Conner Prairie Learning Portal

Removing Geographical Barriers

The Conner Prairie Learning Portal provides a unique digital experience that focuses on the learner. Through a series of educational resources and interactive elements, our learning portal gives you the time and space that you need to explore the Conner Prairie story with opportunities to complement your own educational development.

Customized courses allow endless possibilities to inspire curiosity and learn about the world in a new way. Students will develop a deeply rooted understanding of Conner Prairie’s educational perspectives and how their Indiana story is connected to the rest of the world.

conner prairie learning portal logo
conner prairie learning portal logo

Removing Geographical Barriers

The Conner Prairie Learning Portal provides a unique digital experience that focuses on the learner. Through a series of educational resources and interactive elements, our learning portal gives you the time and space that you need to explore the Conner Prairie story with opportunities to complement your own educational development.

Customized courses allow endless possibilities to inspire curiosity and learn about the world in a new way. Students will develop a deeply rooted understanding of Conner Prairie’s educational perspectives and how their Indiana story is connected to the rest of the world.

Courses

Exploring Your Curiosity Through Storytelling

children visit Whitaker's Store

In this experience, the learner will learn the elements of storytelling, come in contact with examples of how stories can be told, and be given the freedom to tell their own story. The experience culminates in producing a video to share their story and reflect on the process. Recommended grades 4th-6th.
This course is accentuated by the universal theme of Curiosity.

Overlooked Animal Impact

Tunis Sheep running

We all impact and are impacted by the animals around us. Learning about these interactions and relationships helps us understand the importance of maintaining our local ecosystems and creating sustainable forms of agriculture. Along the way, learners will face problems taking care of some of the animals we have at Conner Prairie.
This course is accentuated by the universal theme of Overlooked.

The Water That Connects Us

White River in Indianapolis

The White River runs through the heart of Conner Prairie. This water brought together seemingly disparate groups of people to this place. Today it continues to bring us together for nourishment, to experience nature and for recreation. Explore the historic story of the river, the science of watersheds, and how we are protecting this resource for our community and those downstream.
This course is accentuated by the universal theme of Overlooked.

Past events

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Curious Conversations:
Laying a Civics Foundation

Zoë Morgan, Curriculum Specialist, and Sampson Levingston, lover of Indiana history and creator of Through2Eyes, discuss the Power of Place and the importance of learning the full history of your neighborhood and your community. Why does place have so much power? How does knowing where we come from help us to become good stewards? Learn about how history, through the lens of place, can help us understand our past and shape our future.

Mike Pace In Traditional Lenape Clothing

Curious Conversations:
Learning Through Objects in Lenape Culture

This webinar discusses material culture, the objects produced, used and traded by a group of people can help us learn more about them. Join Sara Schumacher, Curator of Native American History & Life, as we learn about the Lenape culture through discussions with interpreter Mike Pace and other members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians.

Prairietown residents (2) setting a table

Curious Conversations:
Seasonality in 1830's Everyday Life

This webinar discusses the changing of the seasons impact more than the temperature in the Midwest. How does historical everyday life change with the seasons? How might your clothes and diet change? Join Curatorial Assistant Dylan Rawles and Interpreter Sarah Withrow as they discuss food, dress and the primary sources related to seasonality and everyday life.

Children's hands playing with beads and other craft materials

Curious Conversations: Process vs. Product: Transient art and identity making in young learners

Zoë Morgan, Curriculum Specialist, and Janna Lynas, Pre-School Manager, discuss Conner Prairie's approach to learning through transient art. When the purpose of creating art is the process, how can that benefit both young learners to lifelong learners? Learn about how transient art can be an exercise in both identity formation and understanding how it can change over time.

Photo of quite space sensory bin

Curious Conversations: Creating Space for Sensory Needs

In making places more accessible, it takes everyone for it to be successful. Ross Edelstein, an expert in building experiences in public places for people with autism, discusses the historical context, process and purpose that goes into making space for sensory needs. He is joined by Kelsey VanVoorst, outreach and community engagement manager, who will discuss what Conner Prairie has done to make the grounds more accessible and provide sensory friendly experiences and reimagined sensory bins.

White River in Indianapolis

Curious Conversations: Sustainability Along the White River

Flowing through the heart of Conner Prairie, the White River is a vital resource that influences countless people downstream and amongst its watershed. Join Andrew Bradford, Vice President, Chief Advancement Officer of Conner Prairie, and Kelly Brown from the White River Alliance as they tell the story of how human impact has affected river ecology, as well as what methods are used today to monitor and minimize this impact on the environment.

Ossabaw pig

Curious Conversations: Ossabaw Hogs with Dr. Michael Sturek

Did you know that Ossabaw Hogs could hold the key to our understanding of diabetes and cardiovascular disease? Learn more about this fascinating connection and the importance of preserving Heritage Breed animals. Hear from guest speaker Dr. Michael Sturek, M.S., Ph.D. Co-Founder, CorVus Biomedical, LLC and CorVus Foundation, Inc., who studies Ossabaw Hogs and their connection to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Universal Themes

Curiosity

Curiosity powers our learning. Taking the time to explore what you are curious about allows you to learn more about yourself and strengthens your passion for learning.

Overlooked

Purposefully noticing something you haven’t before allows you to learn something new, see something from a different perspective, and deepen your understanding.

Courage

Courage is one way to look at history through human experiences. Learn how individuals made their own stories in response to and in spite of larger historical events.

Courses: Coming Soon

IMLS

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services 45.312