This primer on the Fed’s current monetary policy framework can bring educators and students up-to-date on how the Fed uses monetary policy to steer the economy toward maximum employment and price stability.

How have human activities changed the Earth’s landscape, atmosphere, and ecosystems over the past two centuries? What are the ways to engage all kinds of middle school learners on human geography concepts as they relate to sustainability? In this webinar, participants will discover hands-on activities that build global awareness on population dynamics, land use patterns and environmental impacts (deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss) while cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills, communication and creativity. The presenters will explore the many applications…

What kinds of information are needed – in particular what spatial data – to conduct apportionment and redistricting? Redistricting involves the creation of maps based on population data collected through the decennial census; an understanding of the history, geography, and economy of the region undergoing redistricting; and knowledge of the guidelines for treating everyone fairly to guarantee “one person, one vote”. In previous decades, it was difficult for average citizens to obtain information needed to assess whether maps were being drawn fairly, but with the advent of online geospatial…

In this ever changing, interdependent world, students need a geographic awareness that includes familiarity with different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles to understand and address global issues.

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is a documentary about the little-known story of the only U.S. bank prosecuted after the financial crisis. Director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) chronicles the Chinese immigrant Sung family’s fight to clear their names. Check local listings for time of broadcast, and read more at ww.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/abacus

“The House on Elm Street” is an exercise developed by Professor George J. Siedel with support from the University of Michigan.  It involves a transaction that students can easily relate to:  the sale of a house.  The twist in the exercise is that, unknown to the seller, the buyer is a secret agent representing a large company.  Each student receives a short (two-page) role as either the buyer or seller, and they negotiate for 30 minutes, followed by a debriefing.  The exercise is designed to achieve several learning goals.  For example, students will learn how to: 1.       understand…

The Library of Congress is seeking applications from current world history or world geography teachers for a Teacher-in-Residence position within its Educational Outreach division during the 2017-18 school year. The program description and application details for the position can be found at loc.gov/teachers/newsevents/teacher-in-residence. The Educational Outreach division develops and delivers teaching materials and programs to make the Library’s unparalleled collections of primary sources visible, accessible and easy for K-12 teachers to integrate into the classroom. The Library of…

The National Geographic Society (NGS) is now offering education-focused grants to individual educators! NGS is looking for educators who have new ideas for effective strategies in teaching and learning—at any age level, with any audience, and in any location. NGS aims to support educators in formal and informal settings, in community education and outreach, and educator professional development. Grants will be awarded on a quarterly basis. Find grant guidelines and submit applications at http://www.nationalgeographic.org/grants/. Upcoming submission deadlines are: April 1 for late August…

On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans gained U.S. citizenship in 1917. 101 years later, the debate over Puerto Rico's political status continues.  Learn and teach about Puerto Rico's history and the Spanish-American War with articles and teaching activities from NCSS peer-reviewed publications Social Education and Social Studies and the Young Learner. Also explore a sampling of resource collections from some of our colleagues. Examine the history of Hispanic heritage in North America in this special section: "The Hispanic Heritage of…

Immigration from Central America and the President's family separation policies are front and center in today's headlines, but the historical roots of migration to the United States are too often unknown or unexplored.Teaching for Change developed a series of four lessons with the country of El Salvador as a case study to provide important historical context for contemporary immigration issues.  The lessons were developed for use in conjunction with the website When We Were Young There Was a War. Students learn about and discuss: What factors were responsible for the waves of migration from…