Teaching The Hudson Valley

Teach the Quad

Check out a new sample of teacher- and student-friendly resources. We looked for materials and exhibits with appeal for all ages, a mix of mediums, and a range of perspectives. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it what else you're using and what you think of our picks.

Commemorate the past. Celebrate the present. Preserve the future.

For Quad-related events, ExploreNY400.com is the best place to start. You can also complete a form to register as a Quadricentennial school or class; you'll receive a packet including a flag, stickers, and other materials. Registered schools also may use the Quadricentennial logo for programs or events.

A Hudson River Journey, produced by the environmental group Riverkeeper, includes seven digital slide shows available online or as part of an indoor or outdoor display; experts who will tailor talks to your audience; and A Glimpse of the Lenape: The Night Before, a booklet by Daniel Wolff.

The slide shows are each just a few minutes long -- ideal for classroom use. Titles include First People of the River: Stewards for 10,000 Years, Highlands: Legacy of Storm King, Mid-Hudson: Where Sturgeon Spawn, Islands: A Wildness Remains, Albany and Beyond, and more.

The Manahatta Project -- See what Manhattan was like before it was a city. Exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, through Oct. 12, an amazing map; "The Science Behind Manhattan 1609," an illustrated presentation to students by project director Eric Sanderson, and great lesson plans.

Grade 4 & 7 interdisciplinary curriculum guides from New Netherland Museum and its replica ship Half Moon. Both guides consist of seven interdisciplinary lessons with primary documents, raw data from the operation of the replica Half Moon, and well-designed exercises.

Together the lessons make a great comprehensive unit, but each lesson also stands on its own. See contents for An Exploration of Past and Present, grade 4 guide. Contents, related NYS standards, and a sample lesson from the grade 7 guide, An Exploration of a Dutch Colonial Settlement.

Full-color posters and postcards complement both guides. Made from a painting by Hudson Valley artist Mike Jaroszko, the glossy poster is 24x36. Guides, posters, and postcards are available in packages or separately. Order online from James Douglas Gallery. Ask about free delivery for large orders.

America's First River: The Hudson, a conference organized by the Hudson River Valley Institute, Sept. 25 & 26, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, and the Wallace Center, Home of FDR/Presidential Library, Hyde Park. Sessions with Fran Dunwell, Harvey Flad, Martha Shattuck, Thom Wermuth, David Woolner, and other leading experts on the region's history and culture, plus a new play by Abenaki storyteller, educator, and writer Joseph Bruchac.

Dutch New York: The Roots of Hudson Valley Culture is the title of an exhibit at Yonkers' Hudson River Museum and a 454-page book. The exhibit runs through Jan. 10, and has something for everyone. In addition, the Museum's website features materials for teachers as well as a list of related workshops and events.

The book promises to provide fascinating background for teachers and some older teens. Roger Panetta curated the exhibit and edited the companion book, which is widely available in hardcover and paperback. Extensively illustrated, the book also features 13 scholarly essays on topics ranging from architecture to religion.

Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture, an exhibit at the Albany Institute of History and Art, runs through January 3, 2010. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Institute has developed a set of lessons with digital reproductions and supporting materials and day-long teacher workshops. Contact Barbara Collins, 518-463-4478, ext. 405, for details.

In addition, teachers who participate in a day-long professional development program will receive free admission for their students as well as subsidies for transportation and substitute teachers. The elementary teacher workshop is Sept. 30; middle school, Oct. 1; and high school, Oct. 2. Click here for details and a registration form.

Detail from: Panorama of the Hudson River, Wade & Croome, 1845, Albany Institute Library

Dutch New York. Hosted by historian Barry Lewis, this one-hour documentary highlights the accomplishments of Henry Hudson, Peter Stuyvesant, and the nearly forgotten Adriaen van der Donck. New Netherland existed as a Dutch colony for only 55 years, but the commercially driven and socially tolerant society they established remains a part of today's New York. With visits to Albany, Cohoes, NYC, and places in between, Dutch New York uncovers some of this rich history.

The programs looks best for teacher background and for interested secondary students. A related web site, http://www.thirteen.org/dutchny, has many links useful for teachers. Airing on WNET, NYC channel 13: Thurs., 9/10, 8 p.m., and Sat., 9/12, 2 p.m. We have been unable to confirm if/when Albany's WMHT will show it.

Light on New Netherland, traveling exhibit, Sept. 15-22, Wallace Education Center, at the Home of FDR and Presidential Library, Hyde Park. Double-sided panels on topics such as Ships and Sailing, The Atlantic World, West India Company, People of New Netherlands, Relations with the Indians, and the Dutch Legacy. Special event with Charles Gehring, director, New Netherland Project, 3 p.m., Sat., Sept. 19. Details: 845-486-7745 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

And, don't forget NYSED's lessons at http://emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/chf/chf.html.