We hope you all have had a wonderful October. We know it is a busy season for everyone, but we are truly enjoying see all of the enriching learning experiences (especially social studies) happening across the district. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Northside teachers, and as always, we are here to support YOU, so just let us know how we can help!

All Kindergarten-5th Grade teachers should have received their Studies Weekly consumables for the 22-23 school year.

Remember, these are CONSUMABLE. Kids can write in them, record their thinking, highlight, respond, and even cut them up. After reading the articles, the consumables provide great images, maps, and information that can be recorded and used in their science and social studies notebooks.

Don't forget, you also have digital access as well! If you have any questions about how you can incorporate Studies Weekly into your classroom, please reach out to us!

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush designated the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. Both during the month of November, and throughout the year, campuses are encouraged to celebrate and learn about the history, contributions, and traditions of Native Americans.

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. NAHM is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

Visit our Social Studies Site for ideas on how to celebrate NAHM!

With the passage of Senate Bill 1828 in the fall of 2019, the Texas legislature officially created an annual Holocaust Remembrance Week in public schools. This week was created to “educate students about the Holocaust and inspire in students a sense of responsibility to recognize and uphold human value and to prevent future atrocities.”

Holocaust Remembrance Week will be January 23rd-27th.

You are invited to attend training presented by Steven Spielberg's USC Shoah Foundation, whose mission is to develop empathy, understanding, and respect through testimony and books.
This professional development program will present a unique, meaningful, and flexible approach to teaching The Children of Willesden Lane books. To prepare teachers and librarians to teach the historical context, the session will provide a historical overview of the events leading up to the Kindertransport--rising antisemitism, Nazism, and the Kristallnacht Pogrom--in an age-appropriate way to build professional confidence and awareness. Attendees will receive 5 copies of The Children of Willesden Lane: A True Story of Hope and Survival During World War II (for Grades 6-7), Lisa of Willesden Lane (for grades 3-5), or Hold On to Your Music: The Inspiring True Story of the Children of Willesden Lane (for grades K-2).

Teaching the holocaust in an age-appropriate way is more important than ever. During Holocaust Remembrance Week our students will be invited to participate in a live virtual production in which the author of the Willesden Lane books shares the story of her mother and how she was saved by the Kindertransport. The USC Shoah Foundation will donate almost $10,000 worth of books to Northside.

Please register to attend this professional learning opportunity which will be held on November 9th on Zoom. Please share this opportunity with all teachers on your campus!

Unified Talent Section#126892

Holocaust Remembrance Week: Teaching with Testimony-Based Resources

The purpose of this ESSER funded purchase was to promote the citizenship and culture strands and provide culturally diverse texts that incorporate social studies content. Check out the Google sheet showing each title purchased, the grade level it was purchased for, the aligned social studies standards, and an instructional slide deck with suggestions for how to incorporate the text into your instruction. The text titles and slide decks will also be linked in the resources section of the appropriate KUD/curriculum guides.

Looking for a hands-on, interactive, exploratory, and highly engaging social studies lesson?! Look no further!

Check out one of our GIANT MAPS! We guarantee your students will love them! Come learn how to handle the maps, ideas for planning instruction, and how you can check one out for your campus! Our next Giant Maps Training will be on Tuesday, January 31st at Boone Elementary School from 4:00-5:00.

Academic Technology will be having their Innovation and Digital Learning Conference next Saturday, November 5th from 8:15 am - 3:45 pm.

There are great opportunities to connect with your Academic Technology Coaches, the SEB Team, Continuous Improvement, and with district vendors, BrainPOP, Screencastify, and OSMO that provide tools that support engaging instruction.

Check out their full list of sessions HERE!

Congratulations to our Golden Hashtag winners for the month of October! We love seeing how you are IGNITING the passion in your students, and we LOVE that you always keep social studies at the forefront! Congratulations to Brianna Barron from Mireles Elementary School, Shelby Boggan from Murnin Elementary School, and Gina Rechterman from Forrester Elementary School! You all are INSPIRING!!!

Check out this virtual opportunity provided FREE by the Museum of the Pacific War.

Please join the National Museum of the Pacific War as they honor all veterans that have served in the United States Armed Forces. In this prerecorded 2022 virtual Veterans Day celebration. Museum staff, volunteers, a school band and the Texas Children's Choir will pay tribute to all those that have served or are currently serving our nation during peace time or war, those gone and those that still walk among us.

Register at Connect2Texas.net

Questions email Bryan Degner, NMPW Education Outreach Coordinator. bdegner@nimitzfoundation.org