People and Places

The Program: People & Places is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, The Freedom Trail Foundation, the sixteen sites and the Black Heritage Trail. Since 1984, over 55,000 Boston school children have attended educational programs offered by People & Places. Over 300 teachers have attended the People & Places Summer Institute. The program reaches inner city elementary and middle school students and introduces them to the history of Boston through visits to the historic sites.

In 1991, People & Places was the recipient of a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities grant. In 1992, the Teacher Summer Institute was named by the U.S. Department of Education as one of ten model programs in the nation offering summer learning opportunities to teachers.

Reach: More than 5000 Boston Public school children annually participate free-of-charge in the People and Places field trip program. A significant number of the students participating live in affordable housing throughout the City of Boston.

Learning Styles: It is not uncommon for students from inner city school environments to experience learning difficulties. People & Places' highly interactive program responds specifically to this issue. By incorporating hands-on activities, theater-arts, role-playing and storytelling, and a variety of other educational techniques, children with varied learning styles can absorb, appreciate and comprehend the material being presented.

Socialization: People & Places is a field-trip program which, by its very nature requires cooperation within a group setting. Ground travel to the sites, visitation to the historic houses and structures, and the small-group dynamic of the program all encourage appropriate social behavior and personal discipline among the students.

Consistency: People & Places is offered yearly to teachers as part of their American History/Social Studies programming. This consistency allows teachers to anticipate site visits for their classes and fully integrate the social, economic and historical material into their curriculum each year, resulting in a positive and effective learning experience for the students. Also, these programs address the requirements of the new statewide social studies curriculum frameworks.

Identification with Place: The program gives students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to foster a direct relationship with Boston history. The students come to understand the many universal connections that can be made with this history and their hometown City of Boston. They also discover their own personal connections with the story of the Revolution, and how that story applies to contemporary life.

Civic Responsibility: The events of the Revolution were the result of ordinary citizens' understanding that they should have a voice in their government and that they could and should be agents for change. Learning about this history and the heroic acts of the early patriots encourages students to comprehend their own responsibilities as citizens and the impact their actions can have on world events.

Possible Expansion: With increased funding and higher visibility, People & Places could have an even more significant and positive impact on the lives of Boston school children. Teacher resource guides, art & essay contests for the children, school visits with historic interpreters, kids walks along the Trail are just part of what we could accomplish with more funding.

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Sign-up to receive updates on upcoming Freedom Trail events and tours – view full calendar –	Home > Education > People and Places People and Places The Program: People & Places is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, The Freedom Trail Foundation, the sixteen sites and the Black Heritage Trail. Since 1984, over 55,000 Boston school children have attended educational programs offered by People & Places. Over 300 teachers have attended the People & Places Summer Institute. The program reaches inner city elementary and middle school students and introduces them to the history of Boston through visits to the historic sites. In 1991, People & Places was the recipient of a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities grant. In 1992, the Teacher Summer Institute was named by the U.S. Department of Education as one of ten model programs in the nation offering summer learning opportunities to teachers. Reach: More than 5000 Boston Public school children annually participate free-of-charge in the People and Places field trip program. A significant number of the students participating live in affordable housing throughout the City of Boston. Learning Styles: It is not uncommon for students from inner city school environments to experience learning difficulties. People & Places' highly interactive program responds specifically to this issue. By incorporating hands-on activities, theater-arts, role-playing and storytelling, and a variety of other educational techniques, children with varied learning styles can absorb, appreciate and comprehend the material being presented. Socialization: People & Places is a field-trip program which, by its very nature requires cooperation within a group setting. Ground travel to the sites, visitation to the historic houses and structures, and the small-group dynamic of the program all encourage appropriate social behavior and personal discipline among the students. Consistency: People & Places is offered yearly to teachers as part of their American History/Social Studies programming. This consistency allows teachers to anticipate site visits for their classes and fully integrate the social, economic and historical material into their curriculum each year, resulting in a positive and effective learning experience for the students. Also, these programs address the requirements of the new statewide social studies curriculum frameworks. Identification with Place: The program gives students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to foster a direct relationship with Boston history. The students come to understand the many universal connections that can be made with this history and their hometown City of Boston. They also discover their own personal connections with the story of the Revolution, and how that story applies to contemporary life. Civic Responsibility: The events of the Revolution were the result of ordinary citizens' understanding that they should have a voice in their government and that they could and should be agents for change. Learning about this history and the heroic acts of the early patriots encourages students to comprehend their own responsibilities as citizens and the impact their actions can have on world events. Possible Expansion: With increased funding and higher visibility, People & Places could have an even more significant and positive impact on the lives of Boston school children. Teacher resource guides, art & essay contests for the children, school visits with historic interpreters, kids walks along the Trail are just part of what we could accomplish with more funding.