Visit the LIbrary of Congress (all day Friday)

From Discovery Education- virtual field

Go Behind the Scenes with the Founders at the Library of Congress

At the center of the nation’s capital rests the world’s largest library. Inside, a treasure trove of historic artifacts dating back to the days of the Founding Fathers is waiting to be explored, along with other important items on more than 830 miles of shelves.

This Constitution Day, take your class on a virtual visit to the Library of Congress and witness how the American experience has been preserved for future generations. Discovery Education’s next virtual field trip, “Behind the Scenes with the Founders” kicks off on Friday, Sept. 16.

Meet the new Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, take a tour of the largest library in the world, and get a candid look into the minds that founded our country, learning facts such as:

• What was George Washington really thinking about during the Constitutional Convention?
• What were Alexander Hamilton’s parting sentiments to his wife, Eliza, before his fatal duel with Aaron Burr?
• What did Thomas Jefferson try to cover up in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, and how did scientists at the Library of Congress uncover the truth?

Many recent findings regarding the lives of America’s Founding Fathers have been informed by technologies, helping scientists dig deeper into unique artifacts kept at the massive library.

“New technologies combined with these historic materials are providing insight and information into things we could never have imagined,” said Lee Ann Potter, Director of Educational Outreach at the Library of Congress.

Register today for this free virtual field trip.

This virtual field trip will be available to watch anytime, starting at 7 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 16. All you will need to view the event is a laptop or computer with an internet connection, speakers, and a means of projecting your screen to the classroom.

You can also join a live Twitter Chat with the Librarian of Congress Friday at 1 p.m. ET, using the hashtag #DEConstitutionDay2016.

The content in this virtual field trip will be appropriate for upper elementary, middle, and high school students.