Education and Outreach
PHMC and the Pennsylvania Heritage Society have great resources for teachers, from professional development opportunities to publications and historic documents online.
Professional Development for Teachers
The Pennsylvania Heritage Society acts as fiscal agent for the PHMC on a number of projects, including some exciting professional development opportunities for teachers.
The Heritage Society, PHMC and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit began a new teacher professional development project, Keystones of the Federal Union, on March 19, 2010 when 32 teachers from central Pennsylvania spent the day at The State Museum and State Archives in Harrisburg. Staff gave participants a behind-the-scenes tour and taught sessions on learning from documents and objects. The 2010 teachers explored Native American and European Contact with a five-day summer institute in June, including three days in Harrisburg, visits to Conrad Weiser and Daniel Boone Homesteads during an Oley Valley tour, and a tour and workshop at Pennsbury Manor. The project is funded by a Teaching American History grant to CSIU from the US Department of Education.
This program is open to K-6 teachers and librarians served by the Central Susquehanna and Capital Area Intermediate Units. For more information, contact Rhonda Newton at
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American History in Pennsylvania: Great Documents, Great Places, Great Events
American History in Pennsylvania provides an opportunity for American History teachers, grades 7-12, to explore iconic documents in American History that have indelible ties to Pennsylvania history. By working with a Language Arts teacher partner, both teachers can explore how teaching historic documents using the Shared Inquiry discussion method can increase students' critical thinking skills and historical knowledge. The program includes a two-day symposium in Harrisburg, a five-day summer institute, and a choice of two field trips.
2007 participants explore Gettysburg National Military Park
Partners in History: Bringing The State Museum to Pennsylvania's Classrooms
From 2002-2005, the Partners in History project brought forty-five teachers from central Pennsylvania to The State Museum to explore topics in Pennsylvania history, and the documents and objects they could use to teach it in the classroom.