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 2026-2027 academic year.
Upcoming Events:
Voices of Revolution and the Revolution in Wilmington after Brandywine
Free Workshop for Delaware Teachers
October 9, 2026, Wilmington, DE
In 2026, as we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Voices of Revolution explores the variety of people who participated in the Revolutionary War and some of the battlefields where their paths crossed to explore the human experience—what individuals saw and did, where they came from and why, how the war impacted them, and how they impacted the war—using their words, belongings and likenesses. Highlights include: “The Revolution in Wilmington after Brandywine” by Bill Knightly, author of The British Occupation of Wilmington, “American ‘Notions of Independence’,” a classroom activity by Robert Schulte, ARI Master Teacher, and “Destruction & Wanton Waste: The Impact of War in a Peaceful Valley” presented by Andrew Outten, ARI Senior Manager of Historical Programs and Marketing. Explore the Collections of the Delaware Art Museum and the Work of Howard Pyle—Adrianna Nelson, DelART School Tour Lead Continental breakfast and lunch provided along with admission to the Delaware Art Museum. Funding provided by the Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati. Download PDF flyer with details and schedule HERE. Registration link HERE.
The American Experiment: 365 Days a Year for 250 Years …and Counting
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) 106th Annual Conference
December 4-6, 2026, Chicago, IL
In his first inaugural address, George Washington reminded all Americans that “the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” Understanding and appreciating the high ideals that formed the basis of our political order and have underpinned life in the United States for the past 250 years requires the conscientious stewardship of its citizens 365 days per year. The Revolutionary generation who won our independence, created our republic and national identity, and articulated ideals of liberty, equality, natural and civil rights, and responsible citizenship did not complete the work of creating a truly free society. The wisest of our Revolutionaries understood that overcoming layers of social injustice and forms of institutionalized oppression that accumulated over centuries would take many generations. The only way to ensure the success of the American experiment is to educate America’s students about its history, and to foster an appreciation for their role and stake in its future. Our teacher-created resources, which we will share in our session, have been developed to support and inspire history and civics educators to fulfill this very task. NCSS Conference link HERE.
Recent Events:
Diasporas: Histories of Movement and Cultural Exchange
National Council for History Education (NCHE) 36th Annual Conference
March 26-28, 2026, 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.
Service and Symbols: America’s Cincinnatus and the American Revolution
George Washington’s Mount Vernon and American Revolution Institute “GWTI 250: For Teachers in 2026!” Workshop
February 26, 2026, Washington, DC
Join us at Anderson House for a free day-long workshop for teachers in the DMV that explores the concept of selfless civic service in the 18th century at the start of the United States through the biographies of George Washington and the common soldier. Take a deep dive into classroom methodology, including primary source analysis and metacognition strategies, such as teaching about George Washington in a city that bears his name. Workshop registration 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.
“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.
For more information, contact:
Stacia Smith
Director of Education
ssmith@societyofthecincinnati.org
202.785.2040 x416