Women's History Month is an annual celebration dedicated to highlighting and honoring the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. Observed during March in many countries, this month serves as an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the accomplishments of women in various fields, including science, literature, politics, arts, and social activism. Below are some resources to learn more:

Women's History Month - For Teachers (womenshistorymonth.gov)

Digital Classroom Resources | National Women's History Museum (womenshistory.org)

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and holds great significance for Muslims around the world. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin in the evening on Sunday, March 10, 2024, and end on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Considered the holiest month, Ramadan commemorates the month the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan, Muslims observe a month-long period of fasting (Sawm) from dawn to sunset, which involves refraining from specific activities beyond food and drink. The observation of Sawm is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, representing the fundamental acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim's faith. Ramadan is also a time for increased devotion, prayer, reflection, and self-discipline. Below are some resources to learn more:

How to Teach Students About Ramadan | Edutopia

Ramadan - Teaching Resources - BBC Teach

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia, as recorded in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). The holiday is typically celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, which usually falls in late winter or early spring. This year, Purim begins on Saturday March 23 and ends Sunday March 24. Purim is a joyous holiday, emphasizing the themes of deliverance, unity, and celebration. Some traditions of Purim include reading the Book of Esther, giving to the needy, sending food gifts to friends and enjoying festive meals. Below is a resource to learn more:

Purim Resources Collection | The Jewish Educator Portal (jewishedproject.org)

Holi is a vibrant and colorful Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal, as well as by Hindu communities around the world. This year, Holi falls on March 25. Holi marks the arrival of spring and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The central and most popular aspect of Holi is the throwing of colored powders and water at each other, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere. The festival is often referred to as the "Festival of Colors."

Holi is a significant cultural and social event, emphasizing the themes of joy, love, and the renewal of life. While Holi is traditionally rooted in Hinduism, the festival has gained popularity and recognition across different communities and cultures, fostering a sense of togetherness and shared celebration. Below is a resource to learn more:

Holi Toolkit - Hindu American Foundation

March 11-15, 2024, is Civic Learning Week! Civic Learning Week unites students, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders to energize the movement for civic education across the nation. In addition to events, there are many resources available including lessons and activities.

Click here to learn more.

Teach with TVW (the educational arm of TVW) is working on a new project to increase youth engagement in our political system and improve youth voter turnout by increasing awareness of our PCO and precinct system through high school & community college civics classes. Teach with TVW is creating nonpartisan lesson plans and activities for our teachers to adopt and use.

The Civic Champions project is looking to build a coalition of folks who are interested in engaging young people and strengthening democracy! We are seeking enthusiastic educators willing to pilot our nonpartisan lesson plans and activities before the end of the school year. Thank you for considering this opportunity. Your involvement is crucial in empowering the next generation of informed and engaged citizens. Please see the flyer and email Chirag Vedullapalli (chiragdart@gmail.com) if interested.

Wondering how to explain treaty rights and just how Washington tribal, state and federal governments relate to one another? In partnership with the Nisqually Tribe, Teach With TVW has created the first installment of the Native Civics series: The Medicine Creek Treaty. Native Civics explores important concepts with tribal members exercising their sovereignty today.

Visit the webpage to get the study guides and watch the full episode.

Named after former Washington State Governor Daniel J. Evans, this award recognizes four students, two from Western Washington, two from Eastern Washington, for their civic leadership and academic achievement in social studies.  Any student in grades 3–12 who:

• Has successfully completed an OSPI-Developed Assessment in civics, a district-supported Classroom Based Assessment, civic-related National History Day project or other project-based learning, or a civic-related inquiry project, and
• Demonstrates civic leadership in their classroom, school and/or community.

Nominations are due June 30, 2024. Click here to learn more and nominate a student.

Apply today for a Washington State Society Colonial Dames grant for continuing education in American history/social studies. Available is grant funding for subscriptions for editing video platforms, purchase of technological equipment, League of Women Voters Civics textbooks, other social studies/history books, oral history projects, costumes, virtual and otherwise workshops, conferences, and seminars, and virtual Advanced Placement courses and teacher certification, in addition to view trips to museums relating to history. Any teacher who teaches or will teach American history/social studies to Washington State students in grades 4 through high school is eligible to apply for up to three $1,500 grants.

Click here to apply today.  Application deadline is March 1, 2024, with notification of award by March 31, 2024.

The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation is an organization that provides grants for educators to teach anti-hate initiatives, respect, and kindness to students nationwide through Holocaust education. The grant allows educators to teach their students about the Holocaust – empowering them to learn how the lessons of the past can lead to kindness, respect, and inclusion in our society today. Each grant is capped at $1,000. The grant can be used to purchase educational materials, such as books for the classroom; help fund experiences, such as subsidizing the cost of transportation to a museum; help cover speaker fees for survivor speakers; or to bring programming into the school, such as traveling museum exhibits. The foundation has hosted several teacher resource webinars to introduce educators to a multitude of programming that is available nationwide. The grant application portal opens in mid-August. 4^th to 12^th grade teachers are eligible to apply.

To be added to their list and be notified when the grant portal opens, please email ann@mshefoundation.org.

The Washington State Civic Learning Council has created a scholarship program to provide financial grants and support to educators and students participating in high-quality civic education programs at the national, state, tribal and local government level. 

Grants will generally be awarded between the range of $250 to $1000. Grants will be considered over these amounts, contingent on funds availability and strength of application. Eligibility is open for a wide array of personnel involved in education, including educators, leaders of after-school programs, parent-teacher associations, home school organizations, individual students, nonprofits, and community organizations.

For more information and a link to the application, click here.

WSCSS is thrilled to gather once again at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan for the annual Spring Conference, March 1–3, 2024. "The Future of Social Studies - What's Next?" is not a destination, but an ongoing journey. This conference provides a platform to share inspiring practices, brainstorm bold ideas, and forge collaborative partnerships to build a robust future for social studies education. Join us as we embark on this journey, armed with creativity, curiosity, and unwavering determination to ensure that social studies remain a vital compass for empowered global citizens.

Click here to learn more and register.

The WAASCD Educator Conference is back and will occur July 17-18, 2024, in Tacoma, Washington. The theme of the conference is “Whole Child – Whole Educator.” As such, the conference will focus on teaching the “whole child,” promoting the “whole educator,” and leveraging technology to create safe, healthy, engaging, supportive and challenging spaces, which can only be achieved through the lens of equity.

Click here to learn more about attending and presenting.

In the 2024-2025 school year, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), and its partners at the University of Florida, WestEd, and the University of Texas is conducting a U.S. Department of Education-funded study on a program called Promoting Adolescents’ Comprehension of Text (PACT). PACT uses evidence-based social studies and literacy teaching strategies that over a decade of prior research has shown to improve students’ social studies content knowledge, literacy, and academic language.

Schools and districts that participate in this opportunity will receive all PACT materials (teachers’ guides, team-based learning activities, student books, and activity pages). Also, educators will be provided with a workshop that builds their capacity in using PACT strategies and job-embedded coaching to support PACT implementation by middle school social studies teachers. For this study, all PACT materials, professional development, and coaching activities are provided at no cost to the district.

If you are interested in this opportunity for the districts you work with, the staff is interested in scheduling a phone call. They will briefly explain the study, discuss current social studies and literacy support in your state, and answer any questions you might have. To schedule a call please reply to pactlrecruitment@air.org and suggest a time for an initial call.

Click here to learn more