Bringing Preservation Into the Classroom
School is officially back in session! In addition to a class full of new (hopefully smiling) faces, the first day of school brings with it an opportunity to explore fresh ideas and creative strategies for bringing your curriculum alive. From art to social studies, lessons that incorporate historic preservation go beyond typical textbook activities by teaching your students to recognize and appreciate the rich heritage that surrounds them. Please bookmark this growing website as your resource for bringing preservation into the classroom.
My Home Matters!
My Home Matters: Teaching Preservation in Elementary School
Who says you can’t start teaching preservation early? Use this lesson plan developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an enthusiastic second grade teacher from Carlisle, Massachusetts to broaden students' understanding of the importance of preserving our shared heritage. Read More »
Why Teach Preservation?
Older buildings embody our history and paint pictures of the way things used to be, while cultural resources and public lands tell the stories of those who came before us. These are all reasons why they are important to save – and teach. Preservation brings history – among other topics and subjects – alive in a way that teaches students of all grade levels a new way of looking at and appreciating the world around them. Read More »
Featured Lesson
My Preservation Journal
A journal that encourages children to engage with their visual surroundings, enhances visual literacy, and provides a basic vocabulary so that children can understand the importance of historic preservation and its place in our shared social and political environment.
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Teaching Through Historic Sites More Sites
Lyndhurst's Scarecrow Invasion
Lyndhurst, a National Trust Historic Site, invites students to create their own art installations at their annual “Scarecrow Invasion.” Each October, local students craft scarecrows representing famous artists and historical figures on the lawn at Lyndhurst. Read about the program and learn how your students can get involved in this hands-on experience. Don’t live near Lyndhurst? There are plenty of resources available to help you bring history into your classroom. Read More »
Stay tuned throughout the year as we continue to feature National Trust Historic Sites working to get your students out of the classroom and into historic preservation.
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In the Classroom
Preservation on a Shoestring
Interested in integrating preservation activities into your lesson plans, but feeling held back by budget constraints? While the current economic climate is affecting school funding in such a way that adding new programs feels nearly impossible, there are several low- or no-cost ways to bring hands-on preservation lessons into your classroom that will not only get your students active in history, but teach them valuable lessons about giving back to their community. Read More »
Out of the Classroom
Be a Backyard Detective
Calling all parents! Teaching preservation should not end when the school bell rings. There are lots of fun things that you can do at home to keep the conversation going. Use our Backyard Detective guide to get your kids out of the house to explore – with all of their senses – the many fascinating historic clues that are built into the homes, buildings, and streets that surround them. Read More »
