Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
Click here for a links to related resources curated by TEA
Youthivism is a student-led organization offering free nonpartisan mini-lessons on current-event issues delivered straight to your inbox every 2 weeks! Each lesson lasts up to 15 minutes and includes a video, discussion-based activity, and take-home project. And the best part? Given that their team is entirely student-run, high school students across the political spectrum and country create and review the curriculum from beginning to end. Find an example & sign up form here:
Youthivism Lessons
REGISTER NOW
September-October 2020
Register now for any or all of these upcoming distance learning programs that are available for educators, students, and families: The series offers free online interactive programs with educators from the National Archives and Presidential Libraries for students grades 2-12. Individual students and families can log in using the link that will be provided following registration.
· September 8, Understanding the Great Depression, Grades 7-12
· September 10, Laura Ingalls Wilder at the Hoover Library, Grades 3-8
· September 14, 16, or 18, “George to George”: Examples of the Constitution from George Washington to George Bush, Grades 4-8 (11am ET)
· September 15, Camp David & Beyond: The Middle East Peace Process from Carter to Clinton, Grades 9-12
· September 17 – Constitution Day, The Charters of Freedom: Building a More Perfect Union, Grades 3-6
· September 24, Growing Up an Eisenhower, Grades K-5
· September 29, Understanding Tribal Sovereignty, Native Lands, and the Importance of Repatriation, Grades 7-12
· October 1, Georgia on my Mind: President Carter
· October 6, Tinker v. Des Moines: Constitutional Rights at School, with Mary Beth Tinker, Grades 7-12
· October 8, Red Scare, Spies Among Us?, Grades 7-12
· October 13, Bootleggers, Flappers, and Gangsters – Prohibition, The Noble Experiment, Grades 6-12
· October 15, Use it Up! Sacrifices on the WWII Home Front, Grades 6-8
· October 22, Chemistry Roadshow, Grades 3-8 (11am ET)
· October 27, Truman’s Life Through Objects, Grades 3-8
· October 29, Attic Artifacts, Grades 4-8
Read the latest blog post for more information about the summer and fall distance learning series.
Decoding the Declaration Presented by the National Archives in Washington, DC students from across the country participated to learn how to analyze the Declaration of Independence through different lenses, examining it as an artifact, as a primary source, and as a persuasive text.
WATCH VIDEO
The CLASP Outreach Committee has put together an educator needs assessment meant to inform the K-12 and community college resources and professional development opportunities we will develop in the coming years. The survey is designed to show us national as well as regional data, so we hope to reach as many teachers as possible.
CLASP Educator Needs Assessment: https://stanforduniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Bel3FfpHRtcMcJ
Target audience: K-12 and community college educators
Survey deadline: July 1, 2020
If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Aufdermauer at mollyauf@stanford.edu.
Social studies education is designed to empower students to ask and answer profound questions about our ongoing fight for basic and equal civil and human rights, how violations of our human rights occur, and how we must all be prepared for a civic life in which the dignity of every individual is embraced, celebrated, and realized.
NCSS presents the following articles published in our three main journals for K-12 teachers: Social Education, Middle Level Learning, and Social Studies and the Young Learner. These articles are grouped by topic for easy reference. We also included our recent current event responses which address racism and call for human rights education.
Continue to take advantage of our resources and connect with diverse teachers throughout the country to build solutions within our Special Interest Communities on the topics of racism, injustice, oppression - and working toward social justice.
Access the Resources
TCSS Executive Committee Statement
June 2, 2020
TCSS is an organization founded on advancing education in social studies through professional learning and growth of Texas educators. We join many in condemning racist acts of violence and police brutality, including the recent senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless others who needlessly preceded them as victims of unjustified violence. Read more...
Annie Whitlock is a NCSS Board member and an elementary social studies professor at the University of Michigan-Flint. She and Dr. Kristy Brugar (University of Oklahoma) are conducting a study of historical fiction books 3rd-8th grade teachers use in their classrooms. The findings will contribute to educational research, specifically social studies teacher education. They are looking for teachers to complete a one-time survey which will take no more than 30 minutes. If you or other teachers are interested, please follow this link: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebtrtj3u4xhOHIN.
Consider adding to the #powerofcommunity and support social studies education research by completing the short survey.
We want you and your students to join us for the virtually revamped SXSW EDU panel - Pass the Mic: Students Discuss Equity in Civics on Thursday, May 7th, at 7pm, EST.
Two students from our Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship will share their insights into the need for relevant civic education and student engagement opportunities in schools.
Are your students passionate about student voice, civic education, and community service? We hope they'll join us!
Please share the link with your networks: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5278956941821871372
Register Now
During these unprecedented times many may be searching for resources to support a less familiar or comfortable instructional design.
Education Service Centers have provided region-specific guidance and resources to support instructional continuity in schools. Many of the service centers are organizing these resources based on content area. Just click on your service center region on the map linked above to explore resources collated with teaching during Covid-19 closure in mind.
Email Calendar Drive