Congratulations to El Camino Creek Elementary School and Oak Grove Middle School for winning the California Civic Learning Award of Excellence, as well as Flora Vista Elementary School for winning the California Civic Learning Award of Distinction. These schools, as well as other San Diego County schools that were honored with an Award of Merit, are recognized for their focus and dedication to helping students become active and informed members of their community. Visit the
Civic Learning Award
site to find out more about how your school can participate next year.
History-Social Science Coordinator, SDCOE
858-292-3820
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Instructional Materials Adoption
The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) provides support to districts participating in History-Social Science instructional materials adoptions. The Learning Resources Display Center has copies of the K-8 instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education on display. They are available for the public to preview at 5304 Metro St., Suite C, San Diego, CA 92110. Please email
Oscar Ramirez
or call 619-718-4987 to arrange your visit. For additional questions about the adoption and how instructional materials relate to the History-Social Science Framework, please email
Matt Hayes
or call 858-292-3820.
Legislative Updates
Assembly Bill (AB) 2772, Pupil Instruction: Ethnic Studies, was voted through the Assembly Education Committee. It is now in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It would add a year-long ethnic studies course to California's high school graduation requirements. No formal amendments have been made; however, suggestions to amend the bill have included reducing the year-long ethnic studies requirement to a semester only, and to also give credit for the requirement to students who take ethnic studies as an English elective.
AB 2015, Pupil Instruction: Economics: Completion of Applications for Student Financial Aid, would require time to be set aside in the economics course for students to complete financial aid forms. Economics teachers would need to be trained in order to facilitate this instruction.
SB 583, Model Curriculum: Financial Literacy, would direct the production of a model curriculum. This bill has been amended to have the State Board of Education adopt model curriculum for an elective course in financial literacy and encourage schools to offer it. The course would not fulfill the graduation requirement for a semester of economics.
CA HSS Framework: Changes to the Mission Project
As teachers become familiar with their grade-level chapters in the History-Social Science Framework, many 4th-grade teachers have noted that the framework strongly encourages teachers to find alternatives to the "Mission Project." Below is an excerpt from the 4th-grade chapter:
In selecting sources and directing students' investigations, attention should focus on the daily experience of missions rather than the building structures themselves. Building missions from sugar cubes or popsicle sticks does not help students understand the period and is offensive to many. Instead, students should have access to multiple sources that identify and help children understand the lives of different groups of people who lived in and around missions, so that students can place them in a comparative context.
Read the blog by the California History-Social Science Project to learn more about what the framework has to say on this topic and to find resources for teaching about this period.
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Coming Soon: Summer and Fall History-Social Science Workshops
The History-Social Science team is busy planning summer and fall workshops. Visit and then bookmark the History-Social Science professional learning webpage for updates as they become available.
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Teaching Sustainable Communities: Empowering Eco-Literate Global Citizens
K-12 educators are invited to apply to Teaching for Sustainable Communities, a year-long program that begins with a four-day summer institute in San Diego. The dates are June 7, 8, 11, and 12. Hosted by the California International Studies Project, the program starts with the summer institute and continues during the school year with follow-up meetings beginning Dec. 1. It also includes local support such as webinars, coaching, and field studies designed to improve environmental literacy and global competence, and engage students in civic action projects. The program culminates in a school, district, or regional exhibition of student learning. Participation is limited and an application is required for registration for the San Diego International Studies Teacher Education Project (ISTEP). For more information, contact CISP Executive Director, Emily Schell, or CISP Program Director, Stephanie Duran.
Still Time to Apply for Teacher Institute on the USS Midway
Many San Diego area teachers are familiar with the two-week summer institute on the Cold War, Korea, and the Vietnam War that is held onboard the USS Midway. The Midway has expanded its offerings to include a one-week institute on Vietnam, the Cold War, and 1968. The new seminar is sponsored by the Stuart Foundation and is intended for teachers from California. It emphasizes the Vietnam War and its Cold War connections, with particular attention to the Tet Offensive and its effects. It also will touch on the tumultuous events of 1968, the cultural changes of the late 1960s, and the role of California.
Teacher institutes on the Midway include teacher stipends, meals onboard the ship, free parking, museum admission, and more. Visit the Midway Institute for Teachers website or contact John Burns at the Midway for information and details about applying.
San Diego Federal Reserve Institute: Economics and Personal Finance
The California Council on Economic Education (CCEE) and the San Diego Center for Economic Education invite high school and community college teachers to apply for the three-day
San Diego Federal Reserve Institute
. Participants will hear from experts and learn about hands-on lessons and other helpful instructional materials. The institute will be held at the University of San Diego from June 27 to 29. Contact
Joshua Mitton
for information and to learn about scholarships from the CCEE.
Apply
today.
Econ 1-0-What? Economics with a Pop Culture Twist
Join University of Arizona economics lecturers Dirk Mateer and Charity Joy Acchiardo for an enjoyable day of economics. They are a husband and wife team who love sharing their collective 40-plus years of teaching.
Econ 1-0-What?
is your opportunity to experience the couple's innovative lessons and techniques firsthand. The event is sponsored by the San Diego Center for Economic Education and will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 25 at the Junior Achievement BizTown and Finance Park. For questions and to RSVP, contact
Brett Litoff
.
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American Ywap
American Ywap is a free, open, online textbook that was the result of collaboration between more than 300 U.S. history scholars. The text is fully open and educators can download and distribute as they see fit.
Summer Tours for Educators
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has teamed up with EF Educational Tours to offer two trips this summer for educators. Visit China to learn more about the country's rich culture and history while gaining a deeper understanding of China's educational system. Or you could immerse yourself in the culture of Peru, visit historical sites, and participate in a two-day service learning project. Check out the
NCSS website
to learn more.
GeoInquiries
GeoInquiry collections are available for Advanced Placement human geography, U.S. history, American literature, world history, and elementary classrooms. GeoInquiries are designed to be fast and easy-to-use K-12 instructional resources that incorporate ArcGIS online web-mapping and are closely tied to the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework from the National Council for the Social Studies. Check out lessons on the Reformation, Hiroshima, African independence, migration, the Dust Bowl, and even weather forecasting for upper elementary grades. For more information and access to all the lessons, visit the
Esri GIS Education Community
.
Literacy and the Law
Deepen students' understanding of civics while improving their literacy skills at
Literacy and the Law
. The three units available for free are: No, David!, Journey to Topaz, and The First Amendment. Literacy and the Law is designed to engage your K-12 students in civics, language arts, and visual and performing arts through units of study that include appealing mock trials. The free curricula, resources, and tools meet state standards and will engage your students.
Walter Schirra Exhibit Debuts
The San Diego Air and Space Museum recently premiered a new exhibit honoring the legendary astronaut Wally Schirra. Schirra was the only pilot to fly in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.
Learn more about this exhibit
.
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