After School & Collaborative Programs

Saturday Academy

The Brooklyn Historical Society in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presents Saturday Academy for students in grades 6-12. Saturday Academy is a free, six-week program for students interested in American History, and best of all, there isn't any homework or testing!

Spring 2010 courses have finished. Check back in January 2011 for new course information.

Collaborative Programs

The Brooklyn Historical Society's education programs and materials bring history to life, helping students develop critical thinking skills, while assisting teachers in preparing their students meet rigorous New York State Learning standards. Cultural After School Adventures (CASA) grants from New York City Council Members offer one example of collaborative programs. BHS successfully piloted CASA programs in Spring 2006 (P.S. 1 and P.S. 119), in which one class worked as "Young Curators" after school. The program resulted in exhibit panels that became property of the schools. BHS staff is available to design a similar program for your school. For more information call 718-222-4111 ext. 237.

Exhibition Laboratory
Exhibition Laboratory, or Ex Lab, as it is known by its participants, is an after-school program in which students from Cobble Hill High School of American Studies, Brooklyn Technical High School, The Packer Collegiate Institute and Saint Ann’s School learn the process of curating an exhibit from start to finish. With the help of Brooklyn Historical Society staff, students mine the collection for art and artifacts, conducted extensive background research, write the explanatory text which will illuminate this history, and chose specific graphic design elements to complete the look and feel of their exhibit entitled . In spring 2010 Ex Lab students are curating Home Base: Memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field an exhibit that highlights the history of the Dodgers and fans by featuring BHS’ rich Dodgers collection.

Teaching American History Grant Partnerships
Using Brooklyn Historical Society's Resources to Teach American History

Beginning in Fall 2001, BHS entered into the first of many three-year partnerships with The NYC Department of Education, local universities and cultural organizations such as Brooklyn Museum, City Lore, The Gotham Center for NYC History, Henry Street Settlement, Historic House Trust , The New-York Historical Society, The Old Stone House and Weeksville Heritage Center to develop and implement staff development programs for teachers. Funded though the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grants, BHS worked with teachers and students in all five boroughs. BHS provided primary source research materials, teaching expertise and worked in a mentoring capacity with teachers. Together, classroom teachers and our staff developed strategies for integrating these materials, as well as the resources of other NYC museums and cultural centers into the classroom.

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