“Did you ever see the beauty of the hills of Carolina
Or the sweetness of the grass in Tennessee?”
What does it mean to be from, to live in, and/or teach about the American South today? The region is a geographical entity, an expanse of complicated history, a place in the imagination, and the homeland of diverse and distinct people and cultures. The American South is often shrouded in romance and myth, and its historical and modern day realities are both intriguing and complex. As an epicenter of Southern studies, UNC-Chapel Hill launched the Teaching the American South initiative in 2017, featuring two main resources:
“Tales of the American South” - A Fulldome Film at Morehead Planetarium
The story of the American South is big, bold and expansive. It demands to be told in a dramatic setting. Through an innovative partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill’s Center for the Study of the American South and Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, audiences can now immerse themselves in a brief story of the South’s past, present and future in the Planetarium’s fulldome film, “Tales of the American South.” Funded by the Kenan Charitable Trust, the UNC Office of the Provost, and Mr. John Powell, the 26 minute fulldome show provides stunning visuals, voices and music, situating and immersing the audience in place and time.
For information about the film or to schedule a screening, contact moreheadplanetarium@unc.edu
Resources for Teaching About the American South
In August 2017, with support from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and Mr. Tom Kenan, UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Education and Carolina K-12 hosted “Understanding the American South Teacher Summit” in which middle and highschool teachers from around the state engaged in the exploration and creation of rich resources for teaching about the American South in comprehensive and creative ways, with the goals of deepening student understanding of the complexities of the region’s past and present. The resulting work from the Summit, as well as additional lessons designed by Carolina K-12, are available on the “Teaching About the American South” website.
For questions regarding the lessons held on the Teaching the American South website, or for information about Carolina K-12’s professional development offerings, contact us at CarolinaK12@unc.edu.