The Four Peaks Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter in Fountain Hills recently received a Community Classroom Legacy Grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

The grant is in partnership with the Teaching American History program at Ashland University, which is intended to support Arizona’s teachers through enriching professional development opportunities, according to a press release.

With the grant, Teaching American History provides two one-day seminars. The first seminar, held in September at Academies of South Mountain in Phoenix, focused on social reform movements.

The second seminar, which will be held Feb. 7, will focus on Federalists versus Anti-Federalists. It is meant to empower educators by using primary documents and innovative teaching strategies, ensuring they can inspire the next generation of learners, the release said.

For more information about the seminars and how to participate, visit teachingamericanhistory.org.

Essay contests

The NSDAR promotes education on American history by sponsoring essays (and this year for the first time, video) contests.

This year’s DAR essay contests focus on two “tea party” protests that took place in the North Carolina Colony - the Edenton Tea Party and the Wilmington Tea Party.

The essay contest is for fifth through eighth grades, and the video contest is for fifth through12th grades. DAR invites students from private, public, parochial or home schools to participate.

DAR also sponsors a “Patriots of the American Revolution” Essay Contest for students in ninth through 12th grade.

National winners will be awarded $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place in each grade category. The deadline for these submissions is Dec. 15.

For more information and specific guidelines about these contests, contact Four Peaks chapter American History Chairperson Viree Byrne at Sissy78982@aol.com or by phone at 360-567-8183.