The DiMenna Children’s History Museum offers a variety of programs and resources for educators and teachers designed to introduce students to historic themes and figures, and teach them how to become history detectives. These resources are available to prepare for a visit to the DiMenna Children's History Museum and to encourage integrating history detective skills and techniques into the classroom.

Professional Development Workshops

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
4:30-6:30 pm

DiMenna Children’s History Museum

Discover the DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, the first-ever museum that brings American history to life through the eyes and lives of children. In this workshop educators will get to know the historical figures featured in the Children’s History Museum, which spans over 200 years of history. Through hands-on exploration, teachers will uncover important themes that can be traced through the centuries—including the history of childhood, the roles of individuals in history, and how historians work—and will learn object-based inquiry strategies that can be brought to the classroom. All teachers participating in this workshop will receive curriculum materials supporting the DiMenna Children’s History Museum. For more information about the DiMenna Children's History Museum, visit DiMennaChildrensHistoryMuseum.org.

Participation in New-York Historical's professional development is applicable towards maintaining professional certification from the New York City Department of Education.

$15, advance registration required.


Wednesday, April 25, 2012
4:30-6:30 pm

New York and the Civil War

Join your fellow teachers as we explore primary documents, images, and objects from Civil War-era New York to understand the role New Yorkers played in the conflict. New York was torn between its economic, social, and political ties to southern slavery and an increasingly vocal movement for abolition—how did this play out in the city during the war? All participants will receive relevant curriculum materials.

Participation in New-York Historical's professional development is applicable towards maintaining professional certification from the New York City Department of Education.

$15, advance registration required.


Tuesday May 22, 2012
4:30-6:30 pm

World War II

Teachers learn to use video, music and lyrics, documents, and images to teach about New York’s role in World War II and war’s impact on the nation’s cultural and political landscape. This teacher workshop features lessons and activities from the American Musicals Project (AMP) unit on World War II. AMP is a program that brings history to life by combining elements of musical theater with primary sources from the collection of the New-York Historical Society. All teachers will receive curriculum guides and accompanying video elements for the American Musicals Project unit World War II.

Participation in New-York Historical's professional development is applicable towards maintaining professional certification from the New York City Department of Education.

$15, advance registration required.