J. Drew Lanham is a professor of wildlife at Clemson University, where he holds an endowed chair as an Alumni Distinguished Professor and was named an Alumni
This October 28, 2024 conference for teachers of grades 3 - 8 and school librarians will explore how literature can help students to understand what it means to live in and participate in a democracy. Join keynote speaker Heather McGhee and award-winning authors Alice Faye Duncan, Kekla Magoon, and Traci Sorell to discuss how children’s literature, critical thinking, and tested classroom strategies can help educators develop and implement effective and relevant social studies teaching.
Heather McGhee - Keynote Speaker Heather McGhee is the author of the book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , which explores the societal costs of racism and
The Department of Education and Public Programs of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum provides professional development opportunities for elementary and secondary school educators.