2025 Virtual Summer Institute for Teachers Day One

In the presentation "CSI: Pearl Harbor," educators will be transported back to December 7, 1941, in an immersive and interactive lesson plan designed to engage students in the historical events that led to the United States' entry into World War II. Participants will step into the roles of detectives, meticulously examining evidence, sifting through clues, and collaborating to unravel the mystery of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Through this hands-on approach, educators will gain innovative strategies to foster critical thinking, teamwork, and historical inquiry in their classrooms, making history come alive for their students.

Step into the shoes of WWII strategists, engineers, and codebreakers in this interactive math adventure. In this session, participants will explore the critical role mathematics played in the war through three dynamic, hands-on stations. From decoding encrypted communiqués and modeling projectile trajectories to solving logistics puzzles under pressure, teachers will engage in historically grounded activities that are rich in mathematical reasoning and easily transferable to the classroom. Each activity connects to real-world events and includes printable resources and make-and-take components. Get ready to crack codes, launch “artillery,” and think like a wartime mathematician!

Black military history is often underrepresented in K–12 and higher education curricula, and even when included, a handful of well-known units tend to dominate the narrative. This limited focus can unintentionally narrow students’ understanding of the full scope of Black military service and its impact on Black communities during and after World War II. In this session, we will explore why certain Black units receive more attention than others and share strategies for educators to incorporate overlooked stories into their teaching. Participants will leave with tools and resources to help students engage with a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of Black military history.

In this engaging and hands-on session, educators will delve into the practice of teaching with objects with a multi-sensory lesson on island hopping, featuring artifacts from the National Museum of the Pacific War. Attendees will experience a high-energy session as they don helmets and collaborate with peers to explore and analyze historical artifacts. This session promises to be an immersive and interactive journey, empowering educators to bring history to life with innovative strategies that foster inquiry-based learning and a deeper understanding of historical events.

In this hands-on session, teachers will explore a lesson from the National Museum of the Pacific War's new Traveling Trunk, which uses the modern cellphone as a lens for understanding wartime communication. Each lesson connects a common cellphone function, such as messaging or navigation, to the ways Americans met those same needs during WWII without digital technology. Participants will engage with the activity from a student perspective and reflect on practical classroom applications.

📄 Presentation can be found HERE

✏️ Traveling Trunk Interest form can be found HERE

This session explores the pivotal campaign that turned the tide in the Pacific. Educators will uncover Guadalcanal’s strategic importance and human stories, using primary sources, multimedia, and cross-curricular connections to deepen understanding. Participants will walk away with practical strategies to help students grapple with the complexities of wartime decision-making, the realities of combat, and the lasting lessons this battle holds for history—and for today.

Special Feature: Our Director of Collections and Exhibits recently traveled to Guadalcanal to document this history firsthand and sat down for an exclusive interview with famed ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard—the man who discovered the wreck of the Titanic. In this conversation, Dr. Ballard reflects on the expedition to survey shipwrecks from the Solomon Islands campaign, the technology used to uncover history from the seafloor, and why Guadalcanal remains one of the most important turning points of WWII.

While our Director of Collections and Exhibits traveled to Guadalcanal, the education team set sail on their own mission recently—bringing you aboard the legendary USS New Jersey. In this exclusive tour, you’ll step onto the decks of one of the most decorated battleships in U.S. Navy history. Explore its massive guns, tight crew quarters, and the spaces where strategy shaped the Pacific War. This behind-the-scenes look offers educators vivid details and stories to bring naval history alive for students.

Comic books weren’t just entertainment during WWII—they were propaganda, morale boosters, and cultural snapshots. This webinar dives into the vibrant, sometimes gritty world of wartime comics, exploring how they shaped public perception and inspired the home front. Perfect for art, history, or media studies, this session gives educators ready-to-use ideas for analyzing comics as primary sources and sparking conversations about storytelling, symbolism, and the power of pop culture in times of war.