When: July 18 & 19 (UPDATED) - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m

Where: Doss High School

How: Sign up on Vector - Search for Social Studies Boot Camp. There are two different sessions in Vector: Day 1 and Day 2

JCPS Social Studies will be hosting our annual Social Studies Bootcamp for middle and high school teachers on July 17-18. The Bootcamp is a great way to begin the year learning new skills to support instruction of Social Studies.

July 11

July 11, 2024

Kentucky teachers are invited to join Kentucky Historical Society staff for three workshops offered at NO COST. These workshops will provide teachers with practical strategies for incorporating inquiry and project-based learning, honing students’ historical thinking and literacy skills, and increasing content knowledge of Kentucky history. These workshops may complement KCSS Conference attendance (see blow) or be attended separately. Space is limited so registration is strongly recommended.

10:00 Primary Source Research Resources

Looking for primary source material to use in your lessons? We’ve got you covered! Join Digital Archivist Alyssa Ollier for a walkthrough of the KHS Digital Collections and other online resources available at KHS. KHS makes Kentucky history free and accessible to the public and utilizes technology available in most classrooms. Prefer analog to digital? No worries—Alyssa will also have some physical archival materials on display to demonstrate the power of primary sources! Alyssa Ollier is the Kentucky Historical Society’s Digital Archivist

Registration: Kentucky Historical Society (blackbaudhosting.com)

1:00  Says Who? Using Historical Markers to Inspire Inquiry in the Classroom

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the state's Historical Marker Program. Today, over 2,400 historical markers span the length of the Commonwealth. How can K-12 teachers use these markers as a jumping-off point for students to investigate the claims on the historical markers in their areas? Have our interpretations of these events or the information available to us changed since the marker was erected? What might a new marker about this topic look like if one were created today? This workshop will provide educators with the resources necessary to guide students through inquiry-based state and local history projects in their classrooms. Session will be led by Dr. James Seaver, Community Engagement Coordinator

Registration Link: Kentucky Historical Society (blackbaudhosting.com)

2:30 Civil War Governors of Kentucky in the Classroom

Since 2012, the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition (CWGK) at the Kentucky Historical Society has transcribed, edited, and uploaded nearly 10,000 documents relating to Kentucky history during the Civil War. While a valuable archive for genealogists and academic researchers, CWGK also has potential in Kentucky classrooms, helping to illuminate Kentucky’s history as a border state with contested and conflicting loyalties. This workshop will introduce educators to the CWGK project and how primary sources from the digital archive can be incorporated into the classroom, situating local and state histories within broader national narratives. Session will be led by Dr. Brian Trump, Civil War Governors of Kentucky Editorial Specialist

Registration Link: Kentucky Historical Society (blackbaudhosting.com)

National History Day Training – Join us at the Kentucky Historical Society for a full-day workshop on National History Day. You will have the opportunity to attend sessions led my Kentucky scholars that cover topics such as breaking down the theme and brainstorming ideas, as well as an expert session on NHD. There will also be category-specific tips and tricks session, and you will get to evaluate student projects as if you were a judge.

This workshop is capped at 30 teachers, each of whom will receive a $100 stipend.

Registration Link: Kentucky Historical Society (blackbaudhosting.com)

July 23

The Kentucky Historical Society & DBQ Project: Inquiry and Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom

When: July 23, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Where: The Kentucky Historical Society

Why: Promoting inquiry and improving literacy without sacrificing content seems like an impossible task. Document Based Questions (DBQs) make it all very possible! For two decades, The DBQ Project has helped students of all ability levels and ages to think critically with inquiry-based units that mirror the type of evidence-based writing and synthesis required in the SAT and AP exams. Led by DBQ Project team members, this lively one-day workshop will provide instructional strategies and intensive modeling on historical thinking skills, argumentative writing, and how to scaffold DBQs for students with various abilities. Special emphasis will be dedicated to the Kentucky Document Collections, a fantastic resource for digital primary sources collected by the Kentucky Historical Society. By the program's end, you'll be well-prepared to craft dynamic, inquiry-driven classrooms.

JCPS is providing funding for 6 educators to attend the AP African American Studies APSI.

Who: Advanced Placement Summer Institute - Ruthie Walls

What: AP Summer Institute for AP African American Studies

When: June 24-28, 2024  8:30 am - 4:30 pm CT

Where: Western Kentucky University

Why: AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with authentic and varied sources. The course focuses on four thematic units that move across the instructional year chronologically, providing students with opportunities to examine key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. Given the interdisciplinary character of African American studies, students in the course will develop skills across multiple fields, with an emphasis on developing historical, literary, visual, and data analysis skills. This course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the United States within the broader context of Africa and the African diaspora.

How: Apply using the AP African American Studies - Summer 2024 Google Form Application. Due May 24, 2024

Congressman McGarvey's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is comprised of high school seniors with an interest in public service and government. Students selected for the council will have the opportunity to meet with Rep. McGarvey throughout the year to share their insights on current events, debate policy and engage in community service. 

The YAC is non-partisan and will reflect the amazing diversity of District 3, representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, cultures and viewpoints. Students will develop leadership and critical thinking skills, practice public speaking and debate, learn about the importance of participating in their democracy, and gain a better understand of how government works. 

Who: Frazier History Museum & Louisville Water Company

Where: The session will begin at the Frazier History Museum, moving to the Louisville Water Company site midway through. Teachers must provide their own transportation from the Frazier to the Louisville Water Tower.

When: June 7, 2024, 10 am-2 pm

What: The history of Louisville is fully intertwined with its water story. Join us as we collaborate with Louisville Water 

Company to explore how water helps define our city. Why do cities often develop near water sources? How does the 

Ohio River serve as both a divider and a connector? How is water both nurturing and destructive? How does our 

water make us unique? Using an inquiry lens, we will consider these questions and more during an interactive 

four-hour session. Educators will have the opportunity to workshop ideas with colleagues and will leave the session 

with classroom resources. 

When: June 12-14

Where: Nashville, TN

Join us for Constitution Day: Strengthening Civic Education for Grades 5-12, a comprehensive training designed exclusively for teachers. This engaging one-day event will immerse educators in a deep exploration of the U.S. Constitution, equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed to enhance civic education in their classrooms. Participants will delve into the historical context, principles, and amendments of the Constitution through interactive workshops and expert-led discussions. Attendees will also gain valuable strategies for effectively teaching constitutional concepts to students, fostering critical thinking and active citizenship. Don't miss this opportunity to empower the next generation with a solid understanding of our nation's fundamental principles.

The Louisville Writing Project is seeking applications for the 2024 Invitational Summer Institute. This one-week intensive opportunity will focus on argument writing in the elementary and middle grades.

Teachers looking to build skills in teaching the Holocaust and related content are invited to register for spring 2023 workshops. In 2018, the Kentucky state legislature passed the Ann Klein and Fred Gross Holocaust Education Act, which mandates Holocaust education in all public middle and high schools. Our workshops are designed to support Kentucky teachers in meeting that mandate.

Workshops are interactive and include ten total hours of content through both live workshop sessions (at least six hours) and asynchronous activities (no more than four hours). Workshops are available both in-person and virtually via Zoom. Please note that some workshops occur over the course of multiple days while others are one-day events.

Teachers, para-educators, librarians, and other instructional staff serving grades 6-12 (of both public and private schools) can opt to participate in these workshops for a stipend of $250 dollars ($25/hour) or for professional development hours. Stipends are limited by the amount of grant money available and will be awarded based on order of registration. If you hope to receive a stipend for your participation, please register as soon as possible. Teachers and instructional staff serving grades that fall outside the mandate can still register for workshops and receive professional development for their participation. Previous experience teaching the Holocaust is not required to attend these workshops.

Workshops will be facilitated by experienced teachers from across the Commonwealth trained as UK-JHF Initiative teacher leaders as well as University of Kentucky professors from the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Education. Each workshop will vary slightly in featured sessions but will generally explore a range of topics such as Jewish history in Kentucky; strategies for dealing with antisemitism; active learning and inquiry; attention to thoughtful language; trauma-informed teaching; using the arts to teach the Holocaust; and more.

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Social Studies Teaching and Learning (Official Journal of KCSS)

PD when it is convenient for you, offered in "byte-sized" segments:

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