DISCOVERY EDUCATION PRESENTS LIVE, GLOBAL VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN LONDON TO COMMEMORATE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAGNA CARTA Elizabeth Hillman, Discovery Education240.461.3053elizabeth_hillman@discovery.com − Discovery Education Will Host a Unique Virtual Event for Schools Worldwide to Learn About the Historic Document and its Effects on Human Rights − Silver Spring, Md. (June 5, 2015) – On Monday, June 15 at 9:30 AM EST, Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, will host a live, global virtual field trip from The National Archives in London to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta. The sealing of Magna Carta, also known as “The Great Charter,” was a revolutionary moment in world history 800 years ago. Open to classrooms worldwide, this one-of-a-kind virtual experience will focus on the importance and history of Magna Carta. During this virtual field trip, participating students and educators will have the unique opportunity to see Magna Carta documents held in both The National Archives in London and The National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. Hosted by broadcaster and author Dan Snow and TV and radio presenter Diane Louise Jordan, this 30-minute broadcast will be streamed live from London and explore the history of Magna Carta, as well as its effect on human rights development in the subsequent centuries. Students will also visit the National Archives in Washington, D.C. where they will see one of four surviving originals of the 1297 Magna Carta and hear from Curator Alice Kamps as she discusses the significance that Magna Carta has had on the history of the United States. "Discovery Education’s interactive virtual field trips allow me to take my students beyond school walls to learn about new topics and experience history in a unique and memorable way,” said Dacia Jones, District Science Specialist at North Carolina’s Durham Public Schools. “I’m looking forward to my students connecting with other students around the world to learn about this key moment in world history.” Magna Carta subjected the king to the rule of law and enshrined core principles of modern liberty and democracy. The charter failed to resolve conflict between King John and his barons, but following John’s death the charter was reissued in 1216 and 1217 in the name of his infant son, Henry III. By 1225, Henry ruled in his own right. He reissued Magna Carta as a personal commitment to rule in accordance with its principles. The 1225 reissue became the definitive text of Magna Carta. The charter is written in Latin and is authenticated by Henry’s Great Seal. Chief Executive and Keeper of The National Archives, Jeff James said, “The National Archives is a window on more than 1000 years of our nation’s history and our collection at Kew is open to everyone, for free. This is a new venture for us and we are delighted to partner with Discovery Education to allow children around the world access to see Magna Carta.” “Discovery Education is dedicated to supporting our partners in school systems in the United States, United Kingdom, and around the globe with high-quality, digital content that creates dynamic and thought-provoking learning experiences,” said Scott Kinney, Senior Vice President at Discovery Education. “We are honored to organize a live event so teachers and students worldwide can have meaningful conversations and think critically about history’s importance and its impact on current events.” The broadcast will be streamed live on Discovery Education’s website, where classrooms can register at no cost by visiting www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/magnacarta. An archive of the event will be available for viewing a few days following the event. For more information about Discovery Education’s services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com. About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, over 40 percent of all primary schools the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.