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This update contains the latest announcements and current news impacting K-12 Social Studies in North Carolina public schools. As always, we encourage those of you who receive the updates to please share this issue with others who are not currently subscribed to our listserv. To receive Social Studies Updates please sign up using the link Social Studies Listerv Update or follow us on Twitter.
Update includes:
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC STANDARDS UPDATES
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
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Annual European Union Educators' Summit
- Webinar Series: Integrating SEL and Character Education in Social Studies
- The School of Character Application is Now Available
- Teaching American History and NCDPI Seminar on WWII, FDR, and The Holocaust
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OER & NCDPI: Teaching Causation
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New Resource for World History and World History Webinar Series
- The 2024 NC Social Studies Conference
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Southern Skies/Cielos del Sur Teacher Workshop
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS, AND GRANTS
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2023 Travel Grants from the North Carolina Museum of History
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Students Can Now Apply for the 2023 US Senate Youth Program
- Important Update: The US Senate Youth Program’s Social Media Channel
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2023 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year
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Governor's Educator Discovery Award
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Tryon Palace: Palace Scholars
- NCCSS Awards, Scholarships, and Grants
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Awards from the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
NCDPI Office of Academic Standards
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Academic Standards Yearlong Look
The Office of Academic Standards is excited to share a yearlong look of upcoming webinars, resources, and leaders’ meetings. This link will stay live and will be updated periodically. Please share!
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English Language Arts
Standards Update
In April 2023, the NCDPI ELA Team began review of the current 2017 ELA Standard Course of Study (SCOS). In an effort to keep stakeholders informed during the Review Phase, the NCDPI ELA Team will provide monthly standards updates that contain the latest announcements and current news regarding the ELA SCOS.
*Please note: Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) monthly updates have been merged with this standards update to consolidate and streamline communication.
These updates will be sent every first Friday of the month.
Current Phases for Standards:
Learn More About ELA SCoS Surveys, Focus Groups, and Additional Information
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Subscribe and Connect with each Area in the Office of Academic Standards
Do you want to stay up to date on the latest news, opportunities, resources, standards updates, etc. from one or more of the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards content areas?
Sign up today to receive newsletters and announcements from the area(s) or topic(s) of your choice:
- Arts Education
- CTE and Career Pathways
- Character Education
- Computer Science
- Dual Language/Immersion
- English Language Arts
- English Language Development
- Global Education
- Guidance/School Counseling
- Healthful Living
- Information and Technology
- Legislative and Community Affairs
- Mathematics
- Science
- School Social Work
- STEM
- Social Studies
- World Languages
Spread the word about how to Stay Informed and Connected!
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Annual European Union Educators' Summit
Time Sensitive: Sign Up as Soon As Possible
Social Studies educators (grades 9-12) are invited to apply to be one of the 35 participants for the European Union Educators’ Summit to be held 22-23 October 2023, at the European Union Delegation in Washington, DC.
Under the activities of the European Union in the U.S., they are hosting a meeting of U.S. educators.
The Euro Challenge is an annual economics competition for high schools students. The competition introduces young people to both macroeconomics and the European Union. Teams of 3-5 students pick from one of the 20 EU member countries within the euro area to present an example of how to meet a current economic challenge (they can choose from 5 topics). Twenty-five teams are sponsored by the EU Delegation to travel and stay in New York City for the semi-finals and finals, where they present before notable academics and diplomats. The final 2-5 teams are awarded a funded trip to Washington, D.C.
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If you would like to register interest to attend, please do so as soon as possible. (see QR code and link)
You will be notified if you are one of the 35 educators selected on or before 23rd September.
For questions or information, please email or call (315)-572-2618 Kim O'Neil, Educational Outreach for the EU Educators’ Summit.
To Learn More, View the EU Educators' Summit Flyer 2023.pdf
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Webinar Series: Integrating SEL and Character Education in Social Studies
September 27, 2023, 4-5 pm EST
Are you looking to enhance your classroom experience and empower your students to become more empathetic, responsible, and caring citizens? Join our 2023-2024 webinar series on Integrating Character Education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into your social studies classrooms.
The first webinar will focus on Self-Management where you will discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to create a positive and productive learning environment in your social studies classroom!
Register Now
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The School of Character Application is Now Available
- 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?
Character.org recognizes schools and districts that implement the rigorous standards of the 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. Schools of Character serve as an exemplary model for all schools across the United States and around the world.
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.The 2023 School of Character Application deadline is November 10, 2023.
Learn More and Get Started!
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NCDPI and Teaching American History (TAH): Seminar on WWII, FDR, and The Holocaust
Join NCDPI and The Ashbrook Center for a TAH seminar in Forest City, NC on Saturday, October 14, 2023 for a socratic discussion about WWII, FDR, and The Holocaust.
This professional learning opportunity is free and teachers will be provided with a light breakfast, boxed lunch, and a certificate for contact hours towards CEUs at the end of the day.
Hurry, space is limited!
Use this link to register. Contact Tom Daugherty for more information.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
New Resource for World History
NCDPI Social Studies has an exciting new resource for World History! The Chronological Documents for World History tool is designed to help teachers find primary source examples that could be used in their instruction of specific objectives during specific chronological periods. This supplemental document provides potential sources that can be integrated into curriculum and lesson plans to provide students with additional materials to analyze and evaluate. Public School Units (PSUs) have local control to determine curriculum, therefore, the Chronological Documents for World History tool is not meant to be:
- curriculum
- an exhaustive list of primary sources,
- required to use for teaching and learning
- a checklist of documents that are required to use or access
In the footer of the document, there is a link where educators can recommend additional sources that can be used in certain time periods for specific objectives.
The new Chronological Documents for World History tool is live now and ready for you to use today!
Access other NCDPI-created Resources
Disclaimer: Because North Carolina is a local-control state, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) does not provide lists of resources outlining specific reading texts, books, authors, or other primary and secondary resources. Prior to use, the Social Studies leadership in local PSUs should carefully analyze the resources. Learn More
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World History Webinar Series: Historical Journeys Around The World
Throughout the 2023-24 school year, NCDPI Social Studies will host a World History Webinar Series entitled Historical Journeys Around the World: Busting Myths & Building Knowledge in 6, 7, and World History Classrooms! The series will be offered in five 2-hour virtual sessions on topics and aspects in World History in which teachers may have little to no background.
Webinar Session #1
Tuesday, September 19 – 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
World History Primary Sources: Inquiring Minds Want to Know Special guest presenter Gretchyn Bedard (High School Classroom Teacher, Iredell Statesville Schools).
Do you often find it challenging to find good primary source materials to use when teaching topics in World History? If so, this is the session for you. World history teachers will be introduced to the NEW NCDPI Chronological Documents for World History. This document provides teachers with examples of primary sources that align to the NC objectives. Gretchyn, who was one of the primary architects of this document, will introduce teachers to some of the best ways to use this resource to find material appropriate for multiple topics in World History. Using various example World History topics, Gretchyn will take participants through several engaging activities she uses in her classroom, that are sure to engage students and help integrate inquiry and the use of inquiry related historical thinking skills. Those attending will leave with multiple primary resource examples that can be used in your next lessons.
Register Now
VIEW: Flyer - WORLD HISTORY SERIES - NCDPI - September.pdf
https://tinyurl.com/WORLDHISTORYSESSION1
Teaching Causation
Join the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and OER Project on October 3, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM ET for a free session on teaching causation.
While reading and writing are integral to any social studies course, it is also important to develop student’s historical thinking practices. Causation is a skill that is often misrepresented by students and, many adults, to be honest. How can we help students understand the differences between long-term causes, short-term causes, and triggering events? How can students use this skill to gain a greater historical perspective? You will be excited by the buzz that is created in your classroom when you begin to implement a few simple activities that strike at the heart of causation.
This session will be the second professional development in a six-session series focused on the social studies skills and practices in the new Inquiry strand. Each session will run from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm EST. The six sessions in this PD series are:
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9/5/23 - Historical Inquiry (Recording Coming Soon)
- 10/03/23 – Historical Thinking Skill: Causation
- 11/07/23 - Historical Thinking Skill: Comparison
- 02/06/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Continuity and Change Over Time
- 03/05/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Contextualization
- 04/02/24 – Geography Skills
Important Registration Details: You will need to first register with OER Project in order to attend the October 3rd webinar.
REGISTER NOW!
For questions, please contact events@oerproject.com.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
The 2024 NC Social Studies Conference
The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies is an organization that serves its members and provides support to social studies educators. Each year, NCCSS invites K-16 educators from across North Carolina to come to their conference. The conference is two days of amazing sessions, fun networking opportunities, and more!
Visit the NCCSS website to learn more about:
- Registering for the state social studies conference
- Presenting a session at the conference
- Nominating yourself or a colleague to serve on the NCCSS Board
- Applying for awards, grants, and scholarships
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Southern Skies/Cielos del Sur Teacher Workshop
September 30 from 8:30-2:30 PM
On Saturday, September 30 the Consortium on Latin American and Caribbean Studies will offer a teacher workshop in collaboration with Dr. Gabrielle Vail and the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. The workshop will focus on indigenous ways of knowing and will include a viewing of the Southern Skies/Cielos del Sur bilingual Planetarium show. The stories of the Maya and Inca communities will be told in Spanish and English while looking at Latin American skies.
The workshop will be led by Dr. Vail from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please register at this link. This event is limited to the first 20 participants. Registration closes on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at noon. 0.5 Continuing Education Units will be offered.
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INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
State Library of North Carolina: Educator Survey
The State Library of North Carolina wants to hear from you about how to best serve educators! The Library is asking you to fill out a brief survey to tell them about your needs and what resources they can provide to help make your lives a little easier.
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Please take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCEducators2324 or by using the QR code. Please feel free to share with your colleagues because they would like to hear from as many educators as possible. Feedback will directly impact the services and resources that the State Library of NC provides. They appreciate you taking the time to share your perspectives.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
N.C. History Day: Turning Points in History
N.C. History Day, an affiliate of National History Day® (NHD), is excited to explore “Turning Points in History” this school year with schools across the state!
NHD is a free program for 6th - 12th-grade students that works with all Social Studies classes no matter their geographical focus or time period. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights, and artists while learning how to conduct research, formulate a historical argument, and present their findings.
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For teachers, it is a project-based program that helps you meet the current Social Studies Inquiry Standards. NHD works as an in-class project, as a history club or afterschool program, and even independent study. This year we are excited to provide FREE access to WeVideo for Schools to any NHD students and their teachers needing online video editing tools.
The completely optional NHD contest season takes place in the spring semester and is an excellent way for students to build presentation and interview skills, gain academic recognition, and have a chance for prizes and special opportunities! We have 8 in-person regional contests, including our newest region based at UNC Pembroke, and a virtual region to try to make competitions accessible to all parts of the state.
To learn more about the program and free resources, please visit www.nchistoryday.org or contact the state program coordinator karen.ipock@dncr.nc.gov.
N.C. History Day is managed by the N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources.
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AWARDS, GRANTS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
2023 Travel Grants from the North Carolina Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History is offering transportation assistance to schools for field trips with travel grants for the 2023-2024 school year. Applications are now open through Friday, September 22.
This program allows children from qualifying schools across the state to visit the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. The travel grants are intended to support K-12 students across the state who otherwise might not be able to afford travel expenses to bring students to the museum.
While applicants will be evaluated on several criteria, priority will be given to Title I and Title VII American Indian schools, schools with a high percentage of low-income or at risk students, public schools bringing a minimum of 30 students, and schools that have not previously received grant funding from the museum.
This year, the N.C. Museum of History will also offer funding specifically for Nash and Edgecombe County schools through a grant from the Mims Foundation.
Teachers interested in applying should prepare an estimate of travel expenses, approximate dates and which grade(s) and the number of students they will bring before filling out the application.
To apply for the travel grant or for more information click here.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
Application materials are now available for the upcoming United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).
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.
Two student winners will be selected to represent North Carolina. These two winners will each attend the Washington Week program, March 2-9, 2024, and receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.
Information and North Carolina application materials can be found on the North Carolina Senate Youth website, August 1 - October 1.
Please Share This Link and Announcement with
Teachers, Students, Parents, and Members of Your Community!
https://bit.ly/ncsenateyouth
Important Update: The US Senate Youth Program’s Social Media Channel
The United States Senate Youth Program's current page on the platform X, which was previously known as Twitter, will no longer be available after this cycle. It will remain active on the current US Senate Youth Program page until December 31, 2023.
Although the Senate Youth Program’s social media channel is going away, vital information such as deadlines, reminders, and resources will still be available to be accessed through several platforms including the
If you have any questions, you may contact Michelle McLaughlin, who is an NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Consultant and the U.S. Senate Youth Coordinator.
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The 2023 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year award honors 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.
Angel Ledbetter is North Carolina's 2023 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year!
Angel Ledbetter fell in love with history and politics in kindergarten while following the 1992 presidential election but her passion for learning began much earlier as one of six children. After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2009 as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow with a degree in Social Sciences Education with a concentration in Political Science, she became the sole Social Studies teacher at Rutherford Early College High School. REaCH has taught her the value of relationships and of ensuring that students are actively engaged in doing history. Her philosophy that all students should read, write, think, and talk every day guides her practice. Angel's passion for history has led to a love of traveling and a desire to expand her own knowledge for the benefit of her students. The James Madison Fellowship allowed Angel to earn her Master's Degree in Teaching American History and Government from Ashland University in 2021. Angel continues to truly live out her history nerd dreams by serving on multiple boards, including with the National Constitution Center, teaching online with North Carolina Virtual, and attending summer seminars at historical sites across the country.
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Governor's Educator Discovery Award
Applications are now open for Cycle 11 of the Governor's Educator Discovery Award! Visit http://experiencemorenc.com/educator-discovery-award… to learn more about the $1,000 educator stipend and apply! #NCEducators #EducatorProfessionalDevelopment
The Governor’s Educator Discovery Awards recognize the value of quality professional development for teachers at all phases of their careers.
The program will provide a stipend of up to $1,000 for preK-12 traditional public and public charter school teachers to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing. Teachers can use the grant award to attend a workshop or conference that deepens their subject area knowledge, such as a coding workshop for computer science teachers, or a session on how to create a project-based learning experience for students.
Learn More and Apply: https://www.experiencemorenc.com/educator-discovery-award
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
Tryon Palace: Palace Scholars
Tryon Palace invites all educators at Title I schools in North Carolina to apply for a field trip award. Palace Scholars is an educational program linking students and educators from Title I schools with field trip opportunities to Tryon Palace. This program hopes to connect present and future North Carolinians with their state history in an engaging learning format.
Awards may be used for field trip costs, but are limited to transportation, admissions, and substitute teacher fees. Awards are based on attendance and expenses, and range from $600 to $2000 for the 2023-2024 School Year. Applications are now available and funding decisions are made monthly throughout the school year. Schools will be notified within 45 days of application.
Find the application by visiting the Tryon Palace Foundation Scholars' website.
Please submit your application using either the online form or by email to Kathy Peterson at Tryon Palace, at katherine.peterson@dncr.nc.gov or call (252) 639-3519.
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NCCSS Awards, Scholarships, and Grants
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 Awards from the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Applications are now open!
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Teacher of the Year: NCSS honors excellence in the social studies classroom with its Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Level Teacher of the Year Awards. Recipients are awarded a sum of $2,500 and a one-year comprehensive membership to NCSS.
- The Award for Global Understanding, given in Honor of James M. Becker, recognizes a social studies educator (or a team of educators) who has made notable contributions in helping social studies students increase their understanding of the world (Global Education).
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Research Awards are designed to recognize substantive scholarly inquiry in social studies education:
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The NCSS Outstanding Service Award recognizes and honors one or more NCSS members for outstanding long-term service to NCSS and a local, state, and regional council. Award winners receive a plaque or other appropriate recognition and will be granted lifetime membership in NCSS.
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Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award: Christa McAuliffe was an innovative social studies teacher who reached for the stars in an effort to make her dream of space travel a reality. The award ($2,500 grant) was established to help classroom teachers "reach for the stars" and achieve a dream that under ordinary circumstances would not be fulfilled.
- The Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy was created to promote geography education in schools; to enhance the geographic literacy of students at the classroom, district, or statewide level; and to encourage the integration of geography into the social studies curriculum/classroom.
Disclaimer Statement
Because North Carolina is a local-control state, all curricular decisions are approved at the local level. Prior to implementing any of the materials, teachers should follow appropriate policies and procedures to have content vetted and approved by their school and district leaders.
The links on this resource could bring you to third-party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations, or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.
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