We the People Events
Saturday, February 20: We the People and Project Citizen Saturday Seminar for Teachers
Location: Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, Orange, Virginia
The Center for the Constitution, James Madison University and the Center for Civic Education will host a We the People and Project Citizen Saturday Seminar for Virginia teachers in four locations this school year. Teachers will learn about We the People and Project Citizen while exploring the topic of "How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?"
About the Seminar
Lecture: Constitutional scholar Dr. John Christopher Arndt will focus his remarks on the question of "How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?" Dr. Arndt is the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and Professor of History at James Madison University.
Lesson Demonstrations: Mentor teachers will lead sessions from the We the People curriculum and Project Citizen curriculum.
Simulated Congressional Hearing: Teachers will be trained in how to implement the
Simulated Congressional Hearing, which serves as the main assessment tool used in We the People.
Project Citizen Portfolios: Teachers will be trained in how to guide students through a curriculum that teaches students how to monitor and influence public policy in their communities.
What We Provide
Meals:Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost.
Teaching Resources: Teachers will receive a classroom set of We the People textbooks and Project Citizen textbooks.
Mileage Reimbursement: Teachers will receive mileage reimbursement for their travel.
Recertification Credits: Teachers will receive documentation of the Seminars' contact hours to qualify for professional development from local school systems, according to school policies.
2010 Virginia We the People State Finals
High School: Friday, March 12 (rescheduled from February 5 due to snow)
Middle School: Saturday, March 13 (rescheduled from February 6 due to snow)
Host Hotel: Omni Richmond Hotel, Downtown Richmond
Competition Site: United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
If you are interested in serving as a judge or volunteer at the state finals, please contact Kelly Carmichael at kcarmichael@montpelier.org
Host Hotel: Omni Richmond Hotel, Downtown Richmond
Competition Site: United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
High school teachers who have attended a We the People seminar and are interested in implementing the We the People Simulated Congressional Hearing in their schools are invited to attend the 2010 Virginia We the People High School State Finals in Richmond, Virginia from March 11-12, 2010. On Thursday, March 11, teachers will participate in a two-hour training session on the logistics and strategies for competing in the We the People competition. After the training, teachers are invited to attend the judge and volunteer reception and dinner. On Friday, March 12, teachers will serve as a volunteer during the high school We the People State Finals.
Hotel room and board will be provided at no cost to the teachers. Travel reimbursement is also available. However, teachers must arrive in Richmond by 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, to participate in the full training, dinner and competition. Teachers will receive a full classroom set of We the People textbooks.
Host Hotel: Omni Richmond Hotel, Downtown Richmond
Competition Site: United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
Middle school teachers who have attended a We the People seminar and are interested in implementing the We the People Simulated Congressional Hearing in their schools are invited to attend the 2010 Virginia We the People Middle School State Finals in Richmond, Virginia from March 12-13, 2010. On Friday, March 12, teachers will participate in a two-hour training session on the logistics and strategies for competing in the We the People competition. On Saturday, March 13, teachers will serve as a volunteer during the middle school We the People State Finals.
Hotel room and board will be provided at no cost to the teachers. Travel reimbursement is also available. However, teachers must arrive in Richmond by 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12, to participate in the full training, dinner and competition. Teachers will receive a full classroom set of We the People textbooks.
The Center for the Constitution will host two summer We the People seminars for teachers from Maryland and Virginia. Twenty-five teachers from Virginia and Maryland will be selected to participate in the all-expense-paid seminar.
During the seminar, teachers will focus on units three and four in the We the People textbook, asking the questions: How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence? and, How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices? Teachers will explore how the Civil War transformed the American constitutional system through the key provisions of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. In addition, teachers will examine how the right to vote has been expanded since the adoption of the Constitution. Finally, discussion will focus on the three branches of government and how they embody constitutional principles. Lesson demonstrations will support the topic of discussion and teachers will also participate and be trained in a simulated congressional hearing, which is an authentic assessment tool used with We the People.
Dr. Lester Brooks, who is a constitutional scholar and historian, will lead the seminar. Dr. Brooks presents regularly to teachers across the nation and is a We the People National Finals Judge. He teaches history at a local Maryland college.
The Center for the Constitution will host the Washington, DC We the People Summer Seminar for twenty-five teachers from Washington, DC.
Teachers will focus on units three and four in the We the People textbook, asking the questions: How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence? and, How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices? Teachers will explore how the Civil War transformed the American constitutional system through the key provisions of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. In addition, teachers will examine how the right to vote has been expanded since the adoption of the Constitution. Finally, discussion will focus on the three branches of government and how they embody constitutional principles.
The Center for the Constitution will host the Alabama, Iowa, and Wisconsin We the People Summer Seminar. Twenty teachers will be chosen to travel to Orange, Virginia to explore key questions in the We the People textbook, such as: What are the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system? and How did the framers create the Constitution?
Dr. John Patrick will address units one and two in the We the People textbook and mentor teachres will lead lesson demonstrations from the selected units. Teachers will also participate and be trained in a simulated congressional hearing, which is an authentic assessment tool used with We the People.
All travel, including flight and ground transportation, to Montpelier as well as room and board will be covered for the selected participants.
The Center for the Constitution will host the Maine and South Carolina We the People Summer Seminar. Twenty teachers will be chosen to travel to Orange, Virginia to explore key questions in the We the People textbook, such as: What are the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system? and How did the framers create the Constitution?
Dr. John Patrick will address units one and two in the We the People textbook and mentor teachres will lead lesson demonstrations from the selected units. Teachers will also participate and be trained in a simulated congressional hearing, which is an authentic assessment tool used with We the People.
All travel, including flight and ground transportation, to Montpelier as well as room and board will be covered for the selected participants.
