Charlottesville and Confederate Monuments
History in Dispute  
Teaching with the News - The Choices Program Brown University

Remind students that conversations about events in Charlottesville and commemorations of the Confederacy will likely raise issues related to racism and power, which can be emotional. As you discuss these issues with your class, remind students that it is important to be respectful of the experiences of others, to think before they speak, and to be prepared to support their statements with facts.

• Understand the idea of historical memory.
• Contextualize recent events in Charlottesville within a larger historical controversy.
• Apply the concept of historical memory to the controversy over Confederate monuments.
• Appraise media sources that express a range of views on Confederate monuments.

World of 7 Billion Video Contest
Back by popular demand, the World of 7 Billion student video contest helps you bring technology and creativity into your middle and high school classes. The contest challenges your students to create a short video connecting world population growth and one of three global challenges: Advancing Women and Girls, Feeding 10 Billion, or Preventing Pollution. Students can win up to $1,000 and participating teachers will receive free curriculum resources. The contest deadline is February 22, 2018 – use this lesson plan to get started now! Full contest guidelines, resources for research, past winners, and more can be found at https://www.worldof7billion.org/student-video-contest/.

Big History Blogs Has Great New Ideas but a Long URL

1. INVESTIGATIONS AND INVESTIGATION WRITING ACTIVITIES
2. CRASH COURSE BIG HISTORY VIDEOS
3. CAUSALITY: A NEW ESSENTIAL THEME!
https://blog.bighistoryproject.com/2017/06/28/getting-ready-for-sy1718-bhp-course-updates/?_cldee=ZHJwZWdoaWxsQHZlcml6b24ubmV0&recipientid=contact-cbdd2c07fa54e411becb6c3be5a8fd2c-4edbdc8f90fc447aac6361e3b8c85289&esid=8fe7b2c6-d58d-e711-8109-5065f38b3291

CDE History Social Science Update
August 2017

CDEAugustHSSNewsletter.pdf

Here you will find 6 pages packed with information about teacher opportunities, legislation, and resources all compiled for you by Janel Mann, Education Programs Consultant in the Literacy, History, and Arts Leadership Office of the California Department of Education.  You will find the article "Phigitals - They Are in your Classes Now" a fascinating and informative look at issues related to educating Gen Z students for whom being connected digitally is a norm not something they can do without.

Tips for Fostering Civil/Political Discourse in Class

This short list of strategies for the discussion of potentially divisive issues in a civil manner was put together by an 8th grade teacher for the Ford's Theater Program blog  

https://www.fords.org/blog/post/we-can-talk-about-politics-in-the-classroom/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=081517%3AEducation%3ANationalFall(AM)&utm_content= version_A&promo=

History-Social Science Update July 2017
CDE - Literacy, History, and Arts Leadership Office

Janet Mann at the Department of Education, the Literacy, History and Arts lead, has written a creative newsletter with suggestions from curriculum resource, to professional development, to personal teacher enrichment.

Download the July Newsletter here or share it with friends and colleagues electronically.

CDE HSS Newsletter_July17final.pdf

The Presidency and the Cold War: The Iron Curtain to the INF Treaty
July 24 - 27, 2017
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

The dramatic history of Soviet-American relations spanned five decades, eight presidents, and defined a century. Join the Truman Library Institute, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, and the National Council for History Education, as we explore the how Presidents, from Truman to Reagan, navigated the icy waters of the Cold War. From the Truman Doctrine to the INF Treaty, examine the profound effects of how Cold War tensions shaped foreign policy and the fabric of American life.  

Educators will:

• Illuminate the conflict between the Cold War superpowers which set the stage for current tensions with modern-day Russia using historical thinking skills and habits of mind.
• Immerse themselves in the role of Truman or one of his key advisors, analyze now-declassified documents, and work as a team to develop a response to an international crisis through The White House Decision Center, an experiential and collaborative learning simulation offered at the Truman Library
• Advise President Eisenhower on confronting Communist expansionism and explore policy and espionage activities during the Eisenhower Era.
• Engage in face-to-face diplomacy with an in-depth exploration of the Reagan-Gorbachev Summits. 
• Analyze primary source documents from the National Archives and three Presidential Libraries.

Teachers Ask About the FAIR Act

Beth Slutsky, Ph.D., Program Coordinator of the California H-SS Project makes suggestions on how to best deal with the curriculum changes brought by Proposition 48 or the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Act

Since January we’ve had the honor of traveling the state to introduce educators and administrators to the new HSS Framework.  Regardless of where we go, the FAIR Act is a topic that educators are seeking guidance on – especially the question: “What does it mean to implement the FAIR Act?”

This blog post is worth discussing at your next staff or department meeting.
http://chssp.ucdavis.edu/blog/FAIR

Submit a Proposal
CCSS Conference
Tearing Down Walls: Building Connections, Collaboration and Civil Discourse

March 23-25, 2018

CCSS is accepting proposals for the 57th Annual Conference, Tearing Down Walls: Building Connections, Collaboration and Civil Discourse. This conference will continue a tradition devoted to providing quality professional development, new scholarship, research-based strategies, and networking - all designed to improve the teaching and learning of history-social studies across the state. We encourage you to submit a proposal and be among the many to join us in San Diego from March 23-25, 2018. As you prepare your submission, be sure to review our Proposal Tips offering important advice to help you with your submission. 

Submit your proposal today through http://www.ccss.org/Sys/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fadmin%2fwebsite%2f%3fpageId%3d1861118%26nbsp 

 The deadline to submit a proposal is July 29, 2017.