Name: Voices of the Revolution: Washington and the Stories Around Him
Start: 2026-07-28T08:30:00-0400
End: 2026-07-28T15:00:00-0400
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Explore the American Revolution through the leadership of George Washington.

Participants will also explore the diverse individuals who surrounded him, examining how personal experiences shaped the course of the war and the emerging nation. Special attention will be given to lesser-known stories and perspectives from groups who experienced the Revolution in varied ways, deepening our collective understanding and helping to tell a more complete and inclusive story of the era.

Schedule

7:30 a.m.	Check-in Doors open at 7:30 AM. Coffee and tea are available in the Goldfinch Classroom on the main floor.
8 a.m.	Welcome, Introductions, & Overview Get to know your fellow participants through an interactive primary source activity.
8:30 a.m.	Session I - Learn about the life and times of George Washington from the author of "You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington." Alexis Coe
9:45 a.m.	Session II - History Mystery with the Museum Team Investigate artifacts from the Revolutionary War era and learn to contextualize them.
11:30 a.m.	Lunch*
12:15 p.m.	Session III - Teaching with Primary Sources Engage in best-practice instructional strategies for textual analysis. Katy Forsythe
1:30 p.m.	Break
1:45 p.m.	Session IV - Land Surveying Participate in an interactive land surveying activity to bring back to your classroom. Melanie Bloom
3 p.m.	Session V - Museum Exhibits Explore the exhibits at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
3:30 p.m.	Curriculum Artifact & Debrief Choose an artifact to spark sustained inquiry in your classroom.

*Lunch is provided and includes salad, lasagna, bread, brownies, and refreshments. There is a refrigerator and microwave on site if you’d like to bring your own lunch.

Registration Requirements

Who can register?

Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
The workshop is limited to 25 teachers.
A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Meet the Speaker

Dr. Gabriele Gottlieb

Dr. Gabriele Gottlieb is an Associate Professor of History at Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She teaches courses in U.S. history, including the American Revolution and other foundational periods in early American history.
Dr. Gottlieb earned her Ph.D. in History from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 and specializes in Colonial America and the American Revolution, bringing these subjects into her classroom and research. Her scholarly work and mentorship help students explore the complex political, social, and cultural forces that shaped America during the Revolution and the years surrounding it.

Meet the Educators

Erin Koren

Erin Koren joined the GRPM in 2017 and spearheaded the redesign of the GRPM’s K-12 educational programming. Programs are centered on a constructivist learning philosophy that aims to highlight historical artifacts and scientific specimens to provide concrete connections to classroom topics. This approach utilizes inquiry-based strategies, allowing students to grapple with content and generate understandings. Erin oversees K-12 educational initiatives, managing education staff and group scheduling, designing teacher professional developments and resources, and fostering collaborative partnerships that provide ways for teachers and learners to engage with Museum resources and connect with the history, science and culture of our community.

Ginnie Holloway

Ginnie Holloway is a social studies teacher at West Middle School in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She teaches eighth-grade U.S. History while also serving as a social studies curriculum specialist. She is passionate about inquiry-based learning, elevating student voice, and fostering civil dialogue as students explore history through multiple perspectives. Ginnie is an alumni of the George Washington Teacher Institute and proudly serves on the National Constitution Center’s Teacher Advisory Board.