America 250

Participants will connect founding principles with current curriculum standards, utilizing CORG’s Engaging Congress digital tool to develop dynamic, classroom-ready lesson plans.

Details

When: September 14, 2026 (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Where: Indiana University Bloomington
Cost: Free
Included: $100 honorarium to offset cost of attendance, parking, lunch at the Tudor Room at the historic Indiana Memorial Union, and a visit to Lilly Library to see Declaration of Independence.

Register now

Registration is limited to 20 participants.

Agenda

Session 1: Introduction to the Declaration of Independence and Founding-Era Principles

  • Close reading of the Declaration of Independence
  • Discussion of key principles articulated in the document
  • Examination of philosophical influences on the Declaration
  • Discussion of the document’s international impact

 

Session 2: Visit to the Lilly Library

  • Tour the Lilly Library
  • Visit the Declaration of Independence
  • Tour the Declaration of Independence exhibit with curator Erika Dowell

 

Lunch: Tudor Room at the Indiana Memorial Union

 

Session 3: Exploring the Engaging Congress Interactive

  • Teachers will work through the interactive and identify primary sources reflecting America’s ongoing efforts to realize the ideals of the Declaration
  • Possible topics include the American Revolution, Civil War, Reconstruction, women’s suffrage, and the Civil Rights era

 

Session 4: Lesson Plan Development

Work session for participating educators to begin brainstorming classroom activities connecting the principles of the Declaration to a selected primary source from Engaging Congress

COMMENTS ON CONGRESS

External Resources

Center on Representative Government

201 N. Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana

Phone: (812) 856-4706
Fax: (812) 856-4703

corg@indiana.edu