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Professional Development Resources for Teachers

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Professional Development Resources for Teachers

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Professional Development | PBS LearningMedia

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Find lessons on Professional Development for all grades. Free interactive resources and activities for the classroom and home.

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The New Mexico History Museum in collaboration with New Mexico PBS presents short history videos about New Mexico's unique and diverse history. Moments in Time offers audiences a glimpse into some of the fascinating people, events, and artifacts of New Mexico's history. And, audiences have the opportunity to see and learn about the museum's collection without leaving home.

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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

September 17 is recognized in the United States as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. Federal law requires that all schools receiving federal funds hold an educational program for their students on September 17 of each year.
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Grade

Lesson Plan

Pocket Constitution

Ebooks Available!

Orb and Effy Learn about Authority

This lesson introduces the study of authority. Children learn when people are exercising authority and when they are exercising power without authority. Children learn how and why authority is useful in society.

1

The Constitution: The Country's Rules

In this lesson, students develop an awareness of the Constitution by exploring what it is and why it is important. Students examine their classroom rules poster as an introduction to the concept of rules and learn that the Constitution is the law of the United States.

1-2

3-4

3-5

What Is Democracy NEW FOR 2019!

In this lesson from the We the People: The Citizen & Democracy textbook, students will learn a very simple definition of democracy from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The lesson introduces the essential elements of a democracy, which is a country where the people have the right to make all the rules and laws either directly or by means of elected representatives. The teacher's goal for the lesson is to help students understand what it means for a democracy to be a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

4-5
What Should the Representative Do?

In this lesson, students discuss how laws are made. In particular, they discuss what makes a good law, how representatives in Congress gather information about the issues requiring laws, and how their constituents feel about the issues and possible solutions. Through a public hearing simulation, students learn how difficult the decisions for lawmakers can be.

How Should We Choose People for Positions of Authority?

Students learn that under our system of government citizens have to choose people for positions of authority. It is important to know how to choose well. This lesson helps students to identify the requirements of a position of authority and the qualifications a person should possess to fill that position. Students learn a set of intellectual tools designed to help them both analyze the duties of the position and to decide if an individual is qualified to serve in that particular position. During the lesson students practice using the intellectual tools.

4-6
What Were People Like in the British Colonies in America during the 1770s? NEW FOR 2019!

This lesson will help you know about the people who wrote our United States Constitution. More than two hundred years ago, there were British, Dutch, French, and Spanish colonies in North America. In this lesson, you will learn how people lived in the British colonies. We want to learn about these colonies because they became the United States of America. They were the first thirteen states.

How Does the Constitution Protect your Right to Equal Protection of the Laws? NEW FOR 2019!

In this lesson, you will learn about the right of all people to be treated equally by government. You will learn the meaning of the term equal protection of the laws. The equal protection clause is one part of the Fourteenth Amendment. This clause has been used to prevent states from being unfair to citizens because of their race or gender

5-6

5-8

6-8
How Should We Choose People for Positions of Authority?

Students learn to identify the requirements of a position of authority and the qualifications a person should possess to fill that position. Students learn a set of intellectual tools designed to help them both analyze the duties of a position and to decide if an individual is qualified to serve in that particular position. In an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt's Winning of the West, students learn the characteristics that qualified Lewis and Clark to fulfill the responsibilities of leading an expedition to the West.

7-8

7-12

9/11 and the Constitution: On American Identity, Diversity, and Common Ground

The anniversaries of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, provide us an opportunity to reflect upon who we are as Americans, examine our most fundamental values and principles and affirm our commitment to them, and evaluate progress toward the realization of American ideals and propose actions that might narrow the gap between these ideals and reality. These lessons are designed to accomplish these goals.

9-10

Constitution Day Scavenger Hunt with 60-Second Civics

Fifty-five delegates were present at the Constitutional Convention, which was held in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. Most students can identify George Washington, James Madison, and maybe even Alexander Hamilton. But what about the other fifty-two delegates? Who were they? How did they influence the convention? In this lesson students will familiarize themselves with the delegates by listening to a series of 60-Second Civics podcast episodes devoted to the Framers of the Constitution.

To Amend or Not to Amend, That's Been the Question...Many Times

This lesson asks students to examine recent proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, analyze them for public policy triggering mechanisms, and compare and contrast them to amendments that have been ratified.

How Was the Constitution Used to Organize the New Government?

This lesson traces Lincoln's political life during a time of constitutional crisis. It examines Lincoln's ideas and decisions regarding slavery and the use of presidential power to preserve the Union.

9-12

How Should We Choose People for Positions of Authority?

Students learn to identify the requirements of a position of authority and the qualifications a person should possess to fill that position. Students learn a set of intellectual tools designed to help them both analyze the duties of a position and to decide if an individual is qualified to serve in that particular position. Students apply the intellectual tools to a job description fro president of the Untied States and create a list of some of the characteristics a person should have to fill the position and perform well in that office.

11-12

Historical Analysis of Constitutional Amendments

In this lesson, students examine one of six key amendments to the Constitution while considering their historical context. Students create timelines for each amendment that are later combined to fully evaluate and interpret how the Constitution has evolved within its historical context.

What Does Returning to Fundamental Principles Mean?

Permission to reproduce and use these lessons in a classroom setting is granted to K-16 classroom teachers. All other uses require the specific written permission of the Center for Civic Education. These lessons may not be posted or reproduced on any website.

The Center for Civic Education, in collaboration with the American Association of School Administrators, prepared these lessons in response to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress requiring educational institutions receiving federal funding to present a program pertaining to the U.S. Constitution.

For more information about these lessons, contact the Center at 818.591.9321 or cce@civiced.org.

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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day September 17 is recognized in the United States as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S.

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US Constitution Day Activities and Lesson Plans | Constitution Facts

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Visit Us Online for US Constitution Day Activities and Lesson Plans. ConstitutionDay.cc Provides Educational Resources and Links to Help Educators.

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I Do, We Do, You Do Reading Comprehension Scaffolding

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I Do, We Do, You Do Reading Comprehension Scaffolding

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I Do, We Do, You Do: Scaffolding Reading Comprehension in Social Studies

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6th Grade Social Studies Vocabulary Foldable Chapter One 1-1

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Teaching Channel Presents: Social Studies Essentials

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Teaching Channel presents the essential Social Studies concepts students learn from elementary school through high school. Watch lessons from inspiring teachers that cover topics from building a sense of community to critical thinking to socio-economic theory.

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Social Studies Interactive Notebook Example

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Social Studies Interactive Notebook Example

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Social Studies Interactive Notebook Example

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Differentiation in the MS SS Classroom Video

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Differentiation in the MS SS Classroom Video

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Differentiated Activities for Middle School Social Studies Stude... : Teaching Language Arts & More

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Teaching American History is a free resource that brings together primary documents, continuing education, and community for American history teachers.

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Lesson Plans - Atlas of Historic NM Maps

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If you are planning on using the lesson plans or the maps individually, and the students have access to multiple computers, it may help to allow time for the first activity for your grade level, in order to allow the students to familiarize themselves with the Google maps interface.

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This is the default welcome page used to test the correct operation of the Apache2 server after installation on Ubuntu systems. It is based on the equivalent page on Debian, from which the Ubuntu Apache packaging is derived. If you can…

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World History Matters » A Portal to World History Sites from the Center for History and New Media

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World History Matters is a portal to world history websites developed by the Center for History and New Media

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Teachinghistory.org is designed to help K-12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) has created Teachinghistory.org with the goal of making history content, teaching strategies, resources, and research accessible.

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

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1- National Council for The Social Studies

This is a great website for teachers and students. It provides free resources relating to everything about social studies.

2- World History

World History is a powerful, innovative model curriculum for teaching world history in middle and high schools.

3- PBS Teachers Social Studies

This is a web page that has great links to social studies resources organized into grade-subject categories.

4- Social Studies Theme Units

This is a section provided by Edhelper and which offers great activities and projects all geared towards a better understanding of this subject area.

5- EDSITEment

Explore the library of humanities lesson plans by subject, theme, and grade level.Find Art and Culture lessons on anthropology, art history, folklore, mythology, religion, and more.

6- Smithsonian Education

Smithsonian offers great resources on Art and culture, history and travel, science. From interactive Idealabs to homework help and many more.

7- Lesson Plans for Social Studies

Dr, Marty Levine has gathered lesson plans and resources from the Internet which social studies teachers will find useful.

Outreach World is an online community of educators dedicated to showcasing the achievements of its members and strengthening vital links across the education spectrum, and between the United States and the world.

9- Documentary Websites for Teachers
This is a collection of free websites that provides documentaries on a variety of different topics.

10- Timelines
This is a set of free tools for teachers to create awesome timelines . Check them out .

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10 Excellent Free Social Studies Resources for Teachers and Students

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1- National Council for The Social Studies This is a great website for teachers and students. It provides free resources relating to everything about social studies. 2- World History World History is a powerful, innovative model curriculum for teaching world history in middle and high schools.

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Middle School SS Lesson Plans and Activities

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Middle School SS Lesson Plans and Activities

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Social Studies LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES

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Share My Lesson is a destination for educators who dedicate their time and professional expertise to provide the best education for students everywhere. Share My Lesson members contribute content, share ideas, get educated on the topics that matter, online, 24/7. We issue Creative Commons licenses, and we do not share our members' private data with anyone.

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Get Middle Level Learning
This online-only magazine features grade 5-8 classroom activities written for middle school educators of all stripes, but especially social studies teachers who see their classroom as a place to integrate all of the disciplines. MLL is published three times a year as a 16-page, color-illustrated PDF. Read about the current issue, download a free issue, or access the current and back issues at the online members-only Archive.

Get "Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People" Each Year
All members of NCSS receive this year's Notables list in the May/June issue of Social Education and can access it in the online Archive. Previous years' lists (back to 2000) are available free to the public. Here is where you find excellent language arts/social studies content. (Subscribers to SSYL also receive the September and May/June issues of Social Education, which is the flagship journal.)

Access the U.S. History Collection
This is your shortcut to lesson ideas - an online set of classroom activities, teaching ideas, and articles from our journals. Browse the collection, or search by historical period and grade level. Brief abstracts are available to all. Only NCSS members can access the full articles. Members can access the collection of journal articles spanning 2 decades at www.socialstudies.org/publications/peridocals.

Apply for an Award (or Nominate a Colleague)
The Middle School Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award is given at the NCSS Annual Conference, which has been held in various U.S. cities over the years since 1920. We also celebrate excellence in social studies teaching with the Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award, the Award for Global Understanding given in honor of James M. Becker, as well as the Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy.

Get Connected
Connected, the new NCSS online networking community, connects social studies professionals from across the country. Like Facebook, and other popular networking sites, Connected lets members share their experiences and knowledge with colleagues through blogs, e-group discussions and resource document sharing.

Get Professional Development
NCSS Annual Conference with its many sessions are places where teachers teach each other about content and methods. Conference sessions led by professor-teacher teams are increasingly popular. You don't know what professional development is all about until you've attended one of these events. Summer Workshops, and state council meetings are also places where teachers get training.

Stay Informed with the Newsletter
The Social Studies Professional is our official online newsletter, featuring the latest news, new resource and professional development listings, summer travel and study, and important updates from state and regional councils for the social studies.

Read Books and Bulletins
NCSS Bulletins, published twice-yearly in book form, provide an in-depth focus on specific disciplines within social studies. Bulletins and other special books are included in a Comprehensive membership. They can also be purchased through the list of NCSS publications. Download the PDF of the list of NCSS publications or shop at the NCSS Online Store to view some of the most recent items.

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Get Middle Level Learning This online-only magazine features grade 5-8 classroom activities written for middle school educators of all stripes, but especially social studies teachers who see their classroom as a place to integrate all of the disciplines. MLL is published three times a year as a 16-page, color-illustrated PDF.

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Social Studies Lessons

This historical atlas of the United States combines cutting-edge research with innovative interactive mapping techniques.

This resource challenges traditional ways of learning about the past by exploring the diverse social and cultural histories of the United States. The site also offers professional development seminars for teachers.

Focused on high school students, the Big History Project is a joint effort between teachers, scholars, scientists, and their supporters to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to knowledge.

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This fantastic YouTube channel provides an engaging glimpse into some of the most notable events and developments in history. With sequences of videos on the World Wars, the history of science, U.S. History, and more, it's a great first introduction or review.

The creators of Crash Course have also created a second channel geared towards younger students. This biweekly show is meant for elementary school kids and covers topics ranging from Earth science to chemical reactions.

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Need a list of some great history websites? EdTechTeacher has done the hard work and compiled them all for you!

A nonprofit organization that has developed an array of programs for schools, teachers, and students that now operate in all fifty states, including a website that features more than 60,000 unique historical documents.

At its heart, America is an idea. What keeps this idea vibrant? The Idea of America is a digital U.S. history program that presents our nation's rich history through an original framework that views America as an enduring "Great Debate."

A free inquiry-based distance learning curriculum created by inquirED. The 20-minute social studies lessons can be done at home and address questions like How can I capture where I am in time and place?, How can we communicate with others to share our thoughts and ideas?, and How can we celebrate our everyday heroes?. New inquiries are being released weekly.

It's hard to beat the National Library of Congress. It's one of the best social studies websites and even features an entire portal just for teachers.

Use the online tool to access countless primary source documents to enhance learning. Find lesson plans and more on the Educator Resources page.

This colorful site contains lessons that meet national and state standards as well as STEM and College and Career Readiness goals. They've even got lessons on coronaviruses!

Developed by the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian's History Explorer is designed for K-12 teachers and students and offers hundreds of free, innovative online resources for teaching and learning American history.

The Reading Like a Historian curriculum promotes historical inquiry while engaging students. The lessons are designed to explore a central historical question and include a set of primary documents for students of various reading skills.

It's easy to see why we've included this on our list of the best social studies websites. Studies Weekly Online allows you to create a customized, standards-based curriculum for social studies and offers a free trial.

TCI offers the full package! You'll find resources to help you better prepare, present, assign, grade, and teach-even through distance learning!

The Ashbrook Center at Ashland University worked with the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop web-based lesson plans for U.S. history and American government teachers.

This site is designed to help K-12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom and through distance learning.

Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations, and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children. There is even a special module specifically designed for the racism surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

This interactive site is designed for 3-6 grade students and includes lessons on geography, environment, U.S. history, and U.S. government.

On this site, you will find scholarly articles offering critical analyses of significant speeches, curriculum units designed for undergraduate teachers and students, lesson plans for high school and middle school teachers, and a blog with brief commentaries on speeches and pedagogical issues.

A portal to world history websites including Women in World History, World History Sources, and more.

This infinitely adaptable, free standards-aligned world history course for high school students connects to the past to the present, with an eye to the future.

Museum Tours

Enjoy virtual visits to the galleries, go behind the scenes, and engage with art from anywhere with our virtual events, videos, and themed audio tours.

Explore three floors of the Boston Children's Museum on this virtual tour which includes fun stops at the Explore-a-Saurus and Japanese House exhibits.

Located in the heart of London, students can explore this iconic museum with exhibits dedicated to everything from Egyptian mummies to the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.

Explore the " At Home With DIA " museum experience at the Detroit Institute of Arts that offers virtual field trips, online exhibits, weekly film screenings, and more.

This is definitely one of the best social studies websites around! Use Google's Street View feature to tour the world-famous Guggenheim museum, including works of art and the breathtaking spiral staircase.

The Street View tour of this California museum gives students access to European artworks that date back as far as the 8th Century.

Travel to Paris might be out of the question right now, but students can virtually walk through this gallery which includes works from Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, and more.

Scope out two incredible online exhibits through Google: one dedicated to American fashion and another featuring a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.

Dig into the archaeology and history of Mexico's pre-Hispanic heritage with a virtual tour of 23 exhibit rooms, including artifacts from the Mayan civilization.

South Korea might be on the other side of the Pacific, but you can still visit one of the country's most popular museums through this extensive virtual tour of Contemporary art from Korea and more.

This historical museum in Germany provides a virtual glimpse of ancient artifacts, including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Pergamon Altar.

Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you're actually wandering its halls.

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most iconic painters of all time, and this virtual tour allows visitors to marvel at the largest collection of his artwork.

Virtual Field Trips

Go beyond the classroom walls and explore some of the world's most iconic destinations-no permission slips required.

Explore a variety of remote learning opportunities for students, including virtual field trips (Elkhorn Slough), science challenges, walkabouts, and more. The site also offers a teacher resource library.

Embark on a virtual field trip that covers three main components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. The videos are short and targeted at middle schoolers.

Even through a virtual tour on a tiny screen, students will be dazzled by the magnificence and wonder of this thousands-year-old fortification system.

There's so much to see at this iconic New York museum-even on a virtual tour. From couture ball gowns to a history of music, students will be captivated by the 26 online galleries.

These wonderful virtual field trips allow students to explore a coastal rain forest or the coral reefs in the Dominican Republic, and so much more.

Check out the fantastic behind-the-scenes videos and stories. Then, be sure to check out the great list of activities and downloadables.

The Seattle Aquarium hosts a 30-minute virtual field trip. Students can learn about the animals and the food web that can be found in the Puget Sound waters.

This incredibly cool and responsive website allows students to explore more than 60,000 stars, watch sunrises, search for planets, and more!

These self-guided virtual tours give students an up-close look at permanent, current, and past exhibits.

This site details the Census Bureau's plans used to engage, educate, and ultimately count an increasingly diverse and growing population.

Perfect for K-8 social studies students, this site includes curriculum content, online learning videos, and quizzes along with a list of the corresponding national and state Standards.

The best way to experience Yellowstone is to visit. The second best way is to explore the cool interactive maps and, of course, the live stream of the Old Faithful Geyser eruptions.

Social Studies Games and Simulations

Dive into engaging civics and law-related education programs. Students of all grade levels can learn more about the values and skills essential to being a responsible citizen.

Choose articles based on reading level, so you can use these articles for various ages and skillsets. Schools and districts closed due to the outbreak can request free unlimited access to Kids Discover Online.

This free, core academic website delivers videos, animations, and simulations for middle-school and high-school students.

This pick for best social studies websites allows students to "watch episodes, play games, and sing along to your favorite Horrible Histories songs!"

iCivics provides tools to help students learn about civic life. Teachers and students can access printable lesson plans, interactive digital tools, and award-winning games.

Established by Congress, this interactive website provides free online resources for remote students of all ages who are learning more about the Constitution.

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Best Social Studies Websites for Kids & Teens

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These are the best social studies websites to help teachers and kids learn about social studies or better teach it, chosen by teachers.