K-12 Social Studies Standards
Support Survey

Deployed 10/12 - Closing 11/13

Draft 4 of the Social Studies standards are projected to go before the State Board of Education sometime this winter. In our desire to continue to provide meaningful resources, the K-12 Social Studies team would like to have your input on how to best support Social Studies teachers and curriculum leaders across the state once the new standards are adopted.  Please review this short survey to help us understand what kind of support documents and professional development will help you better understand and teach the revised standards. 

K-12 Social Studies Standards Support Survey: https://ncdpi.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_400qIDzlfL4hRgF

If you are a curriculum leader, please share this with the Social Studies teachers in your school or district. As always, please sign up for our listserv to stay informed: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCSBE/subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED .

International Education Week:
Social Justice and Human Rights around the World Virtual Series

November 16 – 20, 2020 
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Cost- Free

Increase awareness of social justice and human rights around the world in this week-long professional development webinar series. In celebration of International Education Week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the area studies centers at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University will host an interactive webinar every evening throughout the week of November 16-20, 2020. Each webinar will focus on content and resources related to a specific world region: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. Sessions will address the complexity of challenges faced in the world, introduce issues from multiple viewpoints, and illustrate solutionary thinking. By addressing human rights and social justice, these webinars will provide educators the opportunity to engage in examination of our world and think critically about the underlying causes of embedded and interconnected problems, preparing teachers to address issues of global significance in the classroom. Please find the descriptions of each webinar session in the series listed below.

Participants will receive a certificate for 1.5 hours for each event attended.

Register in advance at http://go.unc.edu/IEW

School of Character Application
Is Now Open 

Due Friday, November 20, 2020

Has your school or district cultivated a supportive and caring community? Do you think your staff, students, and the larger community have successfully implemented the 11 Principles of Effective Character? Apply this fall for State and National School of Character to receive valuable feedback for improvement whether you reach School of Character status this year or not.

Remember the application is detailed. It is recommended that you begin early.  All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm (EST) Friday, November 20, 2020.

Learn More and Get Started! 

Tuesday, Nov 17, 2020 04:00 PM

Interested in a program that will give you the competitive edge for your future career as a global professional? Want an affordable study abroad experience tailored to your academic interests and professional goals? The Russian Flagship Program, a federally funded initiative, provides UNC Chapel Hill students of all majors the unique opportunity to gain a professional level of Russian language proficiency as well as tangible work experience in their field of interest through coursework at UNC and an overseas Capstone year in Kazakstan. As part of International Education Week, join Meredith Doubleday, Assistant Director, to learn more about this new initiative at Chapel Hill.

For more information on the Russian Flagship Program at UNC Chapel Hill, please visit their website or contact Meredith Doubleday at m.doubleday@unc.edu. Make sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Register Here 

2021 Virtual Teacher Collaborative Committee

Applications are Due December 7, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. 

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is currently seeking volunteers for our 2021 virtual Teacher Collaborative Committee. The committee consists of high school economics and personal finance teachers in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the District of Columbia. Committee members will meet virtually and discuss best practices, provide input and feedback on resources, and help guide the Richmond Fed’s outreach efforts to reach teachers and students. If you are a dynamic educator, willing and ready to contribute meaningful feedback to the Economic Education team, apply today! Members will be recognized for their work on the committee and awarded a certificate of participation.

Applications are due December 7, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. ET.

For more information visit 

https://www.richmondfed.org/education/for_teachers/teacher_collaborative_committee or if you have any questions, please contact Yolanda Ferguson at yolanda.ferguson@rich.frb.org.

Humanities in Class: Online Courses

Earn 35 Professional Development Hours
Next Session Starts November 9, 2020

There's still time to enroll in our fall Humanities in Class online courses before registration closes. The courses are uniquely engineered to connect educators to world-class sources in a collegial environment of deep learning and collaboration.

Expand your knowledge about relevant topics and how to teach them in the classroom – reserve your seat today! Below are a few of the new courses:

• Becoming Visually Literate in the Humanities Classroom
• Water Rights and Land Access: Native American History Today
• Understanding the Modern Middle East
• The Where of Why: GIS in the Humanities Classroom

“My NC A to Z” – A Conversation with Michelle Lanier About North Carolina’s Rich African American History, Heritage & Culture

Receive a Free Book!
Tuesday, Dec. 15 | 5 – 6 PM

From incredible champions for civil rights like Abraham Galloway, Ella Baker, and Pauli Murray – to the exceptional history of places like Freedom Hill, the Royal Ice Cream Parlor and Rosenwald Schools – North Carolina abounds with rich African American history, heritage and culture. And all of this is beautifully celebrated in a stunning new board book written by Michelle Lanier and illustrated by Dare Coulter, My N.C. from A to Z (https://aahc.nc.gov/resources/my-nc-z).

Early childhood and elementary school educators are invited to join Carolina K-12, the African American Heritage Commission and the North Caroliniana Society to learn about the book, the people and places it celebrates, and the many ways it can be used as a creative tool for teaching children about equality and social justice. Author of the book, scholar, and Director of State Historic Sites Michelle Lanier will join us to talk about her inspiration for this work, as well as share the stories of some of the history and culture represented throughout its pages.

In appreciation of our state’s hard-working elementary school teachers, the North Caroliniana Society will be providing a FREE COPY of My NC From A to Z to 100 teachers that participate in the virtual program! (A link will be provided during the program which teachers will fill out with their address. Books will be mailed and arrive 1-2 weeks post event.) Book recipients must be currently teaching in a North Carolina Pre-K program or North Carolina public school or public charter (in grades K-4) and must attend the entire live virtual session to receive the book. Additional copies can be purchased at https://uncpress.org/book/9780865264991/my-n-c-from-a-z/.

REGISTER HERE

November is Veterans’ History
Awareness Month 

On June 28, 2017, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law, An Act To Establish Veterans’ History Awareness Month In November. The intent of this law is to enable students to gain a better understanding of the meaning and importance of the contributions of American veterans and veterans from North Carolina. The North Carolina State Board of Education (NC SBE) is tasked with identifying recommended programs that schools can use during Veterans’ History Awareness Month.  

Did you know that North Carolina is the 4th largest state in the nation in the number of school-aged military dependents of active-duty personnel. North Carolina is also home to over a quarter-million children of military retirees or veterans in every county in the state. Currently, there are more than 22 million Veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Let us all thank and honor them in November.

For more information and to access additional resources, please  click the image above/below, view the Veterans' History Awareness Month flyer ,and visit  the NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Google Sites that was compiled to help you and your students honor veterans. They can be used during this Veterans’ History Awareness Month or throughout the year.

NC Museum of History: American Indian Heritage Celebration

Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and

Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.–4:15 p.m.

The 25^th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration will be online-only this year. From fancy dancing to pine-needle baskets . . . and so much more! Engage virtually to view artists, performers, scholars, historians, and other representatives from North Carolina’s eight state-recognized tribes and four Urban Indian Organizations. They will be sharing their skills, knowledge, and cultural heritage over two days of virtual events.

Though attendance to some free events is limited, you will be able to view performances, panel discussions, and demonstrations from the safety and comfort of your own home or classroom. A schedule and additional information about other groups, presentations, and presenters are available at NC-AIHC.com!  Register below for free interactive sessions. Registration is limited for all sessions, except for Music and Dance Performances. Live-streaming sessions will be recorded and made available as videos on demand as well. All sessions are subject to change. The event’s official hashtag is #AIHC2020! 

 For information and to register, visit NC-AIHC.com or call 919-814-7039.

View Governor Roy Cooper's American Indian Heritage Month Proclamation.

International Education Week (IEW)

November 16-20 

Mark your calendars for International Education Week on November 16- 20th!  International Education Week (IEW) 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.

International Education Week offers the chance to:

• Expand awareness of and interest in global issues and global learning
• Collaborate with and learn from international student groups
• Gain a new cultural understanding
• Sample a small part of life beyond the shores of America

A variety of IEW activities will be planned by NCDPI to promote International Education Week in North Carolina. From now through #IEW2020, we are sharing several Global Education resources on NCDPI's Global Education listserv and social media! Be sure to follow NC Global Education on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to the listserv to start saving and bookmarking those resources!

Visit the NCDPI IEW Google Sites and

be sure to stay tuned for more information and resources as IEW approaches! 

#IEW2020 #NCIEW2020 #NCisGlobal

#NCIEW Resources  

To celebrate International Education Week, NCDPI is sharing several Global Education resources several days leading up to #IEW2020 on November 16-20! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to start saving and bookmarking next week's resources! 

See the resources that were shared the week of October 26 - 30 below:

• Earth at Night- When the sun goes down and the lights turn on, there’s still a lot to explore. Learn about NASA’s Black Marble project and see some of the brightest places on the globe.
  
  
• Earth Day 2020- Resources for celebrating Earth Day.
  
  
• GetHub- Incorporate coding through GetHub: share, copy, adapt, and/or collaborate on code from around the world! 
  
  
• Global Read Aloud Project- One book to connect the world.
  
  
• Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute.
  
• Google Expeditions App Guide- Want to take a trip to Mars? Under the Sea? Inside the Human Body? To Macchu Picchu? Visit all these places and many more!
  
  
• How Fourth Graders are Achieving World Peace- The World Peace Game that engages students in 21st century learning.
  
• Khan Academy- Learn about global cultures from 1980 til now with Khan Academy.
  
  
• Linking Literacy and Computer Science in Elementary School - A summer program in Los Angeles Unified School District shows how teachers—even ones new to computer science—can foster literacy and coding skills simultaneously.
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- Resource collections
  
• Smithsonian Science- Resources for Global Goals 
  
• Teacher's Guide to Global Collaboration- This guide is an unbranded, user-driven resource for teachers looking for projects and resources to collaborate with other classes around the world.
  
  
• Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China- As China's most famous attraction, the Great Wall of China is an essential stop on all China tours. Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

Visit the NCDPI IEW Google Sites to access additional resources.

Be sure to stay tuned for more information and resources as IEW approaches! 

#IEW2020 #NCIEW2020 #NCisGlobal

Living History Virtual Classes from the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center

The National Medal of Honor Heritage Center can support students of all ages and teachers by conducting virtual classes locally and nationally!

In the free Living History Virtual Classes, students get to engage and interact with a Living Historian as their special guest speaker.  Living Historians represent the stories of men and women by wearing the clothing and equipment the historical figures wore in their era.  This style of class, appropriate for any grade, makes students feel as if they have taken a virtual time trip and they learn history in a unique and engaging way! 

Right now, the MOHHC offer classes on the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and Vietnam.  They  will be expanding their class offerings so stay tuned for updates!  Have a standard or topic they can help with? The MOHHC can personalize your class to your grade level, schedule, content, and online platform.  Teachers, all you have to do is schedule your classes and leave your virtual content to the MOHHC !  Contact Education@MOHHC.org to get started.

Sign up for these FREE VIRTUAL CLASSES by filling out this form. 

The 2021 United States Senate Youth Application & Selection Process is Now Available

Applications are Due on December 6, 2020

North Carolina’s application process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) will officially open October 1, 2020. 

The USSYP provides an educational opportunity for juniors and seniors interested in pursuing college coursework in history or political science to spend a week in Washington D.C. meeting Senators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and officials from various federal agencies and the White House.  Due to the circumstances posed by the current pandemic, the upcoming Washington Week experience will be held online the week of March 15, 2021.  

• North Carolina applications will be available for students October 1, 2020 – December 6, 2020. 
• Two student winners will be selected to represent North Carolina. 
• These two winners will each attend the Washington Week online program and receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

For application, entry forms and information about eligibility visit the North Carolina Senate Youth website at http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/.   

Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Award

Congratulations to this year’s winner of the Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Award for North Carolina, Mrs. Elizabeth Shaver. Mrs. Shaver has been teaching at Holly Springs High School in Wake County for the last ten years. She serves as the adviser for the Social Studies Honors Society and the Pride Club at her school. She says that she endeavors every day to ensure that every student feels that they are an important part of her day and that she truly cares about their success and well-being while also working to instill her students with an appreciation and love of American history. Mrs. Shaver will receive $1000 from Gilder Lehrman as well as a collection of books and historical resources.

The  2021 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year award will honor exceptional elementary and secondary school American History teachers (including state and local history). The national winner receives a $10,000 prize presented at an award ceremony in their honor in New York City. State winners receive a $1,000 prize, an archive of classroom resources, and recognition at a ceremony in their state. 

For more information, visit the K-12 Social Studies Google Sites or the Gilder Lehrman website, visit the eligibility page or Nominate a Teacher.

Global Education Opportunities

Asia Society’s Online Certificate in Teaching for Global Competence

Check out the certificate program for educators in partnership with EdPlus at Arizona State University. The program offers certificates in The Essentials of Global Competence, Project-Based Learning in a Global Classroom, and Classroom Assessment of Global Competence. To earn each certificate, educators take three online courses comprised of short videos, interactive learning objects, and competency-based assessments, as well as readings and reflective activities. The certificates are designed for any K-12 education professional interested in learning how to incorporate best-practices in global competence education. You can find more information here.

Virtual Cultural Exchange Opportunities with Individuals Displaced by Conflict through NaTakallam 

NaTakallam  partners with schools to bring real-life conversations, language learning, and cultural exchange to the classroom.  Students work with Conversation Partners (CPs) – all of them individuals displaced by conflict — improving their speaking skills and learning about their partner’s culture and story. In partnership with QFI, NaTakallam is able to offer scholarship funds to interested K-12 schools. For more information, contact schools@natakallam.com or sign-up today.

55th Annual Poetry & Art Contest

Deadline is January 25, 2021

The National Career Development Association is hosting the 55th Annual Poetry & Art Contest in celebration of National Career Development Month (November).  Every adult and student enrolled in public, private, and parochial schools, and colleges are eligible. Adults that are not enrolled in academic programs are also eligible.

Local winning entries (if sub-contests are taking place in your area) in poetry, original art, and mixed media art are sent to the State Contest, hosted by the North Carolina Career Development Association. State winners move on to the National Contest. North Carolina has had many national winners in the past and 13 for the 2019-2020 contest. The co-chairs for the state celebration and hosts, Kelsi Hines and Morgan Ray are hoping that this will be a great opportunity for participants to express themselves and serve as a release during COVID-19, explore career opportunities and connect with what career development means. 

The theme for this year’s contest is “My Future Career - Imagine the Possibilities”. State Submission Deadline is January 25, 2021. State winners will be notified between February and March. All winners receive a certificate.

For questions about submissions (originals or scans), please contact and/or send to: Kelsey Hines, khines1123@gmail.com NCCDA-NCDM, Co-Chair or Morgan Ray, mbray@waketech.edu NCCDA-NCDM, Co-Chair & NCDA-NCDM, Chair. If students would like to send original work by mail, please send to Morgan Ray, 311 Thistle Downs Dr., Burlington, NC 27215.  Please share with your students, families, and colleagues!

• 1st prize - $50 
• 2nd prize - $25 
• 3rd prize - $10

Additional Awards and Grants

• NCSS and the Research Committee sponsor three annual research awards designed to recognize substantive scholarly inquiry in social studies education
  
  
• National Council for the Social Studies Grants and Awards
• List of Educational Grants
• Grant and Fellowship Opportunities