Resources for teachers, parents and students
In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, this collection of educational resources invites exploration of the history and civic legacy of Washington, DC. From curated learning materials to recorded Teach250 webinars available on YouTube, these resources highlight the people, ideas and moments that shaped the nation’s capital and continue to influence the American story today.
America250
Teacher Resource Materials: America’s Field Trip
Educators will find standards-aligned lesson plans and ready-to-use classroom activities powered by Discovery Education’s award-winning platform. These resources provide instructional inspiration and are designed with multiple levels of inquiry and discovery — making them engaging for students and easy to integrate into the lesson cycle.
Smithsonian Institution
Cultivating Learning: America250
A collection of educational resources that support inquiry-based learning through primary sources, interactive tools and standards-aligned classroom materials focused on America’s history and civic life.
DAR Museum
Celebrating 250 Years of America
Educational resources highlighting the founding era, including lesson plans, primary source activities and virtual learning opportunities connected to early American history.
Ford’s Theatre
Virtual Field Trips
Interactive virtual field trips exploring the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through performance, discussion and historical analysis.
Virtual Workshops: The Power of Oratory
An interactive workshop focused on persuasive language, rhetoric and how powerful speeches have shaped American history.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Teaching America
Classroom resources and digital learning experiences focused on George Washington, civic ideals and the founding of the nation.
Student Field Trip Add-Ons
Supplemental educational experiences that enhance on-site and virtual field trips with focused content and interactive learning.
International Spy Museum
RED, WHITE, AND SPY
Educational programming that explores intelligence, espionage and national security in American history through interactive learning.
Library of Congress
Lesson Plans
Standards-aligned lesson plans using primary sources from the Library of Congress to support inquiry-based classroom learning.
National Archives Museum & National Archives Foundation
DocsTeach America250 Documents and Activities
Primary source-based activities and documents that support civics and history education connected to America’s founding and democratic ideals.
National Gallery of Art
Who Am I? Self-Portraits and Identity
A lesson exploring identity and self-representation through works of art, encouraging critical thinking and personal reflection.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Learning Labs and Classroom Resources
Educational materials exploring African American history, culture and civic engagement through inquiry and primary sources.
Area Artists: Washington, DC
Exploration of local artists and creative expression connected to place, culture and community.
National Museum of American History
Becoming US
Educational resources that examine American identity, democracy and civic participation through historical artifacts and stories.
National Museum of the American Indian
Native Knowledge 360°
Inquiry-based educational resources centered on Native histories, cultures and contemporary experiences.
National Portrait Gallery
Looking Ahead: What’s Your Vision for America?
A lesson encouraging students to reflect on leadership, identity and the future of the nation through portraiture.
National Portrait Gallery
Democracy in Focus: Exploring Civics Through Portraits
Civics-focused resources using portraiture to explore leadership, citizenship and democratic values.
American Art Museum
The American Experience in Art
Educational content exploring American history and identity through visual art and critical analysis.
Planet Word
Words Matter Wordshop
Interactive workshops exploring the power of words, language and communication in civic life and history.
President Lincoln’s Cottage
250th Resources
Educational materials exploring Lincoln’s leadership, decision-making and legacy in American history.
President Lincoln’s Cottage
Virtual Field Trips
Live, interactive virtual programs that bring history to life through discussion and storytelling.
Onsite Field Trip: Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions
An on-site learning experience examining leadership and decision-making during times of national crisis.
The People’s House
Brief the Chief Interactive Experience
A hands-on simulation that introduces students to executive decision-making and civic leadership.
The White House Historical Association
White House History Classroom Resources
Educational materials exploring the history of the White House, the presidency and American democracy.
The Trust for the National Mall
National Mall Field Trips and Resources
Curriculum-connected field trips and learning materials focused on history, civic engagement and public spaces.
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
Historical Thinking and Primary Sources
Educational programming that supports historical inquiry using primary sources and place-based learning.
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Constitutional Conversations
Educational resources that explore the Constitution, Congress and civic participation.
DC History Center
DC Home Rule Curriculum
A curriculum focused on the history of Home Rule and civic engagement in Washington, DC.
National Museum of American Diplomacy
Diplomacy Education Resources
Classroom resources exploring diplomacy, foreign policy and global engagement through historical case studies.