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Dates and Times:
January 22, 2008 ; 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (Grades 6-8)
OPEN TO NATIONAL PARTICIPATION 
January 22, 2008; 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Grades 9-12)
OPEN TO NATIONAL PARTICIPATION
February 5, 2008; 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (Grades 9-12)
February 5, 2008; 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Grades 6-8)
Cost: Free!
Requirements for participation: Must be on the MAGPI network and have H.323 (IP) Videoconferencing capabilities
Content Provider: The African American Museum of Philadelphia
Program Description:
The African American Museum of Philadelphia and MAGPI present INSIDE THE STRUGGLE: Civil Rights and the Philadelphia Connection. Navigating the Jack T. Franklin Photographic Collection along side Dr. Martin Luther King, students will examine African American cultural, political and economic history in Philadelphia.
By combining the assets of the museum’s civil rights photographs of the Jack T. Franklin Collection, schools have access to not only photography movements unique to the African American community, but also extraordinary events that unite and bond individuals into a cohesive whole. In addition, it allows access to object-based teaching strategies connected to middle school and high school curricula to enhance the achievement and success of middle and high school students, demonstrating the power of the object to: 1) deepen the learners’ understanding of subjects, themes, and ideas across disciplines, 2) engage inter-generational learners through personal narrative, and 3) foster connections between the museum and schools.
These outcomes should enhance the performance of the students participating in this distance-learning program, while deepening their level of engagement in learning by adding value to their in-school experience. Through examination of the griot tradition (storytelling) and concept, it creates a connection with the Jack T. Franklin Collection to the Social Studies curriculum because photographers are visual storytellers. They exemplify our place in society, documenting our dreams and preserving powerful memories.
Students will have an opportunity to interact with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (portrayed by living history actor Gary Giles) as part of this engaging, and exciting, videoconference event.
The African American Museum of Philadelphia will provide each participating with a Teachers Guide and Student Guide(s) prior to this event.
Resources:
- Teacher's Guide: Download the Teacher's Guide to help you get ready for this event! (PDF Format)
- Student Guide (Grades 6-8): Download, distribute and review the student guide for students in grades 6-8. (PDF Format)
- Student Guide (Grades 9-12): Download, distribute and review the student guide for students in grades 6-8. (PDF Format)
Preparing Students for this Event:
Distribute and Review Student Guide with Students: Prior to the videoconference, review the background material about Jack T. Franklin and the events he photographed in the student guide with students so that they are familiar with the material.
Prepare Questions: Have students come up with questions for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. about his work, his background, his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement, etc. As a class, choose the top 6 questions. Make sure students are prepared to ask these questions as part of the videoconference event. Each school will have a chance to ask 3 or 4 questions – but by preparing 6, we can make sure that questions aren’t repeated.repeated.
Post Videoconference Activities:
Work on the Activities provided in the Students and Teacher Guides: AAMP has provided you with a set of activities to do with students after the videoconference events. We encourage you to do these activities with students and use the assessment criteria/activities to reinforce knowledge gained during the videoconference event.
Photo Essays: We're happy to post some of your students' photo essays on our project website! Please, only submit 3-4 students' work for publication. Please send student photo essays, along with a short description of each project and the student photographer's name, to Heather Weisse at hweisse@magpi.net.
Content Provider for this Event:
Founded in 1976 as the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in celebration of the nation's Bicentennial, the Museum was the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. Throughout its evolution, the Museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.
The African American Museum in Philadelphia currently houses 4 galleries and an auditorium, each of which offers exhibitions anchored by one of the Museum's three dominant themes - the African Diaspora, the Philadelphia Story, and the Contemporary Narrative. The auditorium is also used for the Museum's distance learning program, for film viewings and other community events, and is available for community use. Through the joint efforts of the Curatorial and Education Departments, the Museum offers creative, innovative youth programming that expands the themes of our cultural exhibits and invites people whose lives span the century - youth, their families, and senior citizens - to come together and enjoy rich intergenerational Family Days focused on African American art and culture.
Special initiatives currently available at the African American Museum in Philadelphia include providing young adults with on-the-job training in the professions associated with museum employment and recent technological improvements that enable the Museum to assist students and researchers unearth the invaluable, although all-too-often unrecognized, achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Find out more.