ESC Region 17 Social Studies
History Rocks! Volume 5 Issue #1
“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.”
New Opportunity from TEA
Social Studies TEKS Review Work Group Application
The State Board of Education (SBOE) will soon begin the review and revision of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for K-12 social studies. The SBOE’s TEKS review and revision process calls for multiple, separate workgroups to make recommendations to the SBOE for revisions to the current standards. SBOE members nominate individuals, including educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers, to serve on TEKS review workgroups.
The SBOE is now accepting applications to serve on social studies TEKS review workgroups. Applications received will be submitted to SBOE members for review throughout the process.
Individuals selected will be asked to serve on one or more workgroups. TEKS review workgroups typically convene for two-day meetings and may include Saturdays. Additional days or meetings may be scheduled if needed. The Texas Education Agency is currently conducting TEKS review meetings virtually but is expected to return to face-to-face meetings later this year. The invitation to serve on a workgroup will include the format/location of the meeting.
To access the application and for more information regarding the K-12 social studies TEKS review, please visit the Social Studies TEKS Review webpage at https://tea.texas.gov/academics/curriculum-standards/teks-review/2021-2022-social-studies-teks-review.
Questions regarding the application or TEKS review process may be sent via email to teks@tea.texas.gov.
Fall at the ESC
And On the Same Day...Join Us for a New Monthly Session
House Bill 4545
Happenings Around the State, Nation, and World
Updates from TEA
Texas Council for the Social Studies Conference
New for Elementary Social Studies!
- An online book (with audio option), Scrappy Explores His Community, in both English and Spanish.
- Elementary and Secondary interactive maps to allow students to learn more about civic engagement.
- A civic pledge creator to allow learners to share how they might become more engaged.
- Color page options for students to explore their community.
- Lesson plans for educators
Free Humanities Texas PD Webinars Fall 2021
Beginning in September, Humanities Texas will hold FREE professional development webinar series for social studies and ELA teachers in Texas schools.
Teachers can apply to attend on the Humanities Texas website.
Teaching about American Indians in Texas
Mondays
September 13-October 4 (5:00-6:30 p.m.) "... focus on the long arc of American Indian presence in Texas from the pre-contact era through the “Indian Wars” of the 1870s."
Teaching America's Founding Documents
Wednesdays
September 15-October 13 (5:00-6:15 p.m.)"...focus on both the context of the featured document (how it came to be and its impact/significance) and its actual contents (the most important things for teachers to know and share with their students)."
National History Day 2021-2022 Debate and Diplomacy in History: Success, Failure, Consequences
Social Studies Resource Spotlight
National Constitution Center
World War I "Virtual Explorer"
The Doughboy Foundation is bringing the new National WWI Memorial from Washington, D.C. to schools, classrooms, dining rooms, dens, backyards, and driveways all over America with The WWI Memorial “Virtual Explorer”.
The Apps can be found by searching on “WWI Memorial” in either app store or by going to www.Doughboy.org/apps
Texas Historical Commission
Just A Little Social Studies Skill Practice...
Close Reading to Evaluate Sources
Stanford History Education Group
• What claims does the author make?
• What evidence does the author use?
• What language (words, phrases, images, symbols) does the author use to persuade the document's audience?
• How does the document's language indicate the author's perspective?
May need to create a free account to access all these amazing lesson ideas!
Organize and Interpret Information from Maps for K-2 Social Studies
"Explore a map from long ago and begin wondering about the places where people live." The group from Kid Citizen has put together a quick interactive video, primary sources, and a teacher's guide. Great for vocabulary, observations, and the See/Think/Wonder strategy built into the video lesson!
Finding a Sequence Using Primary Sources
"In this activity, students sequence key events leading to the Declaration of Independence by placing documents in chronological order." The interactive version can be adapted to be done without the computer, either with partners or solo, and used either for introduction or review at the end of the unit.
Sabrina S. Blankenship
Email: sblankenship@esc17.net
Location: 1111 West Loop 289, Lubbock, TX, USA
Phone: 806-281-5884