"There’s No Place Like Home:” 

Using Local History to Teach National Themes

When: Monday, June 24, 2024 - Thursday, June 27, 2024

Where: 

Princeton, New Jersey*

Sites in Trenton, New Jersey*

*Sites subject to change.

What: An in-person, place-based workshop for pre-kindergarten through post-secondary educators and administrators.

Investment: $200 deposit, refunded upon successful completion of the workshop, which includes:

Participants will also receive a $400 stipend for their participation in the full workshop, made possible through generous supporters of the program.

A full itinerary of the workshop is available here.

This hands-on summer workshop is designed to help learners get started in place-based humanities education, especially how place-based learning can help develop informed, inquisitive, and engaged students. Over these four days, learners will explore place-based theory from experts in the field, how to  build partnerships with local organizations (non-profits, museums, religious organizations, etc.) from representatives from those groups, and explore place-based humanities in action through robust site explorations around Princeton and Trenton, New Jersey. In particular, participants will learn how to use local organizations and resources to help tell previously-suppressed or hidden narratives to broaden students’ understandings of the world around them. 

Testimonials

See these testimonials from previous place-based humanities workshop participants.

"It was amazing! The leaders were fun and kind and so knowledgeable! I would do another workshop in a heartbeat with this team and will recommend it to my colleagues."


"It made me change the way I look at field trips. I learn about the importance of community relationships and building connections. This is important because how my school community has changed over the years. We need our school to approach and build relationships with our community and school. In order to survive, we have to change our approach and expose our students to the community. We need to expand our exposure and show people the great things that school does."


"I think the underlying concept of place based learning it's about increasing context, engaging students with the real world and connecting knowledge and content to the place that they live in. These have all been proven to increase learning outcomes."


"Sometimes it isn't enough to talk about or read about history. Allowing students to visit a place, learn about its history, and explore allows them to easily answer questions and even create more questions about the place/event that can inspire further inquiry."

Our Workshop Locations

Throughout our workshop, we will explore these sites in the context of uncovering new connections between place and our curricular approaches.

Workshop Facilitators

Chris Hemler

Chris is the Cynthia N. Ford Chair of History and Social Studies at University Liggett School, as well as lead educator in Liggett's award-winning, place-based United States history program. Prior to Liggett, Chris was an education manager at The Henry Ford.

Adam Hellebuyck

Adam is the Dean of Curriculum and Assessment at University Liggett School and a former teacher of Liggett's award-winning, place-based United States history program.