The American Revolution Institute appears at national and state and conferences, and holds one-day workshops on the American Revolution at historic sites around the country, providing opportunities for teachers to expand their knowledge of the American Revolution, discuss strategies for teaching the subject with historians and fellow educators, and explore the Institute’s classroom resources. Instruction focuses on a specific theme related to the American Revolution, often connected to the history of the region where the workshop is held.
Themes typically relate to the American Revolution Institute’s Plan of Instruction on the American Revolution, which integrates effectively with the United States history standards in most states. Specific themes relate to the shaping of the Revolution, the Revolutionary War, the Revolutionary Republic, or the Legacy of the Revolution and address the constructive accomplishments of the American Revolution, usually in a manner closely tied to the history of the state or region where the workshop is held.
Each workshop consists of a lecture relative to the chosen theme delivered by a scholar associated with the Institute, presentations by Institute staff on classroom resources and featured library and museum collection items, and a guided tour of the host site connecting local history to the themes explored in the workshop. American Revolution Institute workshops are free to educators. Participating teachers receive confirmation of professional development hours.
The Institute also participates in annual conferences sponsored by national and state organizations involved with American history education including the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for History Education, as well as their regional and state affiliates. Registration, fees, and professional development credits for attending these events are managed by the respective organizations.
Contact us if you are interested in a workshop for your school district, state, or region during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Upcoming Events:
Liberty and Justice for All: Democratic Ideals and the American Revolution
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) 105th Annual Conference
December 5-7, 2025, Washington, DC
The Revolutionary generation challenged contemporary social norms to secure our democracy. Their stories have much to teach today’s generation about how ordinary Americans have the power to preserve our democracy. This session will showcase our new classroom video series to commemorate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the War for Independence—from 1775 through 1783. The series animates archives from our rare library and museum collections to cover the who, what, when, where, and how for each year of the war, in three-minute installments, including a “year in review.” We will also spotlight new, primary-source driven lesson content developed by two teacher alumni of our 2024 master teacher residential seminar—about forms of colonial protest and John Laurens’ work to actualize the democratic ideals of freedom and liberty by creating a regiment of Black soldiers in South Carolina. NCSS Conference link HERE.
“Revolutionary Beginnings”
Free Workshop for South Carolina Teachers
January 6, 2026, Camden, SC
Highlights include scholarship from the collections of the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, including: “Revolutionary Beginnings: War and Remembrance in the First Year of America’s Fight for Independence,” “The Revolution at Play,” and “The Saga and Legacy of Andrew Wallace, a Revolutionary War Veteran and the ‘Rescuer of Lafayette,'” along with lesson plans from our American Revolution Institute Master Teachers from South Carolina. Multi-disciplinary resources align with the 2019 South Carolina Social Studies College- and Career-Ready Standards. Continental breakfast and lunch provided along with admission to Historic Camden. Funding provided by the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of South Carolina. Download PDF flyer with details and schedule HERE. Registration link HERE.
Revolution in the Shenandoah Valley
Free Workshop for Virginia Teachers
February 21, 2026, Staunton, VA
Join us at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library to learn about Virginia and the Revolution in the Shenandoah Valley with author Gabriel Neville. Explore ARI lessons and primary source materials from America’s War for Independence with Virginia master teachers Anne Walker and William Tuning, and our talented in-house team. Multi-disciplinary resources align with Virginia’s 2023 Standards of Learning for History & Social Science. Continental breakfast and lunch provided along with admission to the Wilson Library, Birth Home, and Museum. Funding provided by the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia. Download PDF flyer with details and schedule HERE. Registration link HERE.
Diasporas: Histories of Movement and Cultural Exchange
National Council for History Education (NCHE) 36th Annual Conference
March 26-28, 2025, Montgomery, AL
How have specific movements of people impacted the places they landed and the places they left behind? How have various elements of diasporic culture – such as language, music, beliefs, architecture, storytelling, or family structures – grown or disappeared? What led to migrations, and what were the resulting diasporas? How can we illuminate resilience in diasporic communities created by conflict or violence? What new sources or scholarship can foster student interest in familiar migration stories? NCHE Conference link HERE.
Recent Events:
Spain and the Birth of American Democracy
Queen Sofia Spanish Institute & Daughters of the American Revolution Symposium
September 19-20, 2025, Washington, DC
Two days of academic lectures, panel discussions, and other activities about Spain’s contributions to the American Revolution at the DAR’s Constitution Hall. Registration link HERE.
Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
October 4, 2025, Richmond, VA
The VMHC’s Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History is a one-day event where historians, practitioners, and members of the public gather to explore our shared past. Featuring panels and presentations that highlight groundbreaking research into Virginia history, tailored gallery tours that celebrate revolutionary Virginian’s and their ideas, and a special keynote lecture, the symposium links past with present to inspire future generations. Registration link HERE.
For more information, contact:
Stacia Smith
Director of Education
ssmith@societyofthecincinnati.org
202.785.2040 x416