Education News for February 2025

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

This primary source is a photograph of a water tank in Pickett State Forest built by workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The Civilian Conservation Corps was created in 1933 and expanded by Congress in 1937 to relieve unemployment. During the expansion, the CCC added vocational training and remedial education programs. The Corps employed young men to perform structural improvements to bridges and roads; erosion and flood control; and various conservation work projects. The Corps was instrumental in building the infrastructure of the Tennessee State Parks System and National Parks in Tennessee.

This primary source, a red felt patch with green and yellow thread, features the letters CCC embroidered across the top, a surveying tool, and a tree. It reflects some of the areas emphasized by the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, specifically forestry, conservation, surveying, and mapping. This patch stands separate from the Civilian Conservation Corps insignia patch, the Company-specific patches, and those chevron or stripe patches worn to designate a rank within the CCC.

Both primary sources are relevant to Tennessee State Social Studies Standards 5.48, US.43, TN.51, AAH.34.

Activity Bank: Spotlight on New Deal Primary Sources (The Civilian Conservation Corps)

Our primary sources of the month focus on the Civilian Conservation Corps. Check out our Activity Bank (high school) for the mini activity guide, New Deal Programs in Tennessee, and the activity guide, The New Deal through Primary Sources for more resources on the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The resources collected in the Activity Bank may be useful to educators and students exploring Tennessee history, American history, and using primary sources in the classroom for grades 4, 5, 8, and High School.

Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) and Peterson's Test & Career Prep

Peterson's Test and Career Prep databases are available through the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL). Databases include Advanced Placement (AP) practice tests in many areas of social studies, including U.S. History, World History, Human Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and U.S. Government and Politics.

Find Peterson’s Test and Career Prep at https://tntel.info/students/high-school under College and Career resources. Students will need to create a free account to use the practice tests and other resources.

2024-2025 School Year Workshop Series

Join us for our annual workshop series this school year! We’re traveling across the state to a location near you to present this workshop. Our theme for this year is “Tennessee’s Constitution: Continuity & Change, 1796-1870”.

To learn more and to register, visit our website!

Workshop dates for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year:

Friday, February 28 Jackson

Saturday, March 1 Nashville

Saturday, March 29 Memphis **Workshop is full, but there is a waitlist!

Wednesday, April 2 Johnson City

Teacher Opportunity: Pilot our NEW Revolutionary War DocsBox

The Library & Archives Education Outreach team is looking for 8th-grade teachers to test out our BRAND NEW Revolutionary War DocsBox this spring! We are launching the DocsBox this fall but we want your feedback. We currently have several volunteers from West Tennessee. We’d love to also have volunteers from Middle & East Tennessee!

If interested, please reach out to Gena Henderson at gena.henderson@tnsos.gov. Participants who pilot the box and provide feedback will receive a free copy of the included book Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence.

Historians in Training Junior Archivist Summer Camp 2025

Do you know an aspiring historian? Are there any future librarians or archivists in your classroom? If so, they may be interested in registering for the Tennessee State Library & Archives' annual Historians in Training: Jr. Archivist Summer Camp!

This full-day summer camp is open to 8-12 year olds and will run from June 9-13, 2025. During this week-long adventure, campers will learn how history is preserved through hands-on activities, games, and field trips to local historical sites. More information and registration paperwork are on our website's "Summer Camp" page. We hope to see your students this summer!

Our mission is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness and accountability in a customer-centered environment.

sos.tn.gov/tsla/education