Our Commonwealth, Our Nation, Our World, a K-8 Social Studies Curriculum
Brown-Forman A
Presenters: Sean Dimond & Lauren Gallicchio, Kentucky Department of Education & Core Knowledge Foundation
Audience: K-8
Description: The Kentucky Department of Education and Core Knowledge Foundation will preview Our Commonwealth, Our Nation, Our World, a K-8 Social Studies Curriculum developed through their partnership. In this session, participants will learn about the curriculum's goals, design principles, and alignment with the Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies. Attendees will preview draft materials across select grade bands, examine planned scope and sequence, and offer feedback to refine curriculum resources for statewide classroom use.
Sneakonomics: Incorporating Economics into Your Elementary Classroom
Brown-Forman B
Presenter: Amanda Geiger, Federal Reserve of St. Louis
Audience: K-5
Description: Transform your classroom into an economic adventure! Learn dynamic strategies for teaching economic concepts through storytelling and active engagement. Experience the captivating "Ox Cart Man" lesson firsthand—watch students become producers, consumers, and market participants in an exciting circular flow simulation that brings economics to life through hands-on discovery and real-world connections!
Advancing Civic Participation through Holocaust Education
Klotter Classroom, 1st Floor
Presenter: Keith Meador, Central High School, Jefferson County
Audience: 6-12
Description: Studying the Holocaust imparts essential lessons of civic values, including justice, tolerance, and the importance of democratic liberties. By using an effective pedagogical approach and examining the rise of the Nazi party, participants bridge memory into action and inspire students to participate in political processes in their community.
Anchoring Inquiry in Local Voices: Reframing Marginalized Histories
Collaborative Space, 1st Floor
Presenter: Zach Parsons, Russell High School, Russell Independent Schools
Audience: 6-12
Description: Discover why regional marginalized voices should anchor inquiry-based instruction. This presentation introduces a practical framework that begins with local stories and connects them to national and global history. This approach will help strengthen relevance and improve historical thinking in social studies classrooms.
Freedom Through Song: The Baltic Nations' Singing Revolution Against the USSR
Brown-Forman A
Presenter: Caroline Sheffield, University of Louisville
Audience: 6-12
Description: Thirty-five years ago, in the fall of 1991, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia did the unimaginable, they used nonviolence to gain their independence after forty-eight years of Soviet occupation. This interactive session explores the end of the Cold War from a different perspective, from behind the Iron Curtain. Materials provided.
Roads, Routes, and Riches: How Trade Shaped Our World
Brown-Forman B
Presenter: Amanda Geiger, Federal Reserve of St. Louis
Audience: 6-8
Description: Journey through history's greatest trade networks! Experience two dynamic FRE.org lessons: "Road to Riches" explores how trade routes connected civilizations and sparked cultural exchange, while "Pieces of Paper" reveals the fascinating evolution of money systems. Leave with engaging, ready-to-use activities that transform economic history into unforgettable learning experiences!
A Place for Us: Incorporating Appalachian Historical Themes into Social Studies through the Use of Kentucky State Standards
Klotter Classroom, 1st Floor
Presenter: Kelli Lemaster, University of Kentucky
Audience: K-12
Description: In this workshop, teachers will assign Kentucky Academic Social Studies Standards to specific Appalachian historical themes to showcase how the region can be incorporated into the social studies curriculum. This workshop also discusses future research in regard to place-based inquiry practices in the Appalachian social studies classroom.
How Do We Build Skilled Source Analysts? A Structured Protocol and Thinking Routines from the DBQ Project
Collaborative Space, 1st Floor
Presenter: Imali Kent, The DBQ Project
Audience: 5-12
Description: What if students had a repeatable process for analyzing sources? They can with The DBQ Project’s Habits of Document Analysis. For 25 years, The DBQ Project has equipped educators with structured thinking routines that help students make sense of complex information and support their conclusions with evidence. This session introduces the Habits of Document Analysis—proven strategies from our professional development series that guide students through evaluating sources and constructing informed claims. These habits can be applied to any inquiry or primary source, giving teachers a consistent framework that strengthens student thinking and builds the analytical skills needed in today’s information-heavy world.
Vibrant Learning in the Classroom
Jones Conference Room, 2nd Floor
Presenters: Beverly Sandlin, Viper Elementary School & Keisha Chitwood, West Perry Elementary School, Perry County Schools
Audience: 3-5
Description: Step into the future of Social Studies! Discover how Vibrant Learning in Kentucky brings history, economics, civics, and geography to life through engaging, student-centered strategies. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and make learning meaningful for every student in your classroom.
From Jonesville to Your Hometown: Using Documentary Film and Digital Humanities to Teach Redlining and Urban Renewal
Brown-Forman A
Presenters: Akisha Townshend Eaton, Producer: "Jonesville: When Sunflowers Fall" & Annie Evans, New American History, University of Richmond
Audience: 6-12
Description: What happened to Jonesville, a thriving Black community in Bowling Green, Kentucky, razed by urban renewal in the 1950s-60s? Centering the Emmy-Award winning WKU/PBS documentary Jonesville: When Sunflowers Fall, explore redlining/urban renewal through digital maps and free, inquiry-based resources connecting Kentucky's local history to national patterns — and their own communities.
Using EduProtocols to Teach Critical Thinking
Brown-Forman B
Presenter: Angela Zorn, Bullitt Central High School, Bullitt County Public Schools
Audience: 6-12
Description: Discover how to boost student engagement while building critical thinking in social studies. Explore ready-to-use EduProtocols (Thin Slides, 8 Parts, Hero’s Journey, Archetype 4 Square, 3x CER, and more), real student work, and practical strategies for differentiation, feedback, and writing growth—plus how AI tools like Snorkl can streamline scoring and deepen student responses.
Let's Do Civics! Amplify Youth Voice with Civic Action Project
Klotter Classroom, 1st Floor
Presenter: Kathleen Hughes, Teach Democracy
Audience: 6-12
Description: How do we amplify youth voice? By having students examine real-world issues through the lens of public policy and take civic action toward positive and sustainable change in their communities. Learn practical tips for authentic youth engagement and receive free classroom resources that help students earn the Kentucky Civic Seal.
Little Economists, Big Ideas: Inquiry-Rich Economic Simulations for K-3
Collaborative Space, 1st Floor
Presenters: Jane Baker, Amayalei Clark, and Cary Coffey, Tennessee Tech University
Audience: K-3
Description: Elementary students grasp big ideas when they live them. A professor and her pre-service teachers model original K–3 simulations exploring wants/needs, supply/demand, trading/bartering, and budgeting. Crafted through inquiry and sharpened with AI — these lessons make economics tangible for young learners. Participate and leave with ready-to-use plans!
Inquiry in Motion
Jones Conference Room, 2nd Floor
Presenter: Sherra Caudill, Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative
Audience: K-12
Description: Inquiry in Motion equips you with the tools to design lessons that move students from passive participants to powerful thinkers. Walk away with ready-to-implement inquiry units and practical strategies that transform learning. This engaging professional development experience is designed for social studies and general educators ready to spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and empower students to take ownership of their learning.
The Power of Community: Exploring Social Studies Through Place-Based Education
Brown-Forman A
Presenters: Elsie Merlie & Maddie Menz, Kentucky Historical Society
Audience: K-12
Description: Join KHS for a session on place-based education in social studies. Discover how learning can occur anytime, anywhere with Kentucky-themed topics. Learn to apply six principles of place-based education, empowering students to engage in the inquiry process, whether in your backyard or at a historical site.
Governing the Nation: Constitutional Thinking Skills and Federalism
Brown-Forman B
Presenter: Megan Boimann-Hennies, Highlands High School, Fort Thomas Independent Schools
Audience: 3-12
Description: This session explores how students build constitutional thinking skills through National Constitution Center resources. Participants will analyze the concept of federalism through primary sources, modeling ways they can bring these inquiry strategies to their students. In doing so, they will strengthen civic reasoning and connect to Kentucky standards.
Crafting Kentucky: Exploring How A Flag Can Represent a State
Klotter Classroom, 1st Floor
Presenters: Helena Sands, University of Kentucky
Audience: 6-12
Description: How can a flag capture the essence of Kentucky? Focusing on the use of questions, tasks, and sources in the creation of a trustworthy classroom, we'll delve into Kentucky's symbols and the intricacies of its flag, study Vexillology, and conclude with participants creating their own Kentucky flags.
America 250 in the Classroom: Inquiry that Ignites Student Engagement
Collaborative Space, 1st Floor
Presenter: Kimberly Stevenson, Todd County Middle School, Todd County Public Schools
Audience: K-12
Description: Step into America’s story through experiences from the We the Teachers Symposium. This session shares engaging strategies and inquiry-driven approaches to bring America 250 to life—empowering educators to spark curiosity, deepen civic understanding, and inspire students to explore what it means to build a nation.
Monticello's Feast of Reason: Fun and Civic Engagement in the Classroom and Beyond
Jones Conference Room, 2nd Floor
Presenter: Hannah Zimmerman, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Audience: 6-12
Description: Feast of Reason invites students to practice civic dialogue through a kit inspired by Jeffersonian dinners. As discussion deepens from appetizer to dessert, participants grapple with local, state, and national issues, practicing democratic principles in real time. Educators will leave with a copy of the kit and strategies to help youth actively engage in civic discussion and inclusive thinking.