Prepare for America250 with the National Archives!
Learn about our new Declaration250 programming and primary source materials to bring directly into your classroom!
Join National Archives Educators for Programs Commemorating Declaration250 and America250
Looking Ahead to 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
The United States will commemorate the 250th anniversaryof the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. Through new educational programming from the National Archives, elementary through high school students will have the opportunity to explore the Declaration of Independence by analyzing this important primary source and considering its continued importance to the nation.
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for our new student programs focusing on the Declaration of Independence! More information about the K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 student programs may be found on our website, as well as the tool to register for these free, standards-based learning opportunities!
Celebrate Bill of Rights Day With Free Virtual Programs From the National Archives!
Free, Virtual Civics for All of US Programs for K-12 Students and Teachers
Join a free virtual program with National Archives educators to explore the Bill of Rights through primary sources from the National Archives. On December 15, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued a proclamation dedicating December 15 as Bill of Rights Day. This date marks the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
Join us for one of our free upcoming student webinars exploring the big ideas of the Founding Documents! These standards-based webinars and by-request programs are designed for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Register today!
The Bill of Rights Protects You!
Join Us for This Free Virtual Educator Program
Educators, join us virtually at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum on Monday, November 25, at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT for this live Civics for All of US program.
This virtual program is geared toward educators looking to learn more about how the National Archives Civics for All of US offerings can bring civics to your classroom. National Archives educators will present this program and answer questions you may have as you consider signing up for a future classroom session.
Learn About National History Day Resources Available from the National Archives!
Get ready for NHD 2025!
In our monthly virtual "Office Hours," National Archives educators can answer immediate questions and provide help as you and your students prepare for National History Day 2025!
Upcoming dates include:
Friday, December 6, 2024: 3 pm-4 pm ET
Wednesday, January 8, 2025: 7 pm-8 pm ET
Tuesday, February 4, 2025: 3 pm-4 pm ET
Thursday, March 6, 2025: 6 pm-7 pm ET
Friday, April 4, 2025: 3 pm-4 pm ET
Register for these free program resources by emailing education@nara.gov.
The National History Day theme for 2025 is Rights and Responsibilities in History.
Upcoming Professional Development Programs from the National Archives
Each Civics for All of US online workshop will explore how to use primary sources to delve into the big ideas of the Founding Documents
Teaching Native American Treaties for Elementary Educators
Wednesday, November 20, 7 pm-8 pm ET
Join us for this interactive virtual professional development program for educators as we look closely at selected examples of American Indian treaties and discuss ways to incorporate teaching these important documents in the elementary classroom. We will look to the Constitution to learn why treaties are “the supreme law of the land,” interact with primary sources from the National Archives through document analysis activities, and explore examples of the continuing importance of treaties with Native Nations today. While the focus of this webinar will be on resources and strategies for elementary educators, all educators are welcome to attend.
This online workshop for K–12 educators will explore how to engage learners of all grade levels in the active exploration of primary sources that teach about the rights embodied in the Bill of Rights. Discussions will focus on how the Bill of Rights was developed into a charter of liberty, and the participants will consider the best ways to incorporate the study of the Bill of Rights in a civic education curriculum. Educators will discover resources for teaching the Bill of Rights in the classroom, including interactive Civics for All of US distance learning programs, graphic organizers, and DocsTeach activities.
Presidential Primary Sources Project Series (PPSP) is an interactive distance learning program presented in collaboration with the National Archives, numerous National Park sites, and Presidential Libraries around the country. These sites present a series of free 45-60 minute interactive videoconferencing programs aimed at students in grades 4-12.
The 2025 program series will engage students in learning how to use and analyze primary sources as they are guided on a journey through the historical legacies of our Presidents.
The series will run from January through April 2025. Free registration is now open. Please visit the project web page for more information and to sign up today!
DocsTeach
Our signature online tool for teaching with documents includes more than 13,000 primary sources spanning the course of American History
Getting ready for National History Day? You can explore hundreds of primary sources and dozens of activities on our National History Day page as you research for the 2025 theme, Rights and Responsibilities in History. Explore today!
New to DocsTeach or looking to familiarize yourself further with the free resources it offers? Check out our series of recorded self-serve mini-webinars! Each webinar is approximately 20 minutes and covers DocsTeach basics and tips for teaching with the site. And if you want to learn even more, you can request a webinar for you and your district. Just email us at distancelearning@nara.gov.
Schedule a Student or Teacher Program from the National Archives!
Explore the different ways to connect
Through grade-appropriate inquiry-based offerings, National Archives educators guide students on an exploration of American history using primary source documents.
Check out our student museum field trip offerings at the National Archives in Washington, DC!
Learn more about these free student programs here, or contact us at fieldtrips@nara.gov. Don't forget to reserve your program at least 45 days in advance!
Not able to visit a National Archives location? Connect with a National Archives Education Program from anywhere!
Distance learning from the National Archives provides access to virtual field trip experiences for elementary through high school students across the world! To schedule a program, email distancelearning@nara.gov. Additional information is available on our distance learning page.
Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Mission
Citizen Archivist Mission
Teaching about the Revolutionary War Era? Consider participating in this Citizen Archivist Mission! In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Archives and the National Park Service are collaborating on a special project to transcribe Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, ca. 1800–ca. 1912. These Revolutionary War Pension Files consist of applications and other records pertaining to claims for pensions and bounty land warrants.
These records may contain valuable details about Revolutionary War veterans and their families, such as rank, unit, period of service, age, residence, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death of spouse. Also within these records, you may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities or details about soldier’s lives, along with letters, diaries, or family trees. Read more about these records and what you may find from the National Park Service’s article Tips and a Guide for the Curious.
Not interested in transcribing cursive? Join our Revolutionary War Tagging Mission—read the transcriptions by other Citizen Archivists and add tags to enhance searchability.
