FIREWORKS250

FIREWORKS250 will deliver seminar-based professional development (PD) and student activities to commemorate the Semiquincentennial in 2026 through a partnership between FCRR and IGC, both located at Florida State University. Targeting 540 grade 5 teachers (180 per year) and 11,880 students (3,960 per year, 22 per teacher) in 180 schools (60 per year) across Florida, FIREWORKS250 will offer seminars on the American political tradition, focusing on the first principles of the founding (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights) and their development. FIREWORKS250 integrates evidence-based reading strategies from FCRR, civic and historical knowledge from the IGC and primary source documents, Florida Department of Education lesson plans, and White House resources (e.g.,

“Road to Independence” videos). Activities include developing 22 evidence-based lessons, PD seminars (“FIREWORKS250 Chats”), the Revolutionary Writers essay contest with related podcasts, an annual teacher symposium focused on developing teacher competencies with and knowledge of teaching using primary source documents to compliment the seminars, and the @FIREWORKS250 social media campaign. These activities foster independence (self-directed learning, civic agency), reflection (critical analysis of civic concepts), and engagement (active participation).