NATIONAL 

HISTORY DAY

PEOPLE & 

STORIES/ 

GENTE Y 

CUENTOS

MISSION 

US

TOGETHER/

UNIDOS

PRIME TIME

FAMILY 

READING

IDEA LAB

National Endowment for the Humanities

ENGAGING YOUTH

PRIME TIME

PRESCHOOL
Greetings,

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is a federal grant-making agency that awards 

competitive grants to institutions and individuals for humanities-focused projects. NEH grantees 

are from cultural institutions such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public 

television and radio stations. NEH-funded projects vary from seminars for teachers and scholarly 

publications to digital apps and documentary films.

This report highlights six NEH-funded projects designed to support youth and their families, 

specifically urban and at-risk youth. These programs demonstrate the diversity of the agency’s 

work and the many strategies for engaging young people. Through their focus on humanities 

education, collaboration, and community building, the programs benefit young people across 

the country. These are just a few examples of how NEH funding fuels innovation, increases 

communication, and strengthens communities. Some of the programs mentioned in this report, 

such as Together/Unidos, engage smaller groups of teens and young adults in local activities 

while others, like National History Day, engage thousands of children and teenagers through 

nationwide initiatives.

I am proud to say that the content of this report was produced entirely by student interns at 

the NEH. The layout, graphics, and design of the pages you are about to read are the product 

of a student practicum at the Washington, DC campus of Boston University’s Center for Digital 

Imaging Arts. Because of the students’ hard work, the NEH was able to compile these reports 

without the use of taxpayer funds. I hope that you will share this report with your staff, 

constituents, and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Courtney Chapin

NEH White House Liaison and Director of Congressional Affairs
PRIME TIME 

Family Reading Time

PRIME TIME 

Preschool Program

National History Day

Student Competition

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos 

Story Talk

Idea Lab

Oregon Summer Program

Together/Unidos

Book Talk for Kids & Parents

Mission US

Digital Education Program 

Conclusion

& Projects in Progress

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

7

Building communities 

through the humanities.

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos students
1

Introduction

Early childhood education with a focus on reading and 

critical thinking equips a child for future success. The 

mission of PRIME TIME Family Reading Time is to combat 

intergenerational illiteracy by engaging young children and 

their families in reading and discussions. PRIME TIME was 

created by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities 

(LEH), an NEH-funded state humanities council (see side bar). 

Through NEH’s Federal/State Partnerships Office, PRIME 

TIME has been adopted in 42 states across the country.

How It Works

PRIME TIME is a set of unique, humanities-focused, and 

outcomes-based programs designed to engage underserved 

families in an exploration of the humanities and early 

childhood education.

PRIME TIME Family Reading Time combines storytelling 

and discussion in one 90-minute session per week for 6 or 

8 weeks. A storyteller reads beautifully illustrated, awardwinning children’s books that include culturally diverse 

stories from around the world. Children engage with fairy 

tales, folk stories, fables, historical accounts, and poetry.

The discussion leader then guides the group to personally 

connect with literature by asking open-ended questions. 

The program demonstrates how literature can enrich one’s 

life. It models family bonding through literature by providing 

families with critical information on library resources to 

continue reading together after the program ends. 

To recruit participants, PRIME TIME coordinates with 

the host library, schools, community centers, churches, 

and after school programs. Each PRIME TIME program 

provides resources for up to 25 parents/caregivers and their 

children (ages 3 to 10) to participate. The program provides 

transportation, books, and meals.

PRIME TIME 

FAMILY READING TIME

These sites are 

located in

Across the nation each year, 

PRIME TIME has as many as

PRIME TIME has seen huge 

growth since its inception in 

Louisiana in 1991, 

and now has over

1,492

sites

42

states

57,761

participants
NATIONAL EXPANSION OF 

PRIME TIME PROGRAMS

States with PRIME TIME 

States without PRIME TIME

I’m more comfortable going 

to the library now that I’ve 

met the staff and librarians.. – PRIME TIME Participant

“

”

PRIME TIME gave me

the opportunity to 

bond with my son.. – PRIME TIME Parent

“

”

NEH-Funded State 

Humanities Councils 

The NEH funds 56 humanities 

councils located in all U.S. states 

and jurisdictions. The councils 

support local humanities programs 

and events—like book festivals, 

film screenings, discussions, 

and traveling exhibits—and 

many provide grants to local 

organizations, scholars and 

citizens to create humanities 

programs and products. 

The state humanities councils 

receive the majority of their 

funding from the NEH through the 

Federal/State Partnership Office. 

They supplement this funding with 

support from private donations, 

foundations, corporations, and, 

in some cases, state government. 

Stories about the work of state 

humanities councils are on the 

Federal/State Partnership page on 

www.neh.gov.
I know now that 

when I read to my 

children, they get 

more out of the story.

– PRIME TIME Parent

“

”
10 YEAR STUDY RESULTS

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities commissioned an impact 

study chronicling 10 years of PRIME TIME from James Edward Barr, 

Ed.D., Professor Emeritus Nicholls State University. The study shows that 

students who participated in the PRIME TIME program during their early 

elementary years (1st through 4th grade), performed at a higher level on 

Louisiana state exams.

iLeap Performance Ratios

# of Variables PRIME TIME Participants Scored Higher vs. Control Group

Grade PRIME TIME

Control Group

# of Variables

3rd 5th 6th 7th 9th

45

34

23

11

0

Affiliations

PRIME TIME is always looking for state 

and local institutions to become affiliate 

members. PRIME TIME Affiliates are 

independently funded sites located 

outside Louisiana. Affiliates can be 

statewide institutions (humanities 

councils/departments of education), 

regional agencies (literacy councils/

library systems) or individual libraries, 

schools, community-based centers, etc. 

that are self-supported, administered, and 

implemented. More information can be 

found here: http://leh.org. 

Training

PRIME TIME provides training workshops 

for those seeking involvement both in 

Louisiana and around the country.

Initiatives

The program includes a number of focused 

initiatives: PRIME TIME Family Reading 

Time, PRIME TIME Preschool, PRIME TIME 

Teacher Institutes for Advanced Study, 

and PRIME TIME Homeroom (an upcoming 

teacher professional learning initiative).

For More Information

Visit the Federal/State Partnership 

page at www.neh.gov to find more 

stories about state humanities councils’ 

projects.
PRIME TIME 2 PRESCHOOL

children 3 to 5 years 

old and their parents/

caregivers graduated

from first to 

second year

with families who 

participated in four or 

more sessions

comparing attendance numbers from 

session 1 to session 6

said attending PRIME TIME Preschool 

positively changed the way they read 

and discuss books as a family

Introduction

PRIME TIME Preschool, a subdivision of PRIME 

TIME Family Reading Time, is a unique program for 

educationally and economically vulnerable Louisiana 

families with children between the ages of 3 and 5. 

PRIME TIME Preschool introduces young children 

to the humanities and literature in a way that is 

developmentally appropriate and engaging. PRIME 

TIME Preschool focuses on literacy acquisition and 

early literacy skills needed for school readiness, the 

development of higher-order thinking skills, and new 

opportunities for experiential learning. PRIME TIME 

Preschool demonstrates how NEH-funded programs can 

be adapted for new audiences.

How It Works

PRIME TIME Preschool is made available by the 

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities through 

partnerships with childcare centers, schools with 

preschool programs, Head Start programs, and other 

educational facilities. Participants in PRIME TIME 

Preschool programs meet for 90 minutes a week for six 

weeks in a venue provided by the partner organization. 

The program focuses on literacy skills that are essential 

to early childhood education. Facilitators give parents 

tools to share books with their children by equipping 

them with questions that encourage critical thinking, 

ways to make reading enjoyable and relevant, and ways 

to demonstrate a love of learning.

82 

participants

160%

participant

increase

119%

attendance

growth

81%

family 

retention

100%

of parents
Partnerships

All PRIME TIME programs are partnerships with schools, libraries, 

childcare centers, or other public service venues. In fall 2012, LEH 

first implemented PRIME TIME Preschool in 55 schools and childcare 

centers in Catahoula, Orleans, and Sabine parishes in Louisiana. LEH 

annually offers several rounds of grant opportunities for potential 

host venues to receive funding for PRIME TIME programs. LEH funds 

programs through the funding it receives from the NEH as one of 56 

state humanities councils.

It has made my son want to read more 

books. He wants me to read to him. He 

now brings books for us to read.. – Parent, Jonesville Elementary School, LA

When parents feel that their child’s school is 

offering every opportunity for extended 

learning, it promotes confidence in the school.. – Rochelle Wilcox, PRIME TIME Preschool Program Coordinator & 

Director, Wilcox Academy of Early Learning, New Orleans, LA

“

“

”

”
Introduction

Sometimes the best way to learn is by creating — each 

year students involved in National History Day create 

original films, live presentations, critical research papers, 

exhibits, and websites that bring history to life.

How It Works

National History Day (NHD) is a national academic 

competition, for both elementary and secondary 

school students, that emphasizes gaining new 

historical knowledge through primary and secondary 

research. By creating a competition for students, NHD 

raises historical awareness and ignites a passion for 

knowledge in America’s youth. Each year, more than 

half a million students are encouraged by teachers 

nationwide to participate in NHD. Students compile, 

analyze, and interpret historical data through research 

at libraries, museums, archives, oral history interviews, 

and exploration at historic sites. Each student then 

conveys what he or she has learned through original 

papers, websites, documentaries, and performances 

that are judged in competitions beginning at the local 

level. Winning students advance to state and national 

competitions. The top submissions are entered into the 

Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest held 

each June at the University of Maryland at College Park. 

The NEH sponsors 16 awards presented annually to 

students at the National Contest. Winning students are 

named National Endowment for the Humanities Scholars.

3 NATIONAL HISTORY DAY

and their parents and teachers gather 

each year at the University of Maryland, 

College Park for the Kenneth E. Behring 

NHD Contest

participate annually in all U.S. 

states and territories

currently have NHD programs in addition to 

Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, China, 

Korea and South Asia NHD affiliates

In 2011, President 

Barack Obama awarded 

National History Day a

2,400

students

Over

600,000 

students

All 50 

states

National 

Humanities 

Medal
I have learned 

there is always a 

different side to 

the story that’s just 

under the surface 

that’s waiting to 

be discovered, and 

that no opinion is 

not worth at least 

some level of 

consideration, 

no matter how 

outlandish it 

may seem..

– Student Participant

Students have always told us how much they loved 

their NHD experience and how it has changed 

their life, both in their academics and their careers. 

History not only teaches students about the stories 

of our past, but is vital to creating a generation of 

young people who can apply these lessons 

to the future. 

 – Cokie 

 Roberts

16 awards sponsored by 

NEH are awarded each 

year at the National 

Contest in Maryland

be discovered, and 

that no opinion is 

not worth at least 

some level of 

consideration, 

no matter how 

– Student Participant

History not only teaches students about the stories 

of our past, but is vital to creating a generation of 

young people who can apply these lessons 

to the future. 

 – Cokie 

 Roberts

16 awards sponsored by 

NEH are awarded each 

“

“

”

”
This is as nearly a perfect 

curriculum as possible, 

because it teaches 

research, writing, 

product development, 

technology use, and 

personal skills as in 

learning to interview.

– Teacher Participant

“

”
•	 NHD can be integrated into any social 

studies or history classroom to help teachers 

expand and enrich the existing curriculum.

•	 NHD developed assessments that can 

be used to structure and monitor student 

learning through research projects.

•	 NHD annually conducts a one week summer 

institute for middle and high 

school teachers. The structure of the 

summer institute is focused on a topic 

of historical significance and is held on 

location.

•	 NHD awards annual scholarships to 

universities and colleges for students who 

submit outstanding entries.

Fast Facts:

Recognizing Educators

National History Day provides 

awards to recognize exemplary 

teachers and educators from 

across the country:

The History Channel Award for 

Service

The History Channel sponsors the 

History Channel Award for Service, 

presented to an individual who has 

made an outstanding contribution 

to history education through 

service to the NHD program. The 

winner receives a $5,000 cash 

prize.

The Patricia Behring Teacher of 

the Year Award

The Patricia Behring Teacher 

of the Year Award recognizes 

outstanding NHD teachers. Two 

state winners, one at both the 

junior level and senior level, are 

selected from each of the fifty 

states, the District of Columbia, 

Department of Defense Schools, 

International Schools-Asia and the 

U.S. territories. The winners of the 

national awards are selected from 

among the state awardees. Each 

state winner receives $500 and the 

national winners receive $10,000.
PEOPLE & STORIES / 4 GENTE Y CUENTOS: STORY TALK

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos measures and documents public 

benefit with a self-reporting survey that determines participants’ 

assessment of their growth and comfort level with their reading and 

communication skills. Program coordinators submit a final report 

assessing progress of participation and the depth and complexity 

levels of the discussions over the eight weeks.

held each 

year in 

conjunction 

with over

in People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos 

programs regionally and nationally 

over the course of a year

80

Story Talk 

Series

1,500

participants

20

Public 

Libraries

currently 

hosting 

programs

12

States

Introduction

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos is an educational 

nonprofit dedicated to introducing new audiences to 

their literary heritage. The NEH has supported this 

nonprofit through major grants to various projects, 

including a recent $300,000 grant to implement the 

Story Talk program. Story Talk is a youth-focused 

discussion series that includes readings and in-depth 

explorations of contemporary and classic short stories. 

The program helps young people apply literary themes 

to their personal experiences while allowing them to 

communicate with their peers across cultural, ethnic, 

and class differences. 

How It Works

In cooperation with 20 public libraries in 12 states, 

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos provides 80 Story 

Talk series made up of groups of 15-20 teenagers. Each 

series is 8 weeks with one 90-minute session per week. 

A trained program coordinator meets with groups of 

teens to read aloud, in English or Spanish, a short story 

with thematic depth and literary value. The session 

culminates in a discussion about the themes present in 

the works and how each person can relate to them.
People & Stories provides a glimpse of the 

world of the humanities, opening students’ 

minds to critical thinking and problem solving.. 

More Programs

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos began 

in 1972 with the mission to create greater 

access to literature, focusing on populations 

and communities with limited educational 

opportunities. Many of the initiatives, like 

Story Talk, offer reading and discussion 

programs in English and Spanish. 

In addition to programs geared to youth, 

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos 

runs programs that reach individuals in 

residential treatment facilities, prisons, 

homeless shelters, adult education 

programs, libraries, and senior centers.

“

It breaks down stereotypes by showing 

common experiences through literature..

–President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities 

Coming Up Taller Awards

“

”

– Rev. Brian McCormick, President, Martin 

House Community for Justice Foundation

”
IDEA LAB

Introduction

What does the “pursuit of happiness” really mean? 

Students from across Oregon gather in Idea Lab, a 

summer program run by Oregon Humanities (OH), to 

discuss happiness and how people of different ages, 

ethnicities, and incomes experience and pursue it. 

Oregon Humanities is one of 56 state humanities 

councils funded by the National Endowment for the 

Humanities.

How It Works

Idea Lab is a three-day residential learning experience 

in which 20 high school teachers and over 100 rising 

seniors explore the pursuit of happiness through 

workshops, lectures, films, and discussions. Since 

2006, Idea Lab has provided teachers the opportunity 

to develop professionally while creating a meaningful, 

college-like experience for high school students 

between their junior and senior year. Teachers and 

students take courses together, which sets Idea Lab 

apart from most other continuing education and college 

readiness programs. Idea Lab is supported by the NEH, 

Oregon Humanities, foundations, and individual donors. 

This support goes toward fellowships and scholarships, 

which underwrite the program costs for participants. 

As a result, while Oregon Humanities’ actual cost per 

student is $700, the fee per student is $150, which many 

schools, districts, and families split (see side bar).

5

from all around the state of Oregon 

were selected this year to participate 

in the course

for continuing education can be 

earned by teachers by participating 

in an Idea Lab session

will be awarded to 

teachers by OH for the 

summer program

have been awarded by 

Idea Lab for the Summer 

Scholars Program

24

teaching 

fellows

11 

fellowships

45 

credits 

70

student 

scholarships
Our teachers come from a variety of 

disciplines...they come together to 

design a curriculum that is just right 

for this group of pretty remarkable 

students who attend Idea Lab to 

enhance their experience within a 

three-day period..

I work with students all the time 

in the classroom, but I seldom get 

a population of students that is 

homogeneous in the sense that 

they’re all very rigorous and critical, 

smart and gifted academically. 

– Idea Lab Instructor

– Alicia Crawford, 

 Program Coordinator

Sponsorship Options

In order to encourage broad participation 

statewide in Idea Lab, Oregon Humanities (OH) 

offers several options for Oregon schools and 

families. Oregon Humanities covers room and 

board costs for all teachers and students, and 

offers travel stipends for those who qualify.

Sponsorship and Cost-share 

Options

Who pays 

teacher 

honorarium?

Who pays 

the student 

fee*? 

A. School Sponsorship School School

B. OH Sponsorship OH OH

C. School & Family Cost-share School Families

D. School & OH Cost-share School OH

*$150 Fee (Five to ten students = $750 - $1,500)

“

“

”

”
Introduction

Studies demonstrate that children begin to lose 

interest in reading for fun around ages 9, 10, and 

11. As a result, the New York Council for the 

Humanities created Together/Unidos to focus 

on sustaining the desire to read in children. The 

program involves parents in the process to equip 

them with educational tools.

How It Works

Together/Unidos offers a forum for parents and 

their children (ages 9 to 11) to gather at their 

local library to talk about books and humanities 

ideas. The New York Council for the Humanities, 

funded in part by the NEH, runs the program 

with libraries across New York. Before each of 

the six 90-minute sessions, the family reads 

either a picture book or a novel that explores 

courage, freedom, or community—the three 

program themes. During each session, dialogue 

between parents and children fosters an 

educational atmosphere and further emphasizes 

the importance of reading. A librarian and a local 

humanities scholar co-facilitate each Together/

Unidos session. In addition to the Council’s 

sponsorship, Together/Unidos received NEH 

funding as a part of the We the People initiative. 

TOGETHER / UNIDOS 6 BOOK TALK FOR KIDS & PARENTS

per reading program

of each book (15 in English, 

15 in Spanish) are sent to the 

library from the NY Council

each 

session 

lasts

across the state of New York have recently 

held Together/Unidos programs

is awarded by the Council to successful 

applicants. It contracts directly with the 

library to supply all books and necessary 

expenses such as childcare and materials

8-15

families

30

copies

17

libraries

90

minutes

$1,000

stipend

6

sessions
Reading is not something I usually like to 

do, but I loved the [Together] program at 

my library... Most of the books we read 

and discussed were about people who 

had challenging problems to solve and I 

learned that we can grow from solving the 

problems that come in our lives. 

 – Child Participant

We have been continuing to 

discuss books as a family. [The 

program] has helped us become 

better readers and taught us 

what books are. They are not just 

paper and ink; they are precious..

 – Parent Participant

Expanding Together/Unidos

Potential sites can apply to host 

the series through the New 

York Council for the Humanities. 

The Council offers two online 

webinars for its Together program, 

“Introduction to Together,” which 

introduces potential host sites 

to the program, and a “Host Site 

Coordinator Orientation” for host 

sites. 

It is now offering a new, 

community-themed book list made 

up of six wordless picture books 

and graphic novels, which will serve 

English language learners and 

struggling readers.

“ “

”

”
7 MISSION US

Introduction

The National Endowment for the Humanities 

funds the creation of digital education programs 

to deliver humanities content to students. Mission 

US is a free, interactive, online game that allows 

players to learn about particular eras in American 

history through a role playing game. The game 

recently won a gold medal at the Serious Play 

Conference in Redmond, Washington for its 

innovative approach to historical education.

How It Works

Students assume the role of a young person of a 

particular time period and must navigate historical 

settings while investigating primary documents. 

The first mission, “For Crown or Colony?” 

examines the different perspectives of British rule 

in the weeks leading up to the Boston Massacre. 

The second mission, “Flight to Freedom,” 

depicts the complexity of slavery and the road 

to liberation. Each mission is accompanied by 

an Educator Guide equipped with background 

information, related activities, and additional 

resources to help teachers supplement the game’s 

exploration of themes in American history. WNET 

New York created the program with funding from 

NEH’s Division of Public Programs. WNET created 

an iPad app with additional NEH funding.

nationwide participated in a study by the 

Education Development Center, which concluded 

that there were significant gains 

in student comprehension of American history 

in 7th and 8th grade have been exposed to 

Mission US in the classroom

have used “For Crown or Colony?” 

in their classes

in the study said that their Mission US

students developed greater understanding of 

historical perspectives on the Revolutionary 

Era than the students in comparison 

classrooms

50

states

9,700

teachers

1,000

students

95%

of teachers
About EDSITEment

Mission US is one of many NEHfunded projects featured on 

EDSITEment, a website run by 

the NEH, that features humanities 

lesson plans and educational 

resources for teachers, parents, 

and students. EDSITEment is 

a partnership among the NEH, 

Verizon Foundation, and the 

National Trust for the Humanities 

and is a member of the Thinkfinity 

Consortium of educational 

websites. 

All websites featured on EDSITEment 

have been reviewed for content, 

design, and educational impact 

in the classroom. They cover 

a wide range of humanities 

subjects, including American 

history, literature, world history 

and culture, language, art, and 

archaeology. EDSITEment was 

selected as one of the top 25 

websites for 2010 by the 

American Association of School 

Librarians and has been 

accepted into the Smithsonian 

Institution’s Permanent Research 

Collection of Information 

Technology, the world’s premier 

historical record of computing 

applications and innovations.

Teachers need more resources like Mission US. 

It engages students and fosters interest in a 

neglected subject area. Mission US develops 

critical thinking skills that are lacking in many 

students today. Mission US inspires students with 

minimal exposure to US History to take an interest.

– Renee Paterson, Teacher, Las Vegas, NV

“

”
Projects In Progress

This report features only a small selection of the 

NEH-funded initiatives that serve K-12 and prekindergarten audiences. Often, NEH funding 

goes toward the early developmental stages of 

a project. The Lower Eastside Girls Club’s Girl/

Hood project and the Florida Humanities Council’s 

TeachingFlorida.org are long term projects nearing 

completion. Both represent the NEH’s commitment 

to funding projects that use technology to explore 

the humanities and tell stories. 

8 CONCLUSION

The Lower Eastside Girls Club: Girl/Hood Project

The Lower Eastside Girls Club will open a new planetarium and highlight 

Girl/Hood, an immersive history program, in their Center for Community 

starting fall 2013. Through Girl/Hood, the staff and girls will create a 

series of planetarium episodes that describe the lives of girls who lived in 

the Lower Eastside during five historical eras. The episodes will employ 

an innovative mix of archival materials and computer generated imagery. 

The first episode will focus on the lives of a shipbuilder’s family who lived 

on the site in the mid-1800s. The NEH funded the design of a low cost 

production process that allowed the Club to create humanities content for 

planetariums. The production process is replicable, so organizations can 

adapt the project in the future to use planetariums to enhance humanities 

education.
Conclusion

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has a long history of making 

the humanities accessible to children and teens across the country. NEH-funded 

programs like PRIME TIME Family Reading Time and National History Day 

demonstrate that children of all ages and backgrounds benefit from exposure to 

the humanities, which helps children become critical thinkers, adept readers, and 

clear writers. These programs bolster resources at local libraries, schools, and 

community centers while simultaneously emphasizing that including parents in 

early educational experiences builds stronger families and communities.

The projects showcased in this report are examples of how private organizations 

and individuals can develop engaging humanities programs for youth and create 

communities of support with relatively low levels of funding. Not only can your 

constituents become involved in many of the programs included in this report, 

but they can also create new, local versions of these programs. Please connect 

your constituents with the NEH or any of the organizations featured here to bring 

these educational opportunities to your community. The NEH is proud to support 

a diverse set of cultural centers and organizations, including NEH-funded state 

humanities councils, in an endeavor to engage youth in the humanities.

Teaching Florida

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of 

Florida’s founding in 1513, the Florida 

Humanities Council (one of the 

NEH’s 56 state councils) launched 

TeachingFlorida.org. The website features 

articles, lesson plans, archives, and 

interactive elements for K-12 teachers 

to use when teaching Florida history (a 

state requirement). The first unit focuses 

on Florida’s Spanish Colonial past and 

features articles on colonial St. Augustine, 

Florida’s original Native American 

inhabitants, and black society in colonial 

Florida. Upcoming units will focus on The 

Civil War in Florida and World War II in 

Florida. TeachingFlorida.org will continue 

to grow in the years to come, focusing 

on topics related to Florida’s history and 

culture, particularly those covered in the 

K-12 classroom. The Council welcomes 

the input of all Florida teachers as it 

develops this repository.

Design Credit — Daphne Kiplinger

The graphic design layout of this and the other 3 reports issued 

to Congress on the impact of NEH funding was designed by 

Daphne Kiplinger, a graduate student at Boston University’s 

Center for Digital Imaging Arts in DC.

Photo Credits

PRIME TIME Family Reading Time & PRIME TIME Preschool: 

Photos Courtesy of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

National History Day

Photos Courtesy of National History Day

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos

Students with certificates: Credit Ady Huertas

Idea Lab

Writing Hand: Photo credit Tim LaBarge

Students Sitting: Kim Nguyen

Together/Unidos: Photos Courtesy of the New York Humanities 

Council; Credit Melissa Maravell

Mission US: Photo Courtesy of Mission US website
About the NEH

The National Endowment for the 

Humanities (NEH) is an independent 

federal agency created in 1965. It is one 

of the largest funders of humanities 

programs in the United States. 

Because democracy demands wisdom, 

NEH serves and strengthens our 

republic by promoting excellence in 

the humanities and conveying the 

lessons of history to all Americans. 

The Endowment accomplishes this 

mission by awarding grants for toprated proposals examined by panels of 

independent, external reviewers.