MHS at MEA-MFT

If you are attending MEA-MFT's educator conference this year, we hope you'll stop in at the exhibit hall to see us. We also hope you'll consider attending one of the sessions Montana Historical Society staff are participating in.

On Thursday, I'll be participating in an institute from 9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. MCAD16: "Starting National History Day in Your Classroom." Presenting with me will be Cathy Gorn, director of NHD, Tom Rust (fromer Montana NHD coordinator and MSU Billings history professor), and Michael Herdina (Eighth Grade Teacher, Gallatin Gateway, and current Montana NHD coordinator).

Also on Thursday, from 10:00 a.m.- 11:50 a.m. in SHS246, my closest colleague and partner in crime Deb Mitchell will be presenting "Analyzing Historic Images to Meet MCCS." Deb "will demonstrate analysis of historic images through Visual Thinking Strategies along with the importance of learning to source images, and aligning to meet MCCS for grades 7-12."

Later on Thursday, from 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. in SHS247, Deb will present "Classroom Learning using Primary Documents and Objects." Here's the description: "Learn about the newest revamping of our footlocker program at the Montana Historical Society, Immigration:Coming to Montana. This footlocker is the first of many footlockers at the Montana Historical Society to be updated with new tools and lesson plans to serve you and your students in the classroom."

Senior Archivist Rich Aarstad will be presenting "Yes, We are a Teachers' Union" on Friday 10/17 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in MCAD16. "This sectional is an overview of the creation of the Montana Education Association, the Montana Federation of Teachers, and the evolution of both organizations within the broader context of Montana's labor movement."

Later on Friday, Rich will be joined by government records archivist Jeff Malcomson in "The Blood was Still Hot: A Historical Debate." (10/17, 1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m. MCAD13). This "in character," fictional debate between Wilbur F. Sanders LRJ & Samuel Word LDJ regarding MT Territorial politics got rave reviews at our recent history conference. The presentation will also discuss creative ways primary source documents can be used in the classroom.

It would be hard to choose between "The Blood Was Still Hot" and MHS Reference Historian Zoe Ann Stoltz's presentation at the same time (in MCAD 11): "Teaching History with Montana Foodways." Luckily, Zoe Ann is also repeating her talk from 3:00 to 3:50 p.m. Zoe Ann's presentation will "explore the endless lesson opportunities available through discussion and study of Montana Foodways." According to Zoe, "Everyone eats, everyone knows someone who cooks, and everyone craves grandma's cookies. While foods present a universal commonality, they also offer insights into our unique ethnic heritages and changes in scientific understandings as they relate to food preparation and preservation."

Lots of good sessions to choose from! I'm looking forward to hearing about the great work teachers are doing across the state, catching up with old friends and making some new ones.

p.s. I just received a note from Sam Mihara, who grew up as a former prisoner at the Wyoming Heart Mountain Japanese internment camp and is now a lecturer at the University of California. He will be giving a keynote speech on Thursday, October 16 at 1:00 PM in the auditorium and will also be part of an all day Friday, October 17 workshop (8-3:50) at Fort Missoula, What an amazing opportunity to be learn from someone who lived this history.