Florida: Transforming Education through Rich Digital Content

Transforming Education through Rich Digital Content

Florida Culture & History

Florida on iTunes U offers an additional way to access Florida Culture and History content available from Florida's school districts, state agencies, and non-profit organizations. Click the links below to view these Florida podcasts and other resources in iTunes U.

The Brogan Museum — The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science is a community resource for visual arts, science exploration and humanities - providing cultural understanding in support of lifelong learning.

The Kinsey Collection

The Brogan Museum is honored to host THE KINSEY COLLECTION: The Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey: "Where Art and History Intersect" opening September 11, 2009. The exhibit features items that are historically important, culturally relevant, and aesthetically valued. The Kinsey collection spans four centuries; cohesively preserving African American history with artifacts, while also delving into contemporary African American Art.

American Folk Art Collection

The Brogan Museum of Art and Science’s American Folk Art Collection includes the educational resources of six artist interview podcasts. The 2009 interviews were made possible through a grant, entitled Museums For America, from The Institute of Museum and Library Services. All videos © 2009 The Brogan Museum of Art and Science.

The Kinsey Collection — The curricular material in this course contains a series of prompts designed, by turns, to encourage:

exploration of the Collection and the extraordinary contributions of the countless individuals it represents

conversation among Florida’s students and educators

growth as learners in a variety of content areas and life, in general

open-mindedness

expansion by teachers into class discussions, single lessons, or units of study, as fits the curriculum needs in each classroom

African American Sacred Music From The Florida Folklife Collection — "Shall We Gather At The River: African-American Sacred Music from the Florida Folklife Collection" This content was contributed by the State Library and Archives, a division of the Florida Department of State. This collection highlights Florida’s African American religious music traditions. The collection features both nationally recognized acts and previously unknown local artists, including the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Georgia Sea Island, the Versiteers, and the Amigo Male Singers.

Christian sacred music is performed by African-Americans in a variety of social contexts, which range from informal unaccompanied solo singing, to spirited church meetings, to gospel concerts by professional artissts. LIke its secular counterparts sch as jazz, blues, and various other popular music forms, the music combines African and Eurpoean influences to create unique and compelling musical expressions.

Bluegrass And Old Time String Band Music From The Florida Folklife Collection — "Look A-Yonder Comin'... Bluegrass and Old-Time String Band Music" This content was contributed by the State Library and Archives, a division of the Florida Department of State. The music on this disc is from performances recorded at the Florida Folk Festival from 1960 to 2003. The selections on this disc are from groups that range from amateurs to seasoned professionals—even the “Father of bluegrass music” himself, Bill Monroe.

Old-time string band and bluegrass music have deep roots in Florida. Old-time is based on the centuries-old dance music and songs of people of Anglo-Celtic descent. Bluegrass takes its name from Bill Monroes's Blue Grass Boys, a Kentucky band that combined elements of old-time, big band, blues, and other influences to create a new, high-energy musical style in the 1940s. Florida connections to bluegrass abound. Monroe bought his famed Gibson F-5 mondolin in Miami. Jim and Jesse played for radio broadcasts from Live Oak in the 1960s. Chubby Anthony played a searing version of a composition by the Miami-based Rouse brothers that became one of the most popular fiddle tunes ever: the "Orange Blossom Special."

The Civil War In Florida — Mrs. Lee's 4th grade class in Columbia COunty, Florida, studied the Civil War in their area. They went to the reenactment of the Battle of Olustee and at this location they were able to interview historians that where recreating the battle. Upon arriving back in the classroom, they made a video explaining what they learned.

The Florida Channel — WFSU-TV can be credited with providing the first legislate coverage in Florida through The FLORIDA Channel. The FLORIDA Channel is committed to serving the people of Florida with quality Legislative coverage - bring the people closer to their government.

Civics and Government

Videos exploring different aspects of the Florida legislative process.

Florida Symbols, Markers and Facts

Official symbols of Florida are highlighted, as well as National Historical Markers. Also featured are interesting facts about the state.

Florida Portraits

Florida Portraits offers you a closer look at some of the people and places that impact the quality of life in the diverse state of Florida.

Florida's Attic

Florida’s Attic features interesting artifacts found at the State Library of Florida, the Museum of Florida History, and the Florida State Archives in Tallahassee.

Great Floridians

The Great Floridians biography is a production of WFSU-TV-The Florida Channel and is based on the Great Floridians program administered by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. The Department of State presents the award annually in recognition of the outstanding achievements of an individual who has made major contributions to the progress and welfare of Florida.

Florida History Reading Passages — Florida Then & Now is a set of reproducible readings for an upper elementary study of Florida History. The PDF files are designed to print and photocopy well. Most of the reading passages are two pages with alternating margins so they can be printed front and back and hole-punched.

Hernando DeSoto In America — "Hernando DeSoto in America" is a 20 minute documentary produced by the National Park Service that brings to life the story of the Spanish exploration of the Southeast United States from 1539 to 1542.

Historic Professions In Florida — In the informative videos collected blow, artisans present explanations and demonstrations of professions practiced in Florida's past.

The Blacksmith

The blacksmith at the Mission San Luis discusses the significant impact of his trade on modern civilization, demonstrates the use of a forge to make a nail, and explains ironwork at the blacksmith shop. Mission San Luis is a recreation of an historic Spanish settlement near Tallahassee, FL.

The Tanner

The tanner at Mission San Luis gives an introduction to tanning leather and demonstrates the steps in the process of tanning animal hides. Mission San Luis is a recreation of an historic Spanish settlement near Tallahassee, FL.

The Whipmaker

As a young man on the Florida range, Curly Dekle could crack his 10 foot whip and pop a horsefly from a cow's rump without touching the cow. Mr. Dekle was filmed at Cracker Country, a collection of turn-of-the-century buildings at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, FL. Dekle has entertained at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs for over 40 years. In this video, Dekle demonstrates how to make a whip, an important skill for early ranchers in Florida.

Musicians

A group of musicians at Mission San Luis performs two Spanish songs from the Cancionero Musical de Palacio, a collection of 463 songs written between the years 1505 and 1520. Mission San Luis is a recreation of an historic Spanish settlement near Tallahassee, FL.

Music From The Florida Folklife Collection — From "Shove It Over," a WPA recording of a work song performed by Zora Neale Hurston, to "Orange Blossom Special," performed by Gamble Rogers and Will McLean, this CD spans fifty years of Florida folk music.

More Music From The Florida Folklife Collection — This CD features selections from well-known artists such as Don Grooms, Etta Baker, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, and Jean Ritchie.

Postcards From Florida — Snapshots of Florida from the "Exploring Florida" archive give you a glimpse of the beauty and character of the Sunshine State.

The Seminoles In Florida — Dr. Brent Weisman, Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Florida, discusses the history of the Seminole Indians in Florida.