Session 9
(1:50 - 2:35)

Presenter & Affiliation:  Samantha Fowler, Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)

Session Description: The Center for Civic Education’s Project Citizen (PC) is a widely used curricular program that actively engages young people in cooperative, project-based learning. This session will explore how PC can be adapted for use in classrooms serving different student populations and inspire them to address policy issues. The session will begin with presenting findings from Georgetown University’s Civic Education Research Lab (CERL), which assessed PC's effectiveness in achieving civic learning outcomes. Samantha Fowler, an educator with experience implementing PC, will provide insights about differentiating PC with a focus on environment policy. 

Room: Lavender

Presenter & Affiliation: Fran O'Malley, University of Delaware

Session Description:  In this session attendees will receive guided practice in a sample of grades 4-12 lessons about the history and relevance of the Declaration of Independence being developed by award winning educators as part of a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant. Participants will receive access to a minimum of ten lessons that are ready to implement in time to commemorate our nation’s Semiquincentennial. 

Room: Rosemary

Presenter & Affiliation: Sally Flaherty, Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Education

Session Description:  Mock trials are excellent for developing literacy and thinking skills. The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement has developed scripted history based mock trials. All trials are based on events in history using primary documents as the evidence. Using the grievances from the Declaration of Independence, charges are brought against King George III. Evidence from diaries, letters, biographies and the historical record are presented and students must be the jury to bring a verdict of not guilty or guilty for the King. This is an engaging and unique way to bring history to life and learn about the judicial system. The session would give the objectives of student learning and have participants engage in a mock trial. All participants would receive a free script of a trial to use in the classroom. 

Room: 184

Presenter & Affiliation:  Steve McTaggert, Solanco HS (PA)

Session Description:  500 HS students will work to replicate an authentic WWI-style Central Powers and Allied Powers trench. Trenches will accommodate at least 200 students and will be deep enough to hide each side. The presentation will highlight the design of the trenches, the cross-curricular activities associated with the day and the various community groups that also share involvement.

Room: Thyme

Presenter & Affiliation: Marina Pisto, Pocantico Hills Central School District (NY)

Session Description:  What happens when a local invasive species becomes a global story? In this session, discover how investigating the spotted lanternfly helped a teacher deepen her understanding of data literacy as a bridge between social studies and science. Through mapping sightings, analyzing ecological data, and guiding students in creating PSAs and digital books, she learned how data can illuminate geography, human impact, and environmental systems. Participants will explore how teaching young learners to collect, interpret, and communicate data fosters both global awareness and civic responsibility.

Room: Sage