Reasons to Attend GCSS

By Nina Kendall

Professional organizations in the fields of History and Education hold annual meetings to fulfill their missions.  These meetings or conferences are opportunities to learn about the work in the field and network with colleagues. The Georgia Council for the Social Studies (GCSS) is the professional organization for Social Studies Educators in Georgia.  Their annual meeting is held annually during the third week in October. The 2014 conference will be October 16-17.  Here are a few reasons to attend.

New Resources
At an annual meeting like GCSS, you have the opportunity to talk to organizations that support your professional work. At this year’s meeting you will have a chance to see new items that vendors have to offer and how organizations like Georgia Council on Economic Education and the Georgia Humanities Council support learning in our state.  No matter your budget, a walk through the exhibitor hall will lead you to resources to use in your classroom.

Exhibitors for GCSS 2014

Bridgeview Education Cengage Learning Clairmont Press Didgeridoo Down Under EF Education First EverFi Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta GALILEO Gallopade International Georgia Center for Assessment Georgia Center for Civic Engagement Georgia Commission on the Holocaust

Georgia Council on Economic Education Georgia Council for the Social Studies Georgia Historical Society Georgia Humanities Council Georgia Public Broadcasting Georgia Renaissance Festival Georgia Southern University Museum Heifer International

Jewish Community Relations Council National Geographic Non-Boring History PDA Literacy S3strategies Studies Weekly Teachers Retirement System The Outstanding Guides, LLC Tracy’s File Cabinet Warbranch Press, Inc. World Affairs Council of Atlanta/World Quest

New Insight
A variety of speakers at annual meetings will introduce you to new insights and developments in the field.  A few years ago, attendees got to hear from the Historian working on Today in Georgia History, a joint project between GPB and the Georgia Historical Society. This year you can learn about social studies instruction from around the state from speaker panel lead by Shaun Owen from the Georgia Department of Education.  You can also gain new insight into history while attending the keynote address delivered by Congressman John Lewis. Congressman Lewis will share his experiences and introduce his new book, March.

New Ideas
Make time to attend presentations of your choice at GCSS. From DBQs to Mentoring Student Teachers, there is a topic of interest to everyone.  Histocrat Margaret Duncan will be there presenting about Gamification.  Pick something of interest to you. Look for a session to address a problem you are facing in your school. Find out how to participate in National History Day and connect with the National Archives in Atlanta for research.  Leave with new ideas on how to make your classroom and school more effective and engaging.

We encourage you to make this part of your professional growth plans now and in the future. This annual event sponsored by Georgia Historical Society, Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, Georgia Humanities Council, and Studies Weekly in 2014 is an opportunity not to be missed.

Maker Fair Fun in the Social Studies Classroom

By Nina Kendall

The Maker philosophy is to apply a do-it-yourself approach to learning in the modern classroom. Students are empowered to make, to tinker, and to create. This approach appeals to me as an educator and as a child of the 1980’s. Not only do I want to make things, so do kids. This is a great way to encourage creativity in the classroom.  Frequently maker spaces and activities involve 3-D printers and Lego robots.   Yet the maker movement is bigger than robots. This approach to learning can certainly be brought into the Social Studies classroom too.

Here is what I did to bring a maker event to my classroom:

·         Investigated the #maker approach with Mozilla and looked for way that this approach could be brought in to class for learners at all levels of digital experience.

·         Selected the tools for use in the activity.

·         Selected the content students could share their understanding of that day.

·         Created a PowerPoint slide for each activity that included tool, product goal, and content.

·         I saved the slides as jpeg files(photos).

·         I created a basic website that had links to web tools that students could use and a photo slide show of the activities.

·         I created a form to hand to each student that would indicate the activity they choose, the type of activity completed, and the method of electronic turn the students used. (Students could email project, turn in on ThreeRing, save to their drives, or upload to Edmodo. )

Maker Event in Class:

·         Give students each a copy of the form to report their efforts on.

·         Direct students to #maker website and let them know that what they choose to make is there choice.

·         Monitor progress  and collect sheets at the end of session.

·         Enjoy what students share!

Challenges:

·         Shifting technology infrastructure. Be aware of the limitations of your digital environment.

·         Students struggling with digital tools. They are not all digital natives. Some students are also very insecure with activities that don’t have exact responses.

·         Time. As in every activity some students needed more time than others.

Results:

We had a good day. Students were highly engaged and very creative. I liked the focus students displayed.  It was good to see them work together so positively. It was also nice to share in their efforts. In high school, the days students want to share their work with you are rare. I would certainly do this again. 

Getting Started with National History Day

Opening Ceremony National History Day

By Nina Kendall

Are you considering implementing National History Day(NHD) in your school or classroom next year? Are you looking for advice on how to get started? Here are some basic tips on getting started.  Click here for a Georgia version.

Get to Know the Projects

There are 5 different types of projects that are part of National History Day. Project categories include websites, performances, exhibits, documentaries, and papers.  National History Day has a detailed rule book  with detailed descriptions each type of project. Every project except for a paper can be completed by a group. You can certainly allow students to choose any type of project, but you can advise students on what is possible with school equipment and seek advice from others on producing various projects. Perhaps you have a very supportive drama or technology teacher in your building.

Get to Know the Theme

The 2015 theme is Leadership and Legacy. National History Day presents an essay every year to explore theme. It is a useful tool to help introduce students to working with a theme. This may be the first time you and your students have chosen to complete research based on a theme.

Be Prepared with Sample Topics

When you introduce the project, you are going to want have sample topics to share. National History Day creates a list of sample topics every year.  Topics can focus on any part of history. This year you will also find some lists of topics based on the history of individual states. You do not have to use a topic from a list provided by National History Day or any other organization. However, these lists of topics can be sources of inspiration.

Know where to find Help

National History Day in conjunction with several museums hosted google hangouts about each type of project that you can watch. Each state has an affiliate coordinator that supports NHD and conduct contests within your state. These organizations can offer you advice on how to get started, connect you with your regional competition, and possibly host a workshop you or your students can attend. For example, the Georgia Humanities Council, an NHD affiliate, in conjunction with LaGrange College who hosted a teacher workshop this summer. 

Find Out about NHD Contests

If you plan to compete, you need to know about your local competition.  Here are some basic questions to ask about your  local competition.

·         Where is the local competition?

·         When is the local competition?

·         When is the registrations deadline?

·         Is there a registration fee? If so, what is the fee?

·         Are there any specific contest requirements asked of each school?(ie… limit on number of projects, paperwork, photo release forms.)

This information will help you in your planning for a successful year.

Good Luck and Happy History Day!

Bonus: Topics List with Georgia Connections(#NHD2015)

·         Southern Christian Leadership Conference

·         James Oglethorpe

·         Andrew Young

·         Alonzo Herndon and the Atlanta Life Insurance Company

·         Richard B. Russell Jr.

·         Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center

·         Joseph Lowery

·         John Hope

·         Sequoyah and the Syllabary

·         Albany Freedom Singers

·         Martha Berry

·         Xavier Roberts-Cabbage Patch Kids

·         William B. Hartsfield and the City to “busy to hate”

·         Cason and Virgina Callaway

·         Asa Candler and Coca-Cola

·         Martin Luther King Jr.

·         Hosea Williams and Feed the Hungry

·         Morris Rich and Rich’s Department Store

·         Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A

·         General Lucius D. Clay and the Berlin Airlift

·         Henry Wirz and Andersonville Prison

·         Juliette Gordon Low and the Girl Scouts

·         Henry Grady and the New South