Education

Students or adults can participate in one of our hands-on activities using archival files from the Johnson administration. Fight for your life in the role of a Soviet spy, become a member of the President’s National Security Council and advise the President on a matter of national security, or prioritize civil rights issues in order to work with the President as he drafts landmark legislation. 

Register for a classroom activity here.

"The Spy's Dilemma" is an interactive simulation that allows participants to read, interpret, and evaluate primary source documents, work collaboratively, and determine which ones would be most useful to you as a Russian spy.

In "A Presidential Decision," become part of the Johnson administration and advise the President on whether or not he should escalate the bombing in Vietnam during a meeting on July 20, 1965.

“A Matter of Civil Rights: A Decision to Construct Legislation for Congress” allows participants to assume one of eight roles while participating in a simulation exercise using primary documents from our archives.  

Workshops are available for educators and feature primary sources from our document, photo, and museum archival holdings. Our workshops are created with teachers in mind to expand their curriculum and develop their own skills in research and primary source work. Workshops can be arranged at any point during the year on a weekday when the museum is open to the public, in addition to pre-scheduled workshops. The LBJ Library is certified by the Texas Education Agency as a provider of Continuing Education Credits (CEU) for Texas educators.

Contact an Education Specialist for more information.

The LBJ Presidential Library and National Archives supports the year-long National History Day competition as a way for students to engage in historical thinking. National History day is a nationwide project-based contest for middle and high school students. The format allows students to pick a topic within a broad theme to analyze and conduct research.

With our extensive holdings, the LBJ Presidential Library provides primary sources, available in person and some online, to enhance students’ NHD research and projects.

For more information about how to start your research, click here. 
For more information about the regional, state, and national fairs, click here.

Our website offers many resources to help you prepare for a visit to the LBJ Library:

• Group Visit Packet [PDF]
• An orientation video, "LBJ: The 36th President of the United States"
• Reservation form for group tours
• Reservation form for classroom activities