Barbados Connects

The Sugar Mill, The Sea, & Society

Lessons & Methods to Place the West Indies in Your Classroom

A Collection Created by

Teachers for Teachers

Background

The Sugar Mill, the Sea, and Society was a week-long experiential professional development program focused on the historical and contemporary landscapes of Barbados and the West Indies. Barbados possesses a unique site and situation as the eastern-most Caribbean Island that is considered the most “British” Island in the Caribbean. The goal was to see, experience, and learn about Barbados on its own terms, rather than simply through the lens of our typical History and World Geography textbooks. Activities and excursions focused on different aspects of geography - including historical, cultural, urban, economic, political, and physical geography. On a broader level, the experience provided field-based learning for Virginia educators to develop a dynamic collection of best practice educational resources.

Participants & Curriculum Authors

Caroline Bare Lisa Belcher

Lisa Coates Frances Coffey

Chris Cantone Amber Roberts

Kristen Wilson Kristen Fallon

John Skelton Emily Longenecker

Patricia Garvey Elizabeth Mulcahy

Project Leadership:

Dr. Molly Warsh, Department of History, University of Pittsburgh

Andrew Payne, Director of Education, The National Archives (UK)

Andy Mink, Vice President of Education, The National Humanities Center

Michael Willliam, Program Specialist, The National Humanities Center