Mission U.S. Workshop

  • The Mission U.S. workshop is a fantastic training that shares an engaging way to teach 4th-grade through 9th-grade students about U.S. history.

  • illustrated woman from mission us game

  • About

    The Mission U.S. workshop multimedia project immerses players in U.S. history content using free interactive games. The WFSU Education & Engagement team originally presented this content in 2013 as a free teacher workshop. The original workshop imparted information about the resources, but don’t worry, you’ll find everything you need to get your students started on this history adventure on this page. Begin with the “missions” below.

    Mission 1

    For Crown or Colony?” puts players in the shoes of Nat Wheeler, a printer’s apprentice in 1770 Boston. They encounter both Patriots and Loyalists. When tensions result from the Boston Massacre, they choose where their loyalties lie.

     

    Mission 2

    In “Flight to Freedom” players take on the role of Lucy, a 14-year-old slave in Kentucky. As they navigate her escape and journey to Ohio, they discover that life in the “free” North is dangerous and difficult. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act brought disaster. Will Lucy ever truly be free?

  • Mission 3

    A Cheyenne Odyssey” focuses on Westward Expansion from the perspective of one Plains Indian tribe. The life of Little Fox, a Northern Cheyenne boy, completely changes from the encroachment of white settlers, railroad builders, and U.S. expeditions. As the buffalo herds diminish and the government enforces the reservation system, players learn about the persistence of the Cheyenne tribe during national transformations at the end of the 19th century.

    To see additional missions, view trailers, and get started on your journey, step into the world of Mission US: mission-us.org.

    Florida Parks History

    Florida is incredibly rich in history. No matter the issue faced in the United States, similar or overlapping historical events have unfolded on Florida’s land. As part of our special Mission U.S. training, WFSU was delighted to welcome Peter Scalco, the Park Manager at Wakulla Springs State Park. Please take a moment to look at the incredible array of history available to you and your students in his PowerPoint presentation, “History in Florida State Parks.”

    Members of our workshop training party were able to take part in a very special Wakulla Springs River Boat Tour as part of the workshop activities. The river tour is at Wakulla Springs State Park and is available to teachers and their students throughout the school year. It is a delightful way to discover not only the natural wonders of Florida but to enjoy the land that has supported us for hundreds of thousands of years.

    Please consider using our beautiful state parks with your students. For more information about each state park, please visit www.floridastateparks.org.

    Audio Resource

    WFSU extended the ideas brought forth in this workshop in a production of WFSU-FM’s local program of Perspectives. Listen to Perspectives: Technology & Teaching.