Social Studies

Literacy Instruction Standards

On October 7, 2021, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) as outlined in Section V of SB 387: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021. The LIS serve as a framework for the development and alignment of curriculum and instruction for all public schools. These standards are defined as a level of quality and equity to be used consistently within core literacy instruction statewide. While the NC Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) sets student expectations, the LIS and their associated instructional practices set expectations for teaching literacy. The LIS are organized by grade-band and can be used to ensure that all teachers across North Carolina have a common understanding and delivery of literacy instruction.

While the LIS have been developed by grade bands, they should be used in tandem with appropriate grade-level texts of increasing complexity in order for students to fully meet the demands of the NCSCOS. This LIS framework does not indicate an exhaustive list of literacy instruction practices and may not fully capture all instructional practices that have the potential to positively impact students’ literacy achievement in K-12. New literacy research could modify and/or add to the instructional practices listed.

For information regarding the LIS, be sure to sign up to receive LIS First Friday Updates. Also, please visit the Literacy Instruction Website and view the timeline that details the progress of the LIS implementation.

Literacy Instruction Standards Toolkit (LIST)

The LIST is an open Canvas repository for all things related to the LIS. Visit the LIST regularly, as new resources will be added as needed for implementation and support.

LIS LEARNING SERIES

Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, there will be a series of professional learning involving multiple content areas. The LIS are to be used by all teachers in every content area for core instruction. This series will focus on integrating the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) into standards-aligned content area instruction. These sessions are open to K-12 educators.

Literacy in Math: January 25, 2023

Literacy in Social Studies: April 27, 2023

Literacy in ELD: May 11, 2023

Registration

To learn more about the LIS, view the DPI LIS webpage. To view LIS resources, visit the LIS Toolkit (LIST).

On-Demand Professional Learning Session: Using the K-12 Social Studies Unpacking Documents

The new NC Social Studies Standards were approved in February 2021 for implementation in fall of 2021. The Civic Literacy and Economics and Personal Financial Literacy courses are legislatively required courses for all students that entered high school in 2021-2022 by the time they graduate. While there is some leeway with the high school courses, as districts can choose the sequence for their high school social studies courses, the new social studies standards should have been implemented K-8 for the 2021-2022 school year. See the GRAD-004 Policy and GRAD-004 Policy Chart for more information.

To support districts, schools, and teachers, the NCDPI Social Studies team are releasing or providing live professional learning sessions throughout the school year. The following lists each session:

One-Stop Shop: Refresher on the SS Standards & Supports and Onboarding Materials for Teachers to New NC SS Classrooms

This professional development session will contain brief overviews of the standards and objectives for the newly adopted social studies standards. In addition to basic terms and ideas surrounding objectives, we will also cover resources and materials that currently exist for the newly adopted social studies standards. This session is recommended for beginning teachers and/or teachers new to teaching social studies in North Carolina.

American History

The American History on-demand professional development session will help teachers of the high school American History course determine how to approach curriculum decisions. Since the American History I and II courses have been condensed into one course, teachers need to make decisions about what concepts and topics will help them cover the required material in a timely fashion in alignment with the new standards.

Understanding the ECS and OCS Standards requirements for Social Studies

This was an informational webinar provided by K-12 Social Studies in collaboration with the Division of Exceptional Children. The intent of the session is to both respond to recurring questions about ECS and OCS standards for social studies and support district leaders’ understanding of these standards, their requirements, and their implementation. Listen to this session to:

• Gain a firm understanding of the Extended Content Standards (ECS) Social Studies standards, requirements and federal guidelines.

• Gain a firm understanding of the Social Studies requirements of the Occupational Course of Study (OCS).

ELD & SS Webinar - Addressing the Needs of English Language Learners

The NC ELD Standards have been adopted. Teachers are responsible for using them in classroom instruction to address the needs of the ESL/ML student. This professional development is designed to help social studies teachers, K-12, learn how to integrate the ELD/ML Standards into Social Studies. ALL Social Studies educators and curriculum leaders, K-12, are strongly encouraged to attend. These PD sessions can be used as evidence for the NC Teaching Standards:

• Standard 2: Teachers Establish a Respectful Environment for a Diverse Population of Students

• Standard 3: Teachers Know the Content They Teach

• Standard 4: Teachers Facilitate Learning for Their Students

Teaching SS with Primary Sources

In this session you will learn from Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers who are using high quality primary sources to teach the NEW Social Studies Standards. This session will engage you with ideas for where to find and how to use primary source material to facilitate meaningful learning. Teacher presenters will walk you through lesson activities using high quality primary sources aligned to specific standards. An expert from the North Carolina State Archives will share examples of primary sources from their collection that would be impactful in supporting teaching and learning. Gain strategies and resources to build your personal primary sources toolbox!

Access all available Professional Learning Sessions

The NC Social Studies Conference (NCCSS)!

The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies is an organization that serves its members and provides support to social studies educators. Each year, NCCSS invites K-16 educators from across North Carolina to come to their conference. The conference is two days of amazing sessions, fun networking opportunities, and more! Register for the conference and consider presenting a session at the upcoming Social Studies Conference. You may also want to consider serving on the NCCSS Board or nominating someone you think would be an asset.

Register now for the state social studies conference!

Present a session at the conference

Nominate yourself or a colleague to serve on the NCCSS Board!

Stay up to date on the latest NCCS news and opportunities by signing up to receive their newsletter. Access the latest NCCSS Newsletter .

Week-Long Summer Institute- American Soldiers in American Wars: History and Memory

Teaching the history of U.S. military conflicts is an important but challenging task. Join the Choices Program this summer for a week-long National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Institute, American Soldiers in American Wars: History and Memory, which will provide hands-on experience and introduce a rich and engaging model for teaching about WWII, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Institute aims to promote a deeper understanding of U.S. wars through a three-part framework.

Twenty-five applicants will be selected for the Institute, which will take place July 10-14, 2023, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Full-time or part-time educators who teach in public, charter, independent, and religiously affiliated schools or as homeschooling educators may apply. A stipend of $1,300 meant to cover some or all travel, meals, and housing costs will be provided following full participation in the Institute. Participants will also receive complimentary Digital Editions licenses for five Choices Program curriculum units, including a forthcoming unit on the Vietnam War, and have access to Brown University resources during the Institute.

Learn more about the schedule, how to apply, and more!

NCDPI Social Studies: The American History Chronological Document Resource is Now Available!

NCDPI Social Studies has an exciting new resource for American History! The American History Chronological Document tool is designed to help teachers find primary source examples that could be used in their instruction of specific objectives during specific chronological periods. This supplemental document provides potential sources that can be integrated into curriculum and lesson plans to provide students with additional materials to analyze and evaluate. Public School Units (PSUs) have local control to determine curriculum, therefore, the American History Chronological Document is not meant to be:

• curriculum

• an exhaustive list of primary sources,

• required to use for teaching and learning

• a checklist of documents that are required to use or access

In the footer of the document, there is a link where educators can recommend additional sources that can be used in certain time periods for specific objectives.

The new American History Chronological Document tool is live now and ready for you to use today!

Access other NCDPI created Resources

Disclaimer: Because North Carolina is a local-control state, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) does not provide lists of resources outlining specific reading texts, books, authors, or other primary and secondary resources. Prior to use, the Social Studies leadership in local PSUs should carefully analyze the resources. Learn More

NC Museum of History: African American Cultural Celebration Education Day 2023 Schedule and Registration

The African American Cultural Celebration is held on the last Saturday of January and serves as the statewide kickoff to Black History Month in North Carolina. For over 20 years, this celebration has brought together African American community members, organizations, authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, scholars, and more, around a central theme to highlight the contributions that African Americans, past and present, have made to North Carolina’s history and culture. Multiple demonstrations, presentations, and performances reach thousands of people, whether the celebration is held virtually or in person.

A virtual Education Day was added in 2022. The NC Museum of History: African American Cultural Celebration Education Day 2023 will be on Thursday, January 26, 2023, from 9:00 am-2:30 pm. There will be free interactive virtual presentations and LIVE! streaming of storytelling. Details are forthcoming.

More Information

Register Here

Instructional Resources

Take the North Carolina Museum of History: BEYOND the Exhibits into your classroom

The materials from the North Carolina Museum of History: BEYOND the Exhibits correspond to the NC Standard Course of Study and are designed to provide high-quality and interactive learning experiences to your students.

LEARN MORE

North Carolina Museum of History: Beyond the Exhibits- 360° Student Tour

The 360° Student Tour of the museum’s exhibit, The Story of North Carolina, has seven short narrative films based on primary sources. Each film shares the experiences of individuals from North Carolina’s past. Watch them all or choose where to begin your video adventure.

Learn More

The North Carolina Council on the Holocaust Newsletter

The North Carolina Council on the Holocaust publishes a quarterly newsletter. It’s latest issue features an informative article highlighting why teaching about the Holocaust matters. The article also celebrates the Council’s annual Holocaust Gathering held at NCCAT. Take some time and check out not only the NCDPI article but the wealth of information published in this quarter’s NC Holocaust Newsletter.

https://ncholocaustcouncilworkshops.org/nc-holocaust-council-newsletter/