It is important to educate future voters about the issues, processes, and impacts of voting in elections. These resources include links to lesson plans, videos, games, and printables to assist teachers K—12 to promote civic participation and voting.
View the OER publication for more information
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At OSPI, part of our mission is to prepare students for civic engagement throughout their lives. We believe our schools must engage and empower students, from an early age, with opportunities to participate in civil conversations, examples of effective civic engagement, and tools to find peaceful solutions to community problems.
OSPI’s Social Studies and Social-Emotional Learning teams have put together resources for educators, families, and students to help with these difficult conversations.
View the OER publication for more information.
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The following educators have been accepted to offer their services as members of the Social Studies Cadre of Educators:
ESD 101: 6–8 (Middle School): Amy Staggs
ESD 101: 9–12 (High School): Mara Bischoff
ESD 105: 6–8 (Middle School): Julie Byers
ESD 105: 9–12 (High School): William Frazier
ESD 112: 9–12 (High School): Jeffrey Brick
ESD 113: 6–8 (Middle School): Eric Holmkvist
ESD 113: 9–12 (High School): Deidre Pleasant
ESD 113: K–12 (Other): Joshua Parker
ESD 121: K–5 (Elementary): Mary Schuldheisz
ESD 171: 9–12 (High School): Brandon Harle
ESD 189: 6–8 (Middle School): Don Jenkins
ESD 189: K–12 (Other): Sue Metzler
The OSPI Social Studies Program is accepting applications for practicing educators to serve on OSPI's Social Studies Cadre of Educators.
Each Cadre position is scheduled on a three-year term cycle. The following positions will remain open until filled:
ESD 105: K–12 (Other) [term ends summer 2021] ESD 112: K–5 (Elementary) [term ends summer 2023] ESD 113: K–5 (Elementary) [term ends summer 2022] ESD 114: 6–8 (Middle School) [term ends summer 2023] ESD 114: 9–12 (High School) [term ends summer 2022] ESD 114: K–12 (Other) [term ends summer 2023] ESD 123: K–5 (Elementary) [term ends summer 2023] ESD 123: K–12 (Other) [term ends summer 2023] ESD 171: 6–8 (Middle School) [term ends summer 2021] ESD 171: K–12 (Other) [term ends summer 2022] ESD 189: K–5 (Elementary) [term ends summer 2023]
Interested applicants must complete the online application to be considered for the Cadre. Applicants must also arrange for their building-level supervisor to complete and submit an online Recommendation Survey, which the supervisor receives by email.
DEADLINE January 31, 2021 or Open Until Filled
"Every year, the Institute for Community Leadership's youth leaders and staff participate in a variety of events that mark the national Martin Luther King Jr. observance. This year, we are just as busy, with events online and many of our Institute “family” presenting during this important time."
Washington State House of Representatives' Dr. King Day Address
Monday, January 18 | Time TBD
Click here to view on TVW
Where Do We Go From Here Documentary Film Festival
Friday, January 15, through Monday, January 18
"The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University has invited the Institute for Community Leadership to join in producing this documentary film festival featuring films on the global freedom struggle that speak to MLK's unanswered question."
Click here to register.
"Once you register, later this week you will receive a link to view the Festival stream via email later this week."
LIVE Dr. Clayborne Carson, Founding Director of the King Research and Education Institute at Stanford
Monday, January 18 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Dr. Clayborne Carson hosts Institute youth in a live discussion on Dr. King's unanswered question, Where Do We Go From Here?
Click here to register.
"Once you register, later this week you will receive a link to view the Festival stream, which includes this LIVE discussion, via email later this week."
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Judicial Institute for Teachers Grades 5-12, 4-day workshop
July 6-9 | 8-1 pm
"The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in collaboration with the Seattle University School of Law is offering teachers grade 5-12 a unique opportunity to learn about the U.S. Constitution, federal judiciary, and issues of civil rights, federal-state courts, and federal criminal law. The institute is highly interactive. For the first time, it will be offered virtually, from 8 to 1 p.m. on July 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2021. Teachers will receive 23 clock hours at no cost. The program is limited to teachers in the 19 western counties of Washington.
"This year the program features Mary Beth Tinker, plaintiff in Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 1969, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public school students do not shed their free speech rights at the school house door. There will be a new section on qualified immunity for police officers, as well as presentations on the U.S. Supreme Court and Judicial Review. To participate, submit your completed registration form. Space is limited.
"The U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districts hosts its own Judicial Institute for teachers from the eastern counties."
Contact Margaret Fisher for more details, fisherm2@seattleu.edu.
Photo: Mary Beth Tinker, Judicial Institute
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The Daniel J. Evans Civic Education Award Program would like to showcase Washington students!
Do you know a student who shines as a leader in the classroom, school, or community, and has successfully completed an OSPI-Developed Civics Assessment?
OSPI is now accepting applications for the Daniel J. Evans Civic Education Award for the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in nominating one or more of your students, please complete this survey and attach the student’s OSPI-developed assessment when prompted.
Visit our website for more information.
This refresh of OSPI’s 2009 guidance document is a model tool to help school districts comply with Washington state nondiscrimination law that requires screening criteria to identify and eliminate bias in all instructional materials as part of any adopted instructional materials policy. Clock hours provided.
Wednesday, January 25 | 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Register through pdEnroller
See the flyer for details
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The Financial Education Public-Private Partnership in partnership with CENTS Program of Washington State is presenting a one-hour training:
The Bankruptcy Courts: Their Authority and Role in these Turbulent Economic Times
The virtual training will be held Wednesday, February 3 from 4:30 to 5:30 via zoom. Retired Bankruptcy Judge Karen A Overstreet will be presenting this information. The training will be educational for teachers, parents and students. One clock hour will be available for Washington State certificated educators.
Register for the event here
Questions?? Contact Tracy Godat, FEPPP Executive Director, tracy.godat@k12.wa.us
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Any history teacher or support personnel who teaches grades 5-12 in Washington State is eligible to apply for a history teacher scholarship sponsored by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Washington. Scholarships of up to $1,500.00 will be awarded in a variety of categories, including professional development, curriculum development, and classroom/curriculum supplies. Applications are due Sunday, March 7, 2021 and award recipients will be notified on or before Sunday, March 31, 2021.
To learn more and to access the online application, visit NSCDA.
PBS member stations in Washington are partnering with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to support educators as they continue to teach in challenging circumstances. Here is what they have to share:
“PBS LearningMedia resources has a wealth of video and primary source materials that are paired with high quality lesson plans. Through PBSLM, teachers have the chance to discover local and national resources and innovative ways to use them in the classroom.” ~Susan Gerard, Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Spokane Public Schools
Here are 5 steps to help you start incorporating PBS educational materials into your teaching:
- Review this printable flyer that highlights the features of PBS LearningMedia to support teaching & learning.
- Watch this 30-second video that provides an overview of the educational benefits of PBS LearningMedia.
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Create a PBS LearningMedia account for access to free content, tools to build quizzes, puzzles, storyboards and to connect content with Google Classroom, Schoology, and other learning management systems.
- View video tutorials (under 5-minutes each) to learn how to get the most from PBS LearningMedia resources.
- Browse the current Teacher Planning Kit (for preK-12) for ready resources on PBS LearningMedia tied to themes and content relevant to what you’re teaching in your classroom. The full collection of kits can be found here.
Learn more, interact with other teachers, and build lesson plans during monthly “Learn & Plan with PBS” sessions with staff from Washington PBS member stations. Earn up to three clock hours for each session you attend. Sessions are held the 4th Monday of each month from 4-5 pm starting January 25th. Register HERE.
If you have questions or would like to connect with staff from one of the PBS member stations in Washington, please fill out this form.
Civics Renewal Network offers information on activities students can engage in to learn more about the Bill of Rights and other Government processes. See below for shared articles and also this list of resources, compliments of Civic Renewal Network.
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"Preserving the Bill of Rights teaches students constitutional principles by examining primary source documents and significant Supreme Court cases. In addition, each unit features expanded classroom activities engaging students with the Bill of Rights and the responsibilities of citizenship. Students will understand the connection between current events and the Bill of Rights when they participate in activities such as writing letters to their elected representatives; serving in a mock jury; creating public service announcements; and writing model laws."
More resources from the Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Booklet
"The ABOTA Foundation provides a Bill of Rights booklet pdf for elementary and middle school students. It contains the text of the Bill of Rights and a space for students to be able to paraphrase what each amendment means."
More resources from the ABOTA Foundation
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
"This resource from the U.S. Government Publishing Office offers three levels of learning: Apprentice, ages 4-8; Journeyman, ages 9-14; and Master, ages 14 plus. Go on Learning Adventures to explore topics such as Federally Recognized Tribes; Federal vs. State Government; Branches of Government; How Laws Are Made; Election Process; Songs, Symbols and Structures of U.S. Government; and Historical Documents, including the Bill of Rights. You'll find lots of activities, lessons and games."
More resources from the U.S. GPO
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"The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum offers Virtual Field Trips and Education Programs for classrooms around the country. Students can join us from home or from school for a live, interactive tour of the Museum’s permanent exhibition or to engage in a virtual book talk, history lecture, or interactive lesson on topics related to the Holocaust and human and civil rights. You can find more information on our website or via this brief YouTube video."
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"Bringing US and EU High School Students Together"
"Bridge the Pond [is] a new outreach initiative bringing together secondary schools from the United States and the European Union, promoting transatlantic dialogue among young students and their teachers on important topics our societies collectively face.
"The pattern is relatively simple - students from two high schools, one in Europe and another in the US, together with their teachers, agree on a set of questions and topics to study and reflect upon on their own, and later on, together. They prepare positions and resolutions, working separately and in joint-sessions and finally meet for a final event when they share their experience and present common positions to US and EU legislators and diplomats from US and European embassies. The students might decide to keep in touch and take this relationship forward. The seed for a transatlantic friendship is planted.
"New Bridge the Pond [in]itiatives are currently on the way, with teachers from Virginia and the Republic of Ireland already working on putting their students together in January."
Link to Bridge the Pond
Link to the Wisconsin – Finland exercise
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Microsoft launches 2021 Council for Digital Good
Microsoft is inviting applications for its newest Council for Digital Good, an 18-month engagement program for U.S. teens focused on understanding, recognizing and reducing digital risks and promoting safer, healthier and more respectful online interactions.
Interested teens ages 13 to 16 living in the United States are invited to complete and submit this online application by Monday, March 1, 2021.
Read more
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"As we approach the holiday season, our team wanted to remind you of the upcoming January 15 deadline for our Profile in Courage Essay Contest.
"Students across the country have begun submitting their essays, sharing inspiring stories of brave leaders from years past. We look forward to reading their essays and learning how they understand political courage, a concept so admired by John F. Kennedy.
"Before your student submits their essay, be sure they look at our requirements and eligibility guidelines. We are also excited to share that students can win one of 15 different scholarship prizes this year. Learn more at our website."
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