The History Harvest: Concept and Practice at the University of Nebraska

Jones, one of the Co-Founders and Co-Directors of the History Harvest project along with Will Thomas, will focus his remarks on the ideas behind the History Harvest and how the concept evolved and was put into practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jones pioneered the classroom component of the History Harvest and has conducted two local “harvests,” the first focused on the African American community in North Omaha and the second on refugee communities in Lincoln. Similarly, he helps organize and teach a nationally recognized summer history program with eighth graders – the Making Invisible Histories Visible program – that adapts the History Harvest concept as a way to spur interest in historical learning among “at risk” youth. In addition, Jones has worked with other teachers at UNL and at a number of other institutions across the country (from K-12 all the way to graduate education) to adapt the History Harvest idea to those particular circumstances.