The Bethune Historic Site: Enhancing K–12 Student Learning of the Neo-Slavery Era

• In Event: 35.082 - Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: 35.082-7 - Engaging Students With History Concepts and Content

Abstract

This paper focuses on African Americans during the Neo-Slavery period between 1865 and 1954 (Blackmon, 2008), and the extent to which field study of historic sites inform student learning. We examine the efforts of National Park Service interpreters and teachers in local K-12 schools to deepen student learning about the institutions created by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and the implications for 21st century elementary students in the broader human rights struggles. The research questions for this phase of the multi-year study were: 1) How does collaboration between interpreters and teacher impact their respective professional skills and knowledge? 2) What was the educational impact on 5th graders of the collaboration between teacher and interpreters to create history education activities?

Authors

• Jenice Leilani View, George Mason University

• Paula Cristina Azevedo, George Mason University