2024 Student Research Awards Announced

The New York State Archives announces its thirty-fourth annual Student Research Awards competition to promote and recognize excellence in student research. The main purpose of the awards program is to encourage students to explore the wealth of historical records held in historical records repositories in New York State. The program also serves to increase cooperation between schools and organizations that administer historical records useful for education.

Visit the Student Research Awards webpage to learn more about the competition and read about the 2023 winners!

New York Archives Jr! Classroom Sets Available Upon Request

New York Archives Jr! is a companion publication to New York Archives magazine for grades 4-8. Each issue features one article from New York Archives magazine rewritten at an upper elementary level. It features community connections, related facts, and learning activities focused on primary source analysis. 

Teachers can access the Fall 2023 New York Archives Jr! and request free classroom sets of the magazine. Classroom sets are available in packs of 25.

Email archedu@nysed.govto request New York Archives Jr! for your classroom.

During summer 2023, one hundred New York State students in grades 5-12 received Empire State Summer Arts Scholarships, courtesy of the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA). These students participated in self-selected art programs throughout the state and used the scholarships to offset tuition costs. Information regarding the 2024 scholarship and in-residency programs will be released early in the new year.

Enjoy a student jazz performance offered at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, where several scholarship recipients attended.

Registration Open for New York State Museum's Teacher Workshops

Evolution and Ecology Teacher Workshop

This year’s Evolution Ecology Teacher Workshop will be a one-day hybrid program held at the New York State Museum and virtually over the web on Saturday, January 27th, 2024. At this workshop, middle school and high school science teachers will learn about current evolutionary theory, recent discoveries, classroom resources, and ideas for scientific classroom exercises. This workshop is presented by PhD-level State Museum scientists. Educators will earn 8 hours of CTLE credit from the State Education Department. Register for the Evolution and Ecology Teacher Workshop here.

Anthropology Teacher Workshop

This year’s Anthropology Teacher Workshop will be a one-day hybrid program held in-person at the New York State Museum and virtually over the web on Saturday, March 23, 2024. At this workshop, teachers will learn about current scientific research, museum collections, classroom resources, and ideas for classroom exercises. This workshop is presented by PhD-level State Museum scientists. Educators will earn 8 hours of CTLE credit from the State Education Department. Register for the Anthropology Teacher Workshop here.

The Educator Guide for the American Revolution features extensive primary source documents from the New York State Library, the New York State Archives, and other cultural and historical organizations.

Aligned with the New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework, the American Revolution is taught in Grades 4, 7, and 11. The guide incorporates document-based questions, ideas, and activities for effective lesson planning.

AHA! A House for Arts

Learn about illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors, and other visual artists in this joyful PBS LearningMedia collection from WMHT’s AHA! A House for Arts. Each resource includes a video of a studio visit where a local artist reveals their sources of inspiration and demonstrates how they make their art. In the related activities, students have a chance to try their hand at making artwork of their own using a wide array of materials and techniques. Each resource includes Teaching Tips with learning objectives, materials needed, ideas for extending the arts activities, and assessment suggestions.

Educators Welcome at the New York History Conference

Please save the date for this new annual history conference!

The goal of the history conference is to provide an inclusive and engaging forum in which historians, educators, museum professionals, archivists, and librarians can share research and resources on the practice, research, preservation, and teaching of New York State history. 

When:

June 20-21, 2024



Where:

New York State Cultural Education Center

222 Madison Avenue

Albany NY 12230

If you have questions, please contact statehistory@nysed.gov.

Civic Readiness Initiative

Civic readiness is the ability to make a positive difference in the public life of our communities through the combination of civic knowledge, skills and actions, mindsets, and experiences.

Learn more about New York State's Seal of Civic Readiness program for students, including criteria to earn this distinction as well as application and guidance for districts. There are also a variety of civic readiness resources available to support educators in this work.

Thanks for reading!