March 2008

Upcoming Events*

PS China in Africa: Behind the Headlines (Mar. 6)
International Women's Day Film Festival (Mar. 6-8)
Chinese Violin Concert (Mar. 22)
PS Discovering Boston's Civil Rights Story (April 2)

Primary Source Awarded Grants for Latin America and Asia Programs
Primary Source has recently received grant funding in support of our Latin America and Asia programs for educators. The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, a charitable group dedicated to strengthening the nation's future through education, awarded a three-year grant for the development of Primary Source's Latin America programs. The Freeman Foundation, which has supported Primary Source for more than ten years, has awarded a two-year grant for East and Southeast Asia programs.

Teacher Q&A: Richard Donnelly, Bedford High School
Richard Donnelly teaches history and economics at Bedford High School. For the past four years, he has helped students to create short documentaries on recent events in world history.

PS: Tell us about the work you've been doing with students and documentary movies.

Richard: I began making documentary videos with my sophomore World History students about four years ago. I developed the project after going to see a Primary Source presentation by Sam Wineberg, the author of "Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts," in which he talked about how students construct their versions of history. I wanted to see how students, with a background in world history, would interpret and present recent events even thought they had not yet learned about them in class. Read the full interview

Making Freedom: Maine's African American History
"Making Freedom: Maine's African American History," concluded on February 11 at Portland High School. Plans for offering a program on African American history for educators in the Pine Tree State began after several Maine teachers and Primary Source Maine staff member Amy Stevens took part in a week-long study tour of African American history in New England and New York, offered by Primary Source in April 2007.

Get Involved at Primary Source
Primary Source is seeking volunteers for projects throughout the year. Follow this link and complete our volunteer form to let us know you would like to get involved: http://primarysource.kintera.org/volunteer.

Recent Additions to the Primary Source Library
Book and DVD highlights include Mexican Muralists: Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros; First Crossing: Stories about Teen Immigrants; and When Asia Was the World.

*PS indicates a Primary Source event.