What’s new at FREE?

Arts

“Explore Themes in American Art” looks at 10 genres of American

art: abstraction, the figure, historical subjects, landscape

painting, marine painting, portraiture, narrative art, scenes from

everyday life, still life, & topographical views. Illustrated

essays, images, featured artists, & references are offered for each

genre. (NGA)

http://www.nga.gov/education/american/aasplash.htm

“The Italian Cabinet Galleries” contain paintings & precious

objects like those that would have been in the private chambers or

studies (“studioli”) of an Italian Renaissance prince, humanist, or

well-to-do merchant. A “studiolo” generally held objects that were

small & finely detailed, meant to be handled & admired at close

range: paintings & bronzes, carved gems, coins & medals, rock

crystal vessels, gilt & silver clocks, small arms, ivory carvings,

& brightly painted maiolica dishes. Many of the objects reflect

the Renaissance fascination with classical Greece & Rome. (NGA)

http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg25/gg25-main1.html

“The Story of Procris & Cephalus” offers nine frescoes depicting

the mythological tale of Princess Procris & Prince Cephalus of

Attica, a story of wedded bliss ravaged by distrust found in Book

VII of the Metamorphoses by the ancient Roman poet Ovid (43 B.C.-

A.D. 17). These nine paintings by Bernardino Luini are the only

examples of an Italian Renaissance fresco series in America.

Visitors can learn about the artist, fresco technique, & more.

(NGA)

http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg26/gg26-main1.html

Science

“The Everglades Ecosystem: Everglades National Park” looks at the

habitats, animals & endangered species of the Everglades, as well

as water management (“the critical issue for the Everglades”). It

also examines threats to what remains of this “river of grass” —

population growth, water quality, loss of species, introduction of

non-native species, & more. (NPS, Everglades National Park)

http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/index.htm

“Environmental Education at Acadia National Park” is designed for

teachers & students preparing for a visit to this park, which

includes nearly 40,000 acres of Maine coastline. (NPS, Acadia

National Park)

http://www.nps.gov/acad/eeweb/enved.htm

“Fire Ecology” aims to help children learn about wildland fire —

its role in ecosystems & its use in resource management. The site

provides activities, quizzes, & background information for teachers

& students (Grades 5-6). (NPS, Fire Management Program Center)

http://www.fire.nps.gov/fire/ecology/docs/toc.html

“National Marine Sanctuaries” provides information about our

nation’s marine sanctuaries — how they were established, how

they’re managed, their scientific & educational programs, & events

that occur in them throughout the year. Within the 13 sites are a

range of creatures, habitats, historical artifacts, & flourishing

maritime cultures. (NOAA)

http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/welcome.html

Social Studies

“Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site’s Learning Page” examines

the livestock & reconstruction of Bent’s Fort, the people of Bent’s

Fort, & the Santa Fe Trail. Built originally in 1833, this adobe

fort became a center of trade with Indians & trappers. For much of

its 16-year history, the fort was the only major permanent white

settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri & the Mexican

settlements. It provided explorers, adventurers, & the U.S. Army a

place to get needed supplies, wagon repairs, livestock, good food,

water & company, rest & protection in this vast “Great American

Desert.” (NPS, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site)

http://www.nps.gov/beol/learn.htm

“Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Children’s Page” features

stories about England’s first attempt to establish a colony in

America (“The Roanoke Voyages: A Mystery Story for Young People”) &

a site that became home to thousands of freed slaves during the

Civil War (“Freedom Comes to Roanoke Island”). (NPS, Fort Raleigh

National Historic Site)

http://www.nps.gov/fora/children.htm

“Junior Ranger Program at Fort Stanwix National Monument” was

designed for children ages 8 to 10 & their parents by the

volunteers & rangers of Fort Stanwix National Monument. Children

learn about how the National Parks got started, about people who

lived long ago at the place now called Fort Stanwix (Rome, NY), &

more. (NPS, Fort Stanwix National Monument)

http://www.nps.gov/fost/jr/jrintro.htm

“Just for Kids at Redwood National & State Parks” offers online

quizzes about redwoods & animals that live there. (NPS, Redwood

National & State Parks)

http://www.nps.gov/redw/kids.html

“The Luso-Hispanic World in Maps” includes maps created back to the

early 16th century, when exploration & new discoveries brought the

need for improved information about the world. The maps, most of

which are hand drawn, depict portions of five continents & were

prepared by cartographers from Spain, Portugal, France, Great

Britain, the Netherlands, Latin America countries, & the U.S.,

among others. The maps represent different national & political

interests & perspectives, at various periods of time. (LOC)

http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/luso/

“So You Want to Learn About the Civil War?” helps students

understand daily life for soldiers at Petersburg (VA), the supply

center to the Confederate capital & site of the longest siege in

American warfare. Stories of what it was like to be a soldier in

the infantry, cavalry, artillery, & more are told through photos &

excerpts of soldiers’ letters (on the web page for kids). The

teacher’s page provides lessons on slave & plantation life & why

Petersburg was a target for the Union army. It offers maps, flags,

& brief biographies of more than 20 leaders. (NPS, Petersburg

National Battlefield)

http://www.nps.gov/pete/mahan/edintroduction.html

“Teacher’s Guide to Independence National Historical Park” helps

teachers plan a trip to see Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Old

City Hall, the Liberty Bell, the First & Second Banks of the U.S.,

Franklin Court, & other historic buildings & artifacts (in

Philadelphia) associated with our nation’s founding. Lessons in

the are for Grades 4-6; however, many can be adapted for other

grades. (NPS, Independence National Historical Park)

http://www.nps.gov/inde/education/Guide.htm

“Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century”

presents nearly 8,000 publicity brochures, ads, & talent circulars

for more than 4,500 lecturers, teachers, preachers, statesmen &

politicians, actors, singers & opera stars, glee clubs & concert

companies, magicians, whistlers, & other performers who performed

in these touring Chautauquas at the beginning of the 20th century.

Founded in 1874 to train Sunday school teachers, Chautauquas spread

from their initial incarnation in western New York state (on Lake

Chautauqua). By the 1910s, these assemblies (generally held in

tents) could be found almost everywhere, presenting a message of

self & civic improvement to millions of Americans. (LOC)

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/iauhtml/

Acronyms

LOC — Library of Congress

NGA — National Gallery of Art

NOAA — National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

NPS — National Park Service

Editors: Peter Kickbush & Kirk Winters

Contributors: Karen Billett, Beth Boland, Terry Childs, & others