New Virtual Education Resources for Distance Learning Available

Apr 06, 2020 Washington, D.C. —

During this difficult time, the White House Historical Association has created new online educational content to be a resource for parents, students, educators, and learners of all ages. The NEW “Digital Resources for Distance Learning” features age-specific educational content for Kindergarten through 5th grade, 6th-12th grade, and resources for people of all ages interested in further learning.

The NEW “Sharing White House History” links to educational content from more than 100 presidential sites across the country. This aggregate collection includes resources from presidential libraries, museums, and historic homes from George Washington through the current day White House.

Both collections of material that can be accessed on the homepage of the Association’s website, whitehousehistory.org. In addition, the Association’s NEW series “White House History Wednesday,” will feature a weekly tweet pairing a White House history article with suggested activity or craft.

Content available for age specific age groups:

Kindergarten through Grade 5

• NEW Tour the White House: For Kids! via the WHExperience app (tours of the public and private spaces, photos, and fun facts!) Download on iTunes or the Google Play store.
• Classroom resource packets, which pair articles with suggested questions to consider and activity projects. Topics covered in these packets include: “White House Pets,” “Children at the White House,” “Holidays at the White House,” and “Presidential Portraits.”
• A list of recommended White House Historical Association books for kids

Grades 6-12

• Virtual Tours:
  • Virtual tour of the White House and President's Neighborhood via the WHExperience app
  • Virtual tour of the historic Decatur House Slave Quarters on Lafayette Square
• The Association's monthly 1600 Sessions podcast – which features interviews with historians and eyewitnesses to the history of the White House. Guests have included the former and current White House Curators, former White House Social Secretaries, historians, authors, etc.
• “Conversations with Kids about White House History”
• Short films
• The Association’s digital library filled with thousands of high-res images of the White House throughout history
• Classroom resource packets that pair articles with suggested activities
• White House Trivia
• Curated collections of articles and images on various White House history topics
• An interactive timeline tracing “Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood” along with a virtual tour of the Decatur House Slave Quarters which are located on Lafayette Square

Additionally, “Digital Resources for Distance Learning” offers articles, reading lists, videos and other content for learners of all ages.

The Association will continue to add new content to these collections. To submit suggestions for new educational content, contact onlineresources@whha.org.

For more information, or to request an interview, contact press@whha.org.