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Educator Resources

Cultural education refers to organized programs or learning experiences rooted in arts & humanities, natural sciences, and history & heritage. This connects well with P-12 content areas including, but not limited to, arts, science, and social studies. We believe that cultural education forms an important part of a broad and balanced curriculum, and that students should be provided with an engaging variety of cultural experiences throughout their time at school. Cultural education helps us understand and appreciate the world around us. It cultivates a sense of wonder and belonging and is it a vital component of a well-rounded education.

The Office of Cultural Education (OCE) proudly supports P-12 teaching and learning across New York State through a variety of programs, services, and resources. This includes expanded learning opportunities, professional development, and online resources -- for both educators and learners! 
 

Expanded Learning Opportunities

New York Archives Jr! is a companion publication to New York Archives magazine for grades 4-8. Each issue features one article from New York Archives magazine rewritten at an upper elementary level with community connections, related facts, and learning activities focused on primary source analysis. It is aligned with the New York State Social Studies framework and NYS teachers can request classroom sets online. 

New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) offers an in-residency program for students in grades 9-12. This multi-week, pre-professional summer curriculum includes individual, and group instruction designed to help each student explore and develop their talents in visual arts, media arts, or theatre. NYSSSA's Empire State Arts Scholarship program is open to New York State students in grades 5-12. 

The New York State Archives annually hosts the Student Research Awards, a signature statewide competition promoting excellence in student research using historical records. 

The New York State Library’s summer reading program encourages children and students to participate in a free summer reading activities and programs at local libraries all across New York State!

The New York State Museum offers group visits and afterschool programs for students. In addition, there is a robust lineup of public programming offered on an ongoing basis!

The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) offers services for schools and children. Students of all ages who cannot read standard print may receive support at home and/or through their school. 

 

Professional Development

Regional professional development training opportunities are available from the New York State Archives. For customized professional development programming on using historical records in the classroom, contact Jordan Jace at jordan.jace@nysed.gov or (518) 473-8495.

The New York State Museum, an approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credit, offers in-person and asynchronous professional development learning opportunities for educators. These workshops provide access to current research information, interaction with museum collections and research staff, and behind-the-scenes participation in the research process. Exhibit-focused workshops also provide introductions to the New York State Standards-supporting educational resources and techniques for bringing the artifacts and research of exhibits into the classroom.

The New York State Library is an approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE). Through New York State Library educator workshops, participants gain access to real-world applications, authentic research, and thoughtful lessons.

The Office of Cultural Education and the Office of Early Learning collaborated to create Cultural Connections, a framework and resource kit for P-3 learning. 

PBS LearningMedia is a free digital library full of teacher-created, standards-aligned, and station contributed content for the classroom! In addition to these ready-made resources, the site offers a suite of free, on-demand professional development. 

 

Online Resources

Consider the Source New York:  Learn how to use historical records in your classroom with this dynamic digital collection. Browse historical records, access learning activities, and build and share engaging lessons for students. Register for your free Consider the Source New York account. 

Findnyculture.org connects educators to cultural organizations across New York State. It is a searchable database of New York's 4,600+ museums, libraries, historical societies, science centers, parks, zoos, university art galleries, planetariums, and more. 

New York State Archives Digital Collections provides access to photographs, textual records, artifacts, government documents, manuscripts, and other materials.

The New York State Library offers a variety of online resources for teachers to use in in the classroom including online exhibits that feature materials from the State Library’s vast collections that explore key chapters in New York and American history. 

The New York State Library’s Digital Collections consist of over 75,000 documents relating primarily to New York State. There are State publications, including past Regents Exams, and primary source documents such as letters, journals, maps and posters.

The New York State Museum Teacher Guides provide educators with ways of engaging with the research, exhibits, and collections. Some guides also provide additional insights for on-site visits to the museum, while other guides can be used in the classroom with inquiry-based lessons and digital access to both research and artifacts.

The New York State Museum Publications are official state research that has been produced and made publicly available since its origination as the New York State Geological and Natural History Survey in 1836.

The NOVELny platform is your online destination to full text of hundreds of journals, newspapers, and other references -- all free!

PBS LearningMedia New York: This website provides free access to public television program clips, teacher guides, interactive learning objects, instructional strategies, and much more, searchable by curriculum area and grade level. 

 

Stay Connected

OCE publishes a quarterly newsletter for educators which highlights classroom ready materials, events, and more. Sign up here for the OCE Education Newsletter and view past issues below:

 

Visit

New York State's Cultural Education Center is located within the Empire State Plaza at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, NY. We encourage learners of all ages to visit the New York State Archives, the New York State Library, and the New York State Museum -- all of which are housed within this historicbuilding. Please review the Office of Cultural Education website for information about tours, public programming, and more!