Workshops

We have developed engaging curricula. We have developed curricula focusing on the compelling question: "What is the Caribbean?" By the end of each lesson we will include inquiry-based lesson plans designed to demonstrate to teacher candidates how to formulate evidence-based responses, conduct research, and explore themes such as indigeneity, enslavement, and resistance. The lesson plans will be structured to support the development and use of historical thinking skills, such as corroboration, historical perspective taking, and contextualization. Additionally, they will include suggestions for empowering students to use these sources to effect change in their own communities.

Our aim is to highlight dLOC's international community and promote electronic access to cultural, historical, and research materials in a common web space with a multilingual interface. We plan to showcase materials from dLOC's collections, including travel diaries, maps, atlases, and pictures, providing original digital images alongside adapted versions (transcribed, translated, etc.) to demonstrate how to make sources accessible for upper elementary through middle grade students.

Our target grade range reflects a traditional lack of emphasis on engagement with archives. By demonstrating inquiry-based lessons using archival materials, we aim to address this gap and support social studies education at FIU and Bowling Green State University. We plan to present the curricula at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference and submit it for publication in Middle Level Learning as an example of culturally sustaining lessons. Additionally, we will disseminate the curricula through workshops in Miami-Dade Public Schools, San Juan, and Santiago de los Caballeros, and hope to feature it on dLOC's website as a free pedagogical resource for educators.