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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Free Upcoming Professional Development Sessions with NCDPI and OER
- Webinar: Integrating Self and Social Awareness Skills In Your Classroom
- World History Professional Development: The History of European Antisemitism
- Transatlantic Conversations on Teaching the Holocaust: An Exchange of Perspectives
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The 2024 NC Social Studies Conference
- Education in ELA and Social Studies by learning about the Holocaust
- Opportunity to Visit the Middle East with UNC
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Free Course for NC Teachers at Ashland University
- Professional Development and Support Opportunity for Rural Western NC Teachers
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
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February Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC
- NC Museum of History: Beyond the Exhibits Update
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Important Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) Update
- FREE Resources for Teaching About NC Local Government
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The North Carolina Museum of Art Virtual Field Trips
AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS, AND GRANTS
NCDPI Office of Academic Standards
For questions or more information, please contact ESLTitleIII@dpi.nc.gov.
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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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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.
Spread the word about how to Stay Informed and Connected!
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IYMI: Check Out the Some of the Latest Newsletters from the Office of Academic Standards
Spread the word about how to Stay Informed and Connected!
Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Free Upcoming Professional Development Sessions with NCDPI & OER
Join the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and OER Project for free professional development sessions focused on the social studies skills and practices in the new Inquiry strand.
Each of the 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm EST sessions will be worth 1.5 CEU hours of credit. Attendees will get credit for each session attended. Certificates will be awarded by OER after the last session.
- 02/06/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Continuity and Change Over Time - 1.5 hour
- 03/05/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Contextualization – 1.5 hours
- 04/02/24 – Geography Skills - 1.5 hours 4. Historical Inquiry (Recording ) - 1.5 hours
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Historical Inquiry (Recording)
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Historical Thinking Skill: Causation (Recording)
Important Registration Details: If you don’t already have an account with OER, registering to attend any and all sessions will give you a FREE account to all of the amazing activities and resources OER provides for classroom teachers.
REGISTER NOW!
For questions, please contact events@oerproject.com.
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Webinar: Integrating Self and Social Awareness Skills In Your Classroom
Febuary 21, 2024, 4-5 pm EST
Join our 2023-2024 webinar series dedicated to integrating Character Education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into your social studies curriculum. The third webinar in our series will focus on Self and Social Awareness. In this session, discover effective strategies to help your students develop a deep understanding of themselves and others, fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and positive social interactions.
Register Now
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NCDPI WORLD HISTORY WEBINAR SERIES - Session #3
“The History of European Antisemitism”
Tuesday, February 20 – 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
The History of European Antisemitism is the third webinar in the World History Webinar Series for the 2023-24 school year.
The Holocaust is an incredibly important topic for school curriculum. But, often, students are left with an unclear picture of how antisemitism developed, long before the Holocaust took place.
This session has been designed to help educators build and enhance their understanding of the complex history of antisemitism in Europe prior to the Holocaust and build connections between historical and modern forms of antisemitism.
This webinar will outline the historical origins of antisemitism, it will organize antisemitism into four district categories, and provide both historical and modern examples of each of the four types of antisemitism, all while utilizing many of the robust primary source activities that teachers can take to the classroom.
The content of this webinar will support the following N.C. Standards:
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7.H.1.1 Distinguish specific turning points of modern world history in terms of lasting impact.
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WH.H.1.1 Distinguish key turning points in world history in terms of multiple causes and outcomes.
Each session is 2-hours (.2 CEUs). CEU certificates will be awarded at the end of the series. Attendees will get credit for each session attended. Attendance at all five sessions will earn a total of 1.0 CEUs.
Register today, using this link: https://tinyurl.com/HistoryofAntsemitism
Flyer - NCDPI WORLD HISTORY SERIES - HISTORY OF EUROPEAN ANTISEMITISM - FEBRUARY 20TH WEBINAR.docx.pdf
Transatlantic Conversations on Teaching the Holocaust: An Exchange of Perspectives Between Educators in NC/US & Germany
A Professional Development for ELA and SS Teachers Interested in Teaching About the Holocaust
A Two-Part Professional Development
- Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 8 am - 11 am, and
- Saturday, February 3, 2024 – 8 am - 11 am
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is collaborating with UNC-Charlotte and Ludwigsburg University of Education in Germany to develop an innovative professional development experience that will bring together teachers in N.C. and Germany for international conversations and global perspective discussions on teaching the Holocaust.
While there are similarities in teaching about the Holocaust in both Germany and the United States, there are also distinct considerations that differentiate the approaches. In this collaborative exchange of dialogue, social studies, ELA, and world language educators in N.C. will come together with educators in Germany to engage in conversations about teaching the Holocaust. Educators from both countries will get the opportunity to talk with each other and Holocaust experts about content and pedagogical considerations, literature choices and restrictions, challenges experienced when teaching certain topics, differences in how the Holocaust is commemorated, guidelines for teaching topics such as the rise of Hitler and antisemitism, along with many other curiosities educators might want to discuss.
Registration Link: http://tinyurl.com/PDtransatlantic
*A Zoom Link to attend will be sent upon confirmation of registration.
**2.0 CEUs Awarded for Full Attendance
View the Movie Trailer for this Session!
Transatlantic Conversations - Flyer and Save the Dates.pdf
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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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Education in ELA & Social Studies by learning about the Holocaust
Looking for ways to implement both Character Education and the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act in ELA and Social Studies classrooms?
Learning about the Holocaust allows students to build character and develop skills like empathy and social awareness. In an effort to foster these skills, NCDPI partnered with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to create standards-based resources for implementation in secondary grades. These resources are based on using the texts Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Night by Elie Wiesel. The goal of the resources is for teachers to be able to embed both character education and Holocaust education seamlessly into the core curriculum.
Contact Thomas.Daugherty@dpi.nc.gov and Kelly.Schultz@dpi.nc.gov to set up a professional learning experience or to learn more about these resources and how they can be used in your classrooms.
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Opportunity to Visit the Middle East with UNC
The Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and their partner are offering a tour of Jordan and Turkey. Accompanying the trip will be a representative of UNC-CH who will provide guidance to teachers during the trip and help with the development of classroom activities and lesson plans. For details, please contact Alaa Hammouda, Outreach Manager, Center for Middle East & Islamic Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.
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Free Course for NC Teachers at Ashland University
Ashland University recently received a grant from the Pope Foundation to use on scholarships for teachers in North Carolina.
The program is designed for full-time teachers who want graduate classes in American History and Government. This opportunity for free classes is available to teachers even if they aren’t interested in enrolling in a degree program (i.e. they can take a class on a non-degree basis to use for licensure renewal or for other purposes). The course is designed for social studies educators and will be online throughout the year and during the summer for a week.
For more information about this great opportunity, please contact Charles Martindell, Graduate Programs Resource Manager for the Master of Arts in American History and Government at Ashland University. You may also call (419) 207-4511 or visit the website.
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Professional Development and Support Opportunity for Rural Western NC Teachers
Join National History Day® and the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources on Monday, February 5th from 8am - 3pm in Swain County (Bryson City) to learn about a FREE opportunity to bring inquiry-based learning to your classroom for the 2024/2025 academic year. Learn about a grant that includes teacher stipends and budgets for classroom supplies. Social Studies teachers, English/Language Arts teachers, Library Media Specialists, and Special Educators, and pre-service teachers in grades 6–12 are welcome.
If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Karen Ipock at karen.ipock@dncr.nc.gov before January 22nd.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
February Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC
"🌟 Embrace the spirit of kindness throughout February with our #KindnessMattersNC Challenge! Inspired by the heartwarming stories shared by Steve Hartman, this month-long initiative encourages teachers, leaders, students, and families to engage in daily acts of kindness. Whether integrated into morning meetings and content area classes, each day presents an opportunity for reflection, writing, and fostering a culture of compassion.
📝 Access daily videos and journal prompts to guide your reflections.
🗓️ Mark your calendars! Random Act of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17 every year. We're extending the celebration throughout the month, making February dedicated to spreading kindness.
📸 Share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC! Teachers and leaders are encouraged to spread positivity by showing how kindness has impacted the school or encouraging students to create their own kindness videos—just like Steve Hartman! Educators can submit evidence of school initiatives or student work to NCDPI using the link provided. Your submissions may be featured on our NCDPI social media, newsletters, and website. Also, be sure to share your experiences on your social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC!
Let's celebrate February with kindness, compassion, and uplifting stories. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that extends far beyond our classrooms. #KindnessMattersNC
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Important Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) Update
Did You Know!?
Beginning in January, SHEG will become DIG (DIGITAL INQUIRY GROUP)
SHEG is spinning out of Stanford University to become the Digital Inquiry Group (DIG), an independent nonprofit organization. Don't worry! All of SHEG's classroom materials will continue to be freely available to educators everywhere.
FAQs
What will happen to SHEG’s classroom materials?
Not to worry! All of SHEG’s lessons, assessments, and classroom posters will be available on the DIG website starting in January 2024.
Will the curriculum materials still be free?
Absolutely! All of SHEG’s materials will continue to be freely available on the DIG site.
Will I need a new account to access materials on the DIG site?
No. Your SHEG account will become your DIG account, and your SHEG login will work on the new DIG website once it’s live.
LEARN MORE
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
Beyond the Exhibits: Longleaf Film Festival Student Entries
Longleaf recognizes the extraordinary talent exhibited by many middle and high school filmmakers and encourages them to participate in the festival. We screen between 50 and 75 films each year and hope to share students’ work with our audiences. We want to share your stories—all of your stories: animated, documentary and narrative films, music videos, spoken word productions, and web series. In addition to Longleaf’s other awards and prizes, all films entered in the Middle and High School Student Film category are eligible for a $300 Best Student Film award.
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Beyond the Exhibits: History Mystery Distance Learning Classes
How do historians unravel mysteries of the past? What does “stuff” tell us about how people lived long ago? By participating in group discussions and hands-on activities, in our History Mystery distance learning classes, students learn why the investigative skills of observation, hypothesis, and analysis are important in understanding history. Five different History Mystery topics are available.
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Beyond the Exhibits: Bits of History Podcasts
From a look at early Spanish exploration of the mountains to an overview of the life and times of Jim Hunt to a deep dive into the development of the banjo, our Bits of History Podcast covers a wide range of subjects related to North Carolina history and culture.
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FREE Resources for Teaching About NC LOCAL GOVT. & LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Local government arguably has more impact on our day-to-day lives than other levels of government. Yet most of the focus of civics education, not to mention what is covered in the news, is what is happening in Washington, D.C. Make sure to integrate local government into your curriculum with this FREE resource produced by the UNC School of Government: the fifth edition of Local Government in North Carolina, available as a free e-textbook in a variety of formats (online, e-pub for tablets, or downloadable PDF document). The new edition includes many dynamic elements such as in-text definitions of key-terms, links to videos and other interactive features, contemporary mini case-studies, and a “take-action” section at the end of each chapter that encourages experiential learning. Access this great resource here: https://pressbooks.pub/localgovernment/
For local government lesson plans to pair with the material, from city council simulations to budgeting activities, visit Carolina K-12’s Database of K-12 Resources.
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Don't Forget to Scroll Down for More Great Information!
The North Carolina Museum of Art Virtual Field Trips
The North Carolina Museum of Art Virtual Field Trips has Virtual Field Trips that are FREE, for all classrooms and grade levels, standards-based, art-integrated, interactive experiences with a museum educator. In these 30-45 minute sessions students actively engage in discussion and develop visual literacy skills through closely looking at, describing, and connecting with 2-3 works of art.
Check out their updated Virtual Field Trip page to learn more about new tours and favorites offered this year as well as new pre and post visit resources.
Additional Quick Links for Teachers
Art-integrated Topics
AWARDS, GRANTS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
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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