During this session, participants will learn strategies for teaching the 2022 midterm elections. Major issues confronting voters in the midterms will be analyzed; strategies for teaching these and other controversial issues in the classroom will also be discussed. Civics teachers, U.S. history, and other teachers teaching the midterm elections and the American political system will benefit from this session. Guest Speaker: Stephen Armstrong is the social studies consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Education and Past President of the National Council for the…

High school ethnic studies courses that address the perspectives and experiences of people of color are increasingly in demand. The author describes the thematic, inquiry-based approach she developed that reflects her school’s diversity.

Join us for an interactive session to inspire and equip you to teach the history of public school integration in America, and the lasting effects of integration efforts on students, schools, and communities. In this webinar, we'll show you how to use resources from the AMERICAN EXPERIENCE films, The Busing Battleground and The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi’s Schools along with support materials created by GBH Education. Teachers and their students can view film clips and use the support materials to answer essential questions such as "How were the combined efforts of everyday citizens,…

Join in a discussion about what makes an argument good. Participants will gain a two-step process that students can use to evaluate and strengthen their arguments in argument map form, either solo or in a peer-review process. We will also consider the role of objections and rebuttals in argument development. How We Argue Webinar Series Educators often want to discuss current issues and empower students to engage as active citizens. Yet, when discussing controversial topics, some students rely on unsubstantiated facts or emotional appeals, rather than evidence and reasoning…

In partnership, the National Council for History Education and the National Council for the Social Studies present “In Pursuit of Equity.” The purpose of this Equity Summit is to engage multiple communities in deliberative discussions about opportunities for and challenges to equity in the United States’ past, present, and future. Drawing upon the complex history of race, ethnicity, enslavement, poverty, and immigration in the American experience, sessions will emphasize opportunities, activism, and student empowerment. This Equity Summit fosters actively engaged and informed…

In this two-part series, teachers will be provided with the tools to promote digital literacy and analyze public policy. Join Allison Norrie, high school social studies teacher for the Fairfield Public Schools, and Stephen Armstrong, past president of the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and current education consultant for Connecticut’s Department of Education as they share strategies and resources for educators to aid in teaching and monitoring election cycles leading up to and including the upcoming presidential elections of 2024.   Presentation Slides

Listen to an exclusive interview with the sister and brother team of Claire and Ralph Nader! These two longtime civic leaders and advocates for social, economic, and legal justice talk with James Damico, Professor of Curriculum & Instruction at Indiana University, about Claire’s recent book, You Are Your Own Best Teacher! Sparking the Curiosity, Imagination, and Intellect of Tweens. In this video, Claire and Ralph cover a range of topics and questions, including: Learning about your body The Commons How to wage peace What does it mean to be smart? Historical…

"America is an exceptional nation built on a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution that offer a rare collection of inalienable rights and guaranteed freedoms: freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom to assemble; freedom of the press; the right to vote; the right to appeal; the right to bear arms. But let’s be honest. A “just government” requires the “consent of the governed,” as Jefferson declared. That is the essence of American democracy. But it is an ideal that must be defended and preserved by vigilant civic engagement. Democracy is not a spectator sport! This webinar…

Bayard Rustin organized one of the most successful forms of protest in our country’s history—the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Yet, he is often silenced within the PK-12 curriculum because of his sexual orientation as an out, gay man. In this webinar, Corey R. Sell, Associate Professor of Elementary Education at the Metropolitan State University, describes how he ueed the four dimensions of the C3 Inquiry Arc and the Library of Congress resources to design an inquiry that challenges both the dominant and heteronormative narratives of the Civil Rights Movement. Professor Sell also…

To acknowledge societal issues and problem-solve solutions that promote the common good, we cannot conceptualize current issues as “single factual narratives” or universalize our personal perspectives as the “one and absolute truth.” We should not debate whether systemic racism exists, but provide opportunities for students, precluding racist commentary, to analyze the data evidence and establish this conclusion on their own. Welcoming both conservative and liberal opinions into classroom discussion by using open race-related policy questions, like affirmative action, fosters an environment…