WFWA

Contact: Susie Peirce, Education Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 260-484-5437
Email: susanpeirce@wfwa.org

The goal of the WFWA outreach campaign for The War That Made America is to increase the community’s awareness and understanding of the impact the French and Indian War had on the development of the United States and local history.

The station is partnering with the Allen County History Center, the second largest historical museum in Indiana and one of the oldest historical organizations in the region, to implement teacher training and an art contest for students.

The teacher training is to be held in early February and will be presented by history professors from several area colleges or universities to present the political and ideological effects of the War on the early American Republic.  The content will include regional and local perspectives along with community viewings of the series with follow-up discussion.  Teachers will also interact with mini-displays and hands-on exhibits of local images and artifacts specific to the War.

An art contest will allow students to submit a drawing depicting an aspect of the War.  Judging will be by local artists and history professors with one grand prize winner selected along with five additional winners.   The History Center will display the top twenty-five art entries.

There will be two community screenings featuring clips from the series at the History Center in February/ March, 2006 with follow-up discussions with area history professors.  The discussions center on the impact of the War both regionally and locally.

WFWA will produce a local history page on their Web site and will link to the PBS project Web site with additional links to the History Center and the Allen County Public Library site.