Institutes & Workshops
Teacher Institutes and Workshops designed to enhance the way you teach the Civil War to your students.
2023 Summer Teacher Institute
“The American Civil War: How did it come to this?”
The American Civil War Museum invites you to apply for this one-week summer institute running from July 6 – July 10, 2023. The institute is for K-12 educators and includes discussions with leading scholars, field trips, and workshop sessions focusing on the techniques and strategies that you can use in your classroom.
Drawing from the ideas set forth in our film, “Civil War & Emancipation,” teachers will explore the factors, actions and motivations that drove the people of the United States to go to war against each other. 25 educators will come together at the museum’s Historic Tredegar campus in Richmond, Virginia, for a week of scholar lecture/discussion sessions, museum exploration and artifact examination through which to gain a deeper understanding of what led to the American Civil War. Site visits include walking tours of local historic sites related to the key economic, political and social motivations including the Confederate President’s House, Virginia State Capitol, Shockoe Bottom / Devil’s Half Acre, and a day trip to Goochland County’s historic Jackson Blacksmith Shop and James Madison’s Montpelier to see “The Mere Distinction of Colour,” a civil war battlefield encampment and a post-war freedman’s family farm site.
Presenting scholars include:
Jonathan White Ph.D.,
Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University
Lauranett Lee Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond
Gregg Kimball Ph.D.,
Director of Public Services and Outreach at The Library of Virginia
Edward L. Ayers Ph.D.,
Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and President Emeritus for the University of Richmond
Richard Bell Ph.D.,
Professor of History at the University of Maryland,
College Park and Andrew Carnegie Fellow
What we offer:
$250 Participant Stipends
$675 travel/lodging reimbursements for applicants 75 miles away or more
Professional development hours up to 35, upon successful completion
Who is eligible to apply?
Full-time or part-time teachers and librarians in public, charter, independent, and religiously affiliated schools, as well as homeschooling parents. 20% of the spots will be reserved for early career teachers (those who’ve taught for 5 or fewer years). Museum educators and other K-12 school system personnel–such as curriculum developers, administrators, and substitute teachers–are also encouraged to apply.
What do I need to Apply?
Fill out the application here and email the following to [email protected]:
☐ A current resume (2-page maximum length)
☐ A professional reference letter from a supervisor or mentor that is specific to this institute
☐ A personal essay that addresses your interest in the institute, how the experience would enhance your teaching, and more.
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm on Friday, April 21, 2023.
Participants will be notified of their status no later than April 30, 2023. An orientation meeting will be held for select participants on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 4:30pm-5:30 pm.