Are You Going to the National Council for the Conference?
Are you going to the 2019 NCSS Conference in Austin? If you would like to get together with other Iowa teachers, put your contact information here.
Social Studies Webinar Learning Series
The 2019-2020 series of webinars kicked off a few weeks ago with a webinar about assessment in social studies. The next two webinars will focus on elementary social studies. To view connection information and recordings of past webinars go here.
#IASOCIALSTUDIES Twitter Chat
Come connect, collaborate, and learn with fellow educators around Iowa as we dive into what great teaching and learning in social studies can and should be. Chats take place the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 8:00-8:30 pm. Connect using #iasocialstudies. More information.
Teachers: Sign up to Receive a Free Book about Holocaust Survivor David Wolnerman
Fill out this form to request a free copy of the book, A Lucky Lie. Complete the form by November 25, 2019. A Lucky Lie is a book written about the life of Holocaust survivor David Wolnerman. The book describes David's remarkable story of survival and perseverance. Check out more information about the book at https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Lie-Power-18-BOOK/dp/1514292246.
Iowa Work Based Learning Clearinghouse
Check out the latest newsletter from the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning! There's lots of good information to get you started with a hands-on project for your classroom that will make learning more relevant to your students. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/261c542
NCSS Responds to NAEP Cuts
Recently, the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) announced it would be cutting the NAEP geography and economics exams. NCSS recently issued a statement about this announcement. Check it out here.
Receive $400 Stipend to Attend NCSS
Teachers who attend the World History Digital Education Foundation pre-conference clinic at the NCSS Conference in Austin will receive $400 to defray travel expenses. The clinic titled “The Miracle on the Han River” will focus on geographic/political/economic/social factors that made Korea’s economic miracle possible. Participants will hear from scholars and pedagogical experts and will receive teacher created resources for the classroom. For more information go here.
New Curriculum Available for 19th Amendment Commemoration
The 19th Amendment Centennial Curriculum was developed as part of the Iowa 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration Project. The curriculum includes teacher-directed lesson plans along with supplementary material. Lessons have been aligned with Iowa’s Social Studies Standards. Lessons are designed, primarily, for 9-12 social studies classes including 6 lessons with a two-day span each. Lessons also would work in 7-8 classes. Much of the material could also be presented in English or TAG classes. One lesson, in particular, highlights Iowa’s role in the Suffrage Movement. Lessons have been designed to allow for flexibility with consideration for different classes. Selections of primary and secondary sources related to the 19th Amendment in a variety of formats accompany every lesson; teachers should feel free to select material from that provided to fit their own classroom needs. Lessons can be presented individually or as part of an ongoing unit. This curriculum was compiled by members of the League of Women Voters of Iowa who are part of the Iowa 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration Committee. The League of Women Voters U.S. will also be celebrating its centennial year in 2020. Check it out at https://19th-amendment-centennial.org .
Secretary of State's Office Announces New Award
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate kicked off a new voter registration initiative on September 10th aimed at Iowa high school students. Every school in Iowa that registers at least 90 percent of their eligible students to vote will receive the Carrie Chapman Catt Award, named after the Iowan who was a national leader in the women’s suffrage movement. Read more here.
Kenneth C. Davis Classroom Visits
Starting in September 2019, bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis (Don’t Know Much About History, In the Shadow of Liberty) will be kicking off a limited round of free virtual classroom visits on the subject of Democracy and Dictatorships. As we move into the coming Presidential election year, the issue of civic engagement is more important than ever. Davis hopes to speak with Middle School and High School students and their teachers about what democracy is, what threatens democracy today, and how to protect it. Each session will include brief introductory remarks and then an open question-and-answer format in which students may ask anything. To be considered for a free virtual visit, please visit Davis’s website and fill out a Contact Form, specifying school location, grade level, and class size. (Multiple classes are welcomed.) Davis will continue these visits throughout the school year, subject to his availability. He is also happy also discuss his previous books, In the Shadow of Liberty, about people enslaved by presidents, and More Deadly Than War, a dramatic account of the Spanish Flu and World War I in 1918.
National Geographic Updates
-
GeoBee registration is open until January 24.
-
Registration is also open for the 2019-2020 GeoChallenge. Registration is open until December 12, 2019. Learn more about the GeoChallenge and find the link to register at: NatGeoEd.Org/GeoChallenge
-
The online courses for Geo-Inquiry, teaching climate change and service learning are open for registration until Oct 6. Graduate credit is now available for all three courses.
-
Other programs and resources include National Geographic's Resource Library, Micro-Credentials, Explorer Classroom, and Mapping Resources.
-
Educators and anyone else are welcome to connect with us on our Online Educator Network, Education Blog, and Education Network newsletter.
-
The 2019-2020 GeoChallenge: Tackling Plastic! The National Geographic GeoChallenge is a project-based, multilevel competition that empowers students in grades four through eight to develop creative solutions to today’s urgent environmental problems. This year’s theme invites students to look at the problem of plastic pollution in our waterways. Registration for the 2019–2020 GeoChallenge is open and will close on December 12, 2019. Learn more and register: NatGeoEd.Org/GeoChallenge
National Geographic Live
National Geographic Live comes to the Des Moines Civic Center for the first time, including three special school-time presentations geared specifically for students in grades 5-8. Through this unique series of presentations, students will be inspired by National Geographic Explorers, photographers, filmmakers, and scientists who embody the importance of living curious, responsible, and empowered lives. This year’s presentations are: “When Women Ruled the World” by Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney (January 21, 2020); “On the Trail of Big Cats” by wildlife photographer Steve Winter (February 18, 2020); and “View from Above” by astronaut Terry Virts (March 24, 2020). All tickets are $1 each and may be obtained through http://DMPA.org/education.
Euro Challenge
The Euro Challenge is a program of the Delegation of the European Union. The challenge is an opportunity for 9th and 10th grade students to learn about the EU. Teams of 3-5 students are asked to make presentations answering specific questions about the European economy and the euro. Check out more information at www.euro-challenge.org.
Jewish Federation of Des Moines Student to Student Program
Student to Student is a program in which presentations are given by a group of three or four students representing the Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform branches of Judaism. Since this is a presentation by peers, it resonates with the students. Presenters discuss a range of topics such as Jewish holidays, dietary practices, the Holocaust,etc. If you are interested in bringing this program to you school check out this flyer.
Noteworthy Articles
- Why Content is Crucial to Effective Critical Thinking
- When are Children Old Enough to Learn about Slavery? This article from the Washington Post explores how old students should be before learning about slavery and the implications for social studies classrooms. This article, also from the Washington Post, explores how schools and teachers are teaching about slavery and features an Iowa teacher.
-
This blog from the Iowa Reading Research Center discusses how to construct argumentative claims.
C-SPAN Campaign 2020
C-SPAN has put together an extensive resource for the 2020 Election. You can see a variety of resources on candidates, political parties, issues, the election process, and more here.
History Dilemmas
With History Dilemmas, students step into the shoes of historical characters and see the world through diverse eyes. Discussing the dilemmas encourages empathy and critical thinking skills. The dilemmas mostly focus on the perspectives of people who are underrepresented in US History textbooks.
Indigenous History of the Land
Whose land are you on? Start with a visit to native-land.ca. Native Land is both a website and an app that seeks to map Indigenous languages, treaties, and territories across Turtle Island. You might type in New York, New York, for example, and find that the five boroughs are actually traditional Lenape and Haudenosaunee territory. On the website and in the app, you can enter the ZIP code or Canadian or American name for any town. The interactive map will zoom in on your inquiry, color-code it, and pull up data on the area’s Indigenous history, original language, and tribal ties. Check out the website native-land.ca or read this article to learn more.
Thinkalong
Thinkalong is a free, interactive online service that leverages public media journalism and an evidence-based educational approach to introduce media literacy, critical thinking, and the practice of civil debate to middle school-age youth.
15 More Digital History Projects that Will Make You Say Wow
This blog post from Craig Perrier outlines fifteen projects to you may want to check out. Topics range from a world religions map to a global closet calculator.
Investigating the Lincoln Assassination
Ford's Theatre has released new resources for teaching about the Lincoln assassination. Check them out here.
Seeing America
Seeing America was created by Smarthistory with 16 leading museums and examines the long history of the United States, from before European settlers to the modern era. Check it out here.
TopoView
The US Topo series refers specifically to USGS topographic maps published as digital documents in 2009 and later. USGS topographic maps originally published as paper documents in the period 1884-2006 have been scanned and can be downloaded free of charge through topoView.
Portraits of America: Democracy on Film
Portraits of America teaches students how to read a film on three levels: as a narrative document, a cinematic document, and a historical/cultural document. The curriculum’s interdisciplinary approach challenges students to tap their knowledge of civics, social studies and history, as well as their knowledge of literature, science, and the arts, to read non-print texts.
From a Picture to a 1000 Stories
Google Books turned 15 this week. To mark the occasion Google released an interactive book titled From a Picture to 1000 Stories. The interactive book is a part of the Google Arts & Culture Institute.
The French Revolution
Choices has released a set of 15 videos about the French Revolution. Topics range from Robespierre to the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Check them out here.
Media Literacy Resources
Teaching Shay's Rebellion
If you are teaching about Shay's Rebellion you might want to check out this collection of resources from the Center for the Study of the American Constitution.
Teaching about Immigration
Teaching Enrique's Journey is a new six week unit provided by Facing History and Ourselves. The book, Enrique's Journey, is about the story of a teenager from Honduras and his journey to seek employment in the United States.
Strangers in Town is a 33-minute documentary about the impact immigration had on a small town in Kansas. You can view the film and check out discussion questions here.
Teaching about Impeachment
Library of Congress Apps
Three apps/websites have recently been created as a result of a Teaching with Primary Sources grant from the Library of Congress. They are:
-
KidCitizen: Children interactively explore Congress and civic engagement through historical primary sources, and connect what they find to their daily lives.
-
My Casemaker: Case Maker features twenty pre-made civics challenges that teachers can share with students, or customize and annotate for their own needs. This is targeted to 6th-8th grade classrooms.
-
Eagle Eye Citizen: Solve and create American history and civics challenges to explore Library of Congress primary sources- and look closer.
Fall Issue of Teaching Tolerance Magazine
The new issue of Teaching Tolerance magazine is now available. Topics include teaching hard history, celebrating Toni Morrison, and more.
Constitution Annotated
Constitution Annotated provides a comprehensive overview of how the Constitution has been interpreted over time. Check it out here.
Role of the President Pro Tempore
Check out this guide about the role of the President Pro Tempore. Senator Charles Grassley is the current President pro tempore of the Senate.
Model Diplomacy
Model Diplomacy is a free simulation program that invites students, educators, and professionals from a variety of backgrounds to step into the roles of decision-makers on the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) or UN Security Council. Check it out here.
The Most Perfect Album
The team at More Perfect thought that most Americans (like them, before they started their project) can’t name more than one or two amendments to the Constitution, let alone remember that there are 27 of them. But these 27 “insertions” to our founding document outline our basic rights as Americans. Not only that, they show a country changing and evolving and re-imagining itself; striving (and not always succeeding) to be better. With that in mind they challenged themselves to come up with a way to give these words the swagger they deserve. So they invited some of the best musicians in the world to create songs inspired by each of the 27 amendments; a kind of “Schoolhouse Rock!” for the 21st Century. Check it out!
Teach Different- Using Questions in the Classroom
Here’s a short, fun cartoon created by Teach Different, a professional development organization of teachers in Chicago. The cartoon describes a universally designed 3-Step student engagement technique that uses SEL principles to build essential questions and promote equity in the classroom. At the end of the cartoon teachers can sign up to receive free Think Alouds every week-- the perfect tool to start unforgettable conversations.
Witness to War
Imagine being able to introduce your students to war veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan without leaving your classroom.This website provides thousands of video interview with veterans.
Primary Source
Primary Source is dedicated to advancing global and cultural learning in schools. They have resource guides, podcasts, curriculum, etc. on several regions of the world and global issues. Check it out here.
Listenwise
Listenwise believes listening sparks learning. Check out their extensive collection of podcasts for teaching current events, ELA, science, and social studies topics.
American Experience
American Experience and PBS Learning Media has thousands of educational resources including videos, lesson plans and more. Check it out here.
Resources for Teaching about the Arab World
New Resources for Teaching Iowa History
You can check out new resources from TeachingIowaHistory.com in their October and November newsletters.
Geography Resources
The ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe. It includes maps, apps, and data layers. Check it out here. Also check out the World Imagery Wayback webpage.
Core Strategies for Working with Primary Sources
This blog post from the Library of Congress outlines several basics for working with primary sources.
Korean War Legacy Project
The Korean War Legacy Project is an online resource where students, teachers, and the public can learn about the Korean War and Korea's post-war economic development and democratization. The website has teaching tools including content chapters, interactive timelines, lesson plans, maps and a searchable video library that features over 1,000 veteran interviews. Check it out at https://koreanwarlegacy.org. You can also check out their companion site, World History Digital Education, at https://www.worldhistoryde.org/.
Teaching about the 2020 Census
Here is a collection of useful resources for teaching about the 2020 Census.
Pulitzer Center
The Pulitzer Center works with schools to bring international issues, and the journalists that cover them, into the classroom. The center offers lesson plans and other educational resources. These resources would be especially pertinent for 7th grade teachers teaching Contemporary Global Studies. Check it out at https://pulitzercenter.org/.
Hindu American Foundation
Are you teaching about major world religions? If so, you might want to check out the resources offered by the Hindu American Foundation. Learn more at http://www.HAFsite.org.
High Leverage Practices in Social Studies
What are high leverage practices? What does this look like in social studies? Check out this new resource from Teaching Works which outlines what these high leverage practices look like in social studies.
Presidential Primary Sources Project 2020
Learn about presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy directly from National Park Service rangers and presidential historians in this free, live, interactive web series, which runs from January-March of 2020. Check out more information here. Sign up to participate here.
Global Education Institute
The 2019 Global Education Institute for Teachers: Infusing Art and Global Perspectives Into Your Classroom, will be held on the University of Iowa campus on December 7-8, 2019. The institute is sponsored by the Stanley Foundation and UI International Programs and presented by the UI Stanley Museum of Art and College of Education. K-12 teachers of all disciplines are invited to attend this year’s institute, a two-day, one license renewal credit experience taught by University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art curators Kimberly Datchuk and Brady Plunger. FREE tuition! The first 20 teachers to register who live outside a 25-mile radius of Iowa City will also receive FREE housing at the Iowa House Hotel. Registration deadline is November 11, 2019. More information may be found on our website at https://international.uiowa.edu/connect/programs/k-12/institute. Please contact Amy Green at amy-green-1@uiowa.edu or 319-335-1433 with any questions.
Folk Arts in the Classroom
Folk Arts in the Classroom provides the opportunity for one social studies teacher and one fine arts teacher from ten different Iowa schools to receive continuing education credit while working together to learn about folk and traditional arts and to create integrated curriculum that incorporates the practices into the classroom. Led by master social studies and fine arts educators, participating teachers will learn about the definition of folk arts, receive training on curriculum development, have the opportunity to workshop their own integrated curriculum based on the program, and learn about the resources offered by Iowa’s cultural institutions. Activities include two, day-long visits to Iowa cultural heritage organizations, folk arts classes and presentations by museum professionals.
Timelines:
- December 1, 2019- Deadline to submit application
- June 10-11, 2020- The program will take place at the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids on June 10, 2020 and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah on June 11, 2020.
Benefits:
In addition to the folk and traditional arts learning opportunities provided by the program, the following will be provided to each educator for participation in the program.
- Continuing Education Credit - One continuing education credit through the Iowa State Education Association will be provided at no cost to the social studies and fine arts educators upon completion of the program.
- Lodging and Travel Stipend - A stipend to offset the cost of lodging and mileage at the state rate will be
provided to each participant for participation in the program.
- Meals - Social studies and fine arts educators will be provided meals during the time spent at each venue.
For more information check out this flyer.
Spring Workshops in Iowa from TeachingAmericanHistory.org
TeachingAmericanHistory.org will be offering three FREE workshops in Des Moines in the Spring of 2020.
InquirED Webinars
InquirED has a series of webinars they are offering this fall. Check out the full list of offerings here.
Iowa Teachers of Psychology Conference
Save the date for the Iowa Teachers of Psychology conference. The conference will take place April 17, 2020 at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Check out the ITOP website for more information.
|
National Humanities Center Professional Development
-
Humanities in Class Webinar Series: Live, interactive webinars connect educators with scholars and experts in humanities fields to discuss compelling topics. Webinars are free of charge but require registration.
-
Humanities in Class Online Courses: The National Humanities Center collaborates with partners, scholars, and subject matter experts to provide virtual courses that allow educators to explore a relevant topic over five to six weeks.
Global Intersections Fieldwork for Teachers Fellowship
The University of Illinois' (UI) Global Fieldwork programs are designed specifically for pre-service and in-service teachers from across the country to experience classrooms around the world, build collaborative partnerships with local teachers in each destination, and work directly with UI Education faculty to develop global competency for teachers and their students. Each year, UI offers K–12 teachers from around the country the opportunity to receive up to $1,500 in funding for an education abroad program of their choice through the Global Intersections Fieldwork for Teachers (GIFT) Fellowship. The GIFT program is supported in part by a Title VI National Resource Centers grant. Teachers from across the U.S. are eligible to apply for a GIFT fellowship. Application and recommendation forms can be found on their website.
Study World War II in the Pacific with NHD
NHD is excited to invite you to apply for the second annual Sacrifice for Freedom®: World War II in the Pacific Student & Teacher Institute. On the heels of a successful 2019 pilot program, National History Day will coordinate the summer 2020 program, sponsored by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, the USS Missouri Memorial Association, and Pacific Historic Parks.
This program provides an exceptional opportunity for 16 student-teacher teams to study World War II in the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in summer 2020. Teams selected will work over the course of six months to research the context of World War II in the Pacific and specifically, the life of a Silent Hero® who died in World War II and is buried in or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
Teams need to be available for travel from June 24 - July 1, 2020. The program will begin in January 2020 with required online course work and continue after summer travel with the completion of the Silent Hero profile for NHDSilentHeroes.org.
Interested teachers and students must submit the application form by midnight ET on Monday, December 2, 2019, and all applicants will receive decision notification no later than December 19, 2019.
For more information, eligibility details, and application requirements and guidelines, please visit our website here. Please forward and share this email with friends or colleagues who may also be interested in applying for this program.
James Madison Fellowship
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers $24,000 James Madison Graduate Fellowships to individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. As funding permits, the Foundation plans to offer one fellowship per state per year. Check out more information here.
Sign Students Up for the National Geographic Geo Bee
It is that time of year again! Time to get students signed up for the Geo Bee. Please visit the following website to sign your school up for the Bee: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/student-experiences/geobee/ [Click the "Register or Sign In" at the bottom of the page to start the process]. Registration paid by check closes on Dec. 20, 2019. Registration by credit card will continue to be accepted until Jan. 24, 2020.
NPR Student Podcast Challenge
The NPR Student Podcast Challenge is back! This year's contest will follow the same basic parameters: Beginning in January, teachers or qualified educators can submit student entries in two basic categories: grades 5-8 and grades 9-12. Entries can be as short as 3 minutes and as long as 12 minutes. It's a chance for your students to compete with young people all over the country for our grand prize: your students' story appearing on NPR's Morning Edition or All Things Considered. Last school year, we received nearly 6,000 entries from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 25,000 students participating. Check out more here.
American Lawyers Alliance $3,000 Teacher of the Year Award
For the past sixty years, the American Lawyers Alliance has been active in its support of public education, citizenship awareness and various service programs. Recognizing the vital role that teachers play in law-related education, the ALA began in 1985 to sponsor Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Awards.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of these awards is to honor public and private High School teachers who have made significant contributions in law-related education and have developed programs that meet the following criteria.
- Furthered the understanding of the role of the courts, law enforcement agencies and the legal profession
- Helped students recognize their responsibilities as well as their rights
- Encouraged effective law-related education programs in their schools and communities
- Increased communication among students, educators and those involved professionally in the legal system
NOMINATIONS:
Nominations for the 2020 Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Awards may be submitted by the applicant, school administrators, other teachers, students, lawyers, judges, professional members of the community, or any other interested parties by March 15, 2020. This year we have increased the award to $3,000 per teacher, plus $500 travel expenses to attend our annual meeting and receive the award. Visit the ALA website www.americanlawyersalliance.org for an application and information about this award, including information about previous winners. Find out more here.
Civics Unplugged Fellowship
The Civics Unplugged Fellowship is a leadership program designed to equip high school students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resources to become the catalyst of change history has proven you to be. The deadline to apply for the CU Fellowship is November 30th 2019. We encourage you to apply early because admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis. You do not need to be nominated to apply. The Fellowship will begin in late January of 2020 and the convention will take place from June 29th to July 1st on the campus of our partner, Georgetown University. Check out their website for more information, to apply, or to nominate someone.
Local Letters for Global Change Student Contest
Students in grades K-12, make your voices heard this election season! Write a letter to a member of Congress that explains the global issue you want them to prioritize, making your case with Pulitzer Center reporting. For more information go here. Three winners will receive:
- $100 to support global community engagement in your classroom (prize distributed to your class teacher)
- Publication of your letter, photo, and bio on the Pulitzer Center website
- A personal video message from a journalist who reported on the issue you select
2020 Letters about Literature Program
The Iowa Center for the Book is excited to announce that the 2020 Letters About Literature Program has launched! Letters About Literature is a statewide reading and writing competition. Students in grades 4-12 write a letter to an author explaining how that author’s work changed their way of thinking about the world or themselves. Readers respond to the work they have read by exploring the personal relationship between themselves, the author, and the book's characters or themes. There are three levels of competition: Level 1 for students in grades 4-6; Level 2 for grades 7 and 8; and Level 3 for grades 9-12. In each level, first, second, and third place winners and three honorable mentions receive a cash prize at a recognition ceremony.
Letters will be accepted via the online portal on the Letters About Literature website beginning November 4, with a deadline for submissions of January 15, 2020.
Other Helpful Resources:
The Film Lounge: Student Challenge Open
A movie career used to start with a ticket to Hollywood. Now all that young Iowans need is a good idea and a short film. If you're an Iowa student in grades 7-12, here's your chance to have your short film broadcast statewide on Iowa Public Television as part of "The Film Lounge: Student Challenge." Check out the fun from last year and submit an application by Jan. 15. Selected films will receive statewide recognition and their filmmakers will be invited to join The Film Lounge Academy, complete with a red-carpet premiere screening and workshops with industry professionals this spring. The program blends art and technology to provide creative workforce training to students in Iowa schools. Need a few pointers or some inspiration to get started? Check out these quick tips from previous contributors to "The Film Lounge." "The Film Lounge: Student Challenge" is produced by Iowa Public Television in partnership with the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa, both divisions of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
Democracy 2020 Youth Film Challenge
The Civic Life Project presents Democracy 2020 Youth Film Challenge, a national film competition for 15 - 25 years old to produce public issues oriented videos that ultimately create a groundbreaking movement for young Americans to get engaged in our Democracy and to vote! Find out more here.
Speak Truth to Power Video Contest
In partnership with the American Federation of Teachers and the Tribeca Film Institute, the 9th annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Speak Truth To Power Video Contest invites middle and high school students to create short videos that highlight the work of a human rights defender. In creating these short videos, students can become champions of change in their communities. The grand prize winning video will premiere at the NYC Tribeca Film Festival in April 2020. For more information go here.
2020 ArcGIS Online Competition
The annual ArcGIS Online Competition for US High School and Middle School Students is now open. Here are some important details about the competition:
- Student projects must analyze, interpret, and present data via an ArcGIS web app or Story Map. Students may work solo or as a team of two.
- Middle school (grades 4–8) and high school (grades 9–12) students registered in public, non-public, and homeschool settings are eligible.
- States must apply to Esri to participate by Dec 13, 2019. All US states, districts, territories, and DoDEA are eligible.
- Each participating state may award up to ten $100 prizes, up to five each for high school students and middle school students.
- The grand prize -- a trip to the 2020 Education Summit @ Esri UC in San Diego, California -- will be awarded to one middle school student/team and one high school student/team.
Know Your Constitution Contest
The Know Your Constitution contest involves a multiple choice quiz and short essay for students in grades 9-12 on the U.S. Constitution. Winning entries are selected from each of Iowa’s 100 legislative districts. The selected students and their teachers are honored at a special luncheon in January where five students and their teachers are selected to attend a week-long program in Washington, D.C. through the Close Up Foundation. Check out more information here.
Profiles in Courage Essay Contest
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites US High School Students to describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. The essay may concern an issue at the local, state, national, or international level. Check out their website to see contest requirements. The contest deadline is January 17, 2020.
C-SPAN StudentCam Video Competition
Mediacom and C-SPAN announce the start of this year’s annual student documentary competition and encourage middle school and high school students to participate in the video documentary competition known as “StudentCam.” Students are asked to create a short video documentary and submit it online between November 1, 2019 and January 20, 2020. This year marks the 16th Annual StudentCam competition, and the new topic for 2020 submissions is “What’s Your Vision in 2020?” As they think critically about that question, students will explore an issue that they most want presidential candidates to address during the campaign and, also analyze the current or historical significance of their chosen issue and include differing points of view. Participants present their views by creating a short video documentary, five to six minutes in length. Students can work in teams or individually to create their videos. Cash prizes of up to $100,000 in total will be awarded to winning documentaries. Winners will be announced in March 2020 and the top-rated videos will be televised on C-SPAN in April 2020. In recent years, Iowa students from Aplington-Parkersburg, Cedar Falls High Schools, Dallas Center-Grimes High School and Urbandale created StudentCam documentaries that earned national recognition. Complete competition details and entry forms are available on the C-SPAN StudentCam website http://www.studentcam.org.
Youth Art Competition Celebrates Women's Suffrage
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, the National Archives Foundation is sponsoring an art competition for students in Grades 4-6. The competition, based on the Rightfully Hers exhibit, will highlight historical achievements in women’s history while promoting the significance of the 19th Amendment. The grand prize includes a free trip, including travel, to the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. for the Spring 2020 Sleepover. For more information or to register, please visit the National Archives Foundation website. The entry deadline is Nov. 5.
Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Filipino American History Month
Veterans Day Resources
International Education Week
International Education Week (IEW) will take place November 18-22, 2019 and is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of State is part of the effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences. Resources include:
- U.S. Department of Education
-
Global Education 101: Global Education 101 is an introductory course designed to support educators across the country to begin to understand global competence, how to grow as globally competent educators, and learn practical strategies for incorporating it into your classroom. This U.S. Department of State course is self-paced and online. Teachers who successfully complete the course will receive a U.S. Department of State Global Educator badge and certificate noting five hours of independent professional learning.
- Incorporating Global Competency into Your Classroom
-
World 101 is a free modular course that breaks down the fundamentals of international relations and foreign policy through relatable multimedia content and stories that help students understand what lies at the core of the most important, enduring topics and issues along with why these topics matter and how they are relevant.
Stefanie Rosenberg Wager Social Studies Consultant 21st Century Skills- Civic and Financial Literacy World Languages Iowa Department of Education Grimes State Office Building 400 E. 14th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 Phone: 515-725-7842 Cell: 515-419-2876 Fax: 515-242-5988 Email: stefanie.wager@iowa.gov Social Studies standards, website, Iowa Core Social Studies, newsletter, calendar, Pinterest Financial Literacy website, newsletter, Pinterest
|