Social Studies
Winter 2022 - News and Updates
Welcome Eastern Upper Peninsula Social Studies Teachers
In this newsletter you will find information on History Day, learning opportunities for you & your students, and opportunities to collaborate and support peers. If there is any content you would like added to the newsletter, please reach out to Helen Craig at hcraig-isd@eupschools.org
Response Requested
MiVote Matters: Youth Voter Registration Drive
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson created the High School Voter Registration Challenge to recognize high schools throughout the state for their commitment to registering students to vote. Students who are 17 1/2 years old and 18 by the next election are eligible to register to vote. The Challenge has 3 levels:
- Gold: 90% and above of all eligible high school students registered
- Silver: 70% - 89% of all eligible high school students registered
- Bronze: 50%-69% of all eligible high school students registered
The award levels are based on the number of eligible students registered by Friday, May 27, 2022.
For more information, visit: https://www.inspire2vote.org/mivotematters
Contact Helen Craig at hcraig-isd@eupschools.org for support in bringing the voter registration drive to your school!
RR: Secondary Teachers
Gretchen Storey at Les Cheneaux Community Schools reached out with a few questions for EUP secondary social studies teachers. Please respond to the email thread or directly to her at grstorey@eupschools.org.
- What middle and high school textbooks are you using currently?
- What do you like about them?
- What publishers are they from?
- Are the resources useful?
*Note: this question was originally emailed on 1-27-22. Many folks took the time to respond to Gretchen - thank you!
RR: CMTED Social Studies Resource
Student Opportunities
Regional History Day
Regional History Day will take place virtually this year. Schools and teachers can register their local history day using the linked Google form. Michigan History Day is using a digital platform to register and upload projects. Teachers must register on the platform before students register for accounts. Follow the link to create your account: https://mi-mhdd2.nhd.org/
Participants are eligible for a variety of prizes. The Susan Schacher award is returning this year! $100 will be awarded to a Regional History Day participant who demonstrates attention to historical accuracy, knowledge of historical significance, understanding of the importance of others and their values and beliefs, and creative incorporation of Michigan’s unique history. This award also includes a plaque in the River of History Museum. Students who complete a documentary for their project have the opportunity for their video to be displayed in the museum and on the museum's YouTube page.
More news and updates on Regional History day can be found at the EUP ISD History Day page. Please contact Helen Craig or Julie Coneset (jconeset@eupschools.org) for History Day support.
Summer Employment Opportunity for Students
Learning Opportunities for Educators
Social Studies Teacher Leader Corps
The EUP ISD’s Social Studies Teacher Leader Corps is seeking K-12 teachers to join a group of passionate educators dedicated to meeting regional teacher needs in social studies. On the Social Studies Teacher Leader Corps, educators collaborate to foster social studies academic success and civic participation. We will equip and empower teachers to support their peers in providing and sustaining high-quality social studies instruction across the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
The Social Studies Teacher Leader Corps has two remaining meeting dates for the 2021-2022 School Year:
- Tuesday, February 22
- Tuesday, March 15
Registration is available via Wisdomwhere.
February is Black History Month
Blackhistorymonth.gov: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. This site shares upcoming events and panel discussions on a variety of topics, primary sources, exhibits, and resources for educators.
Daily Black History Month Inspiration
March is Women's History Month
Genocide Education
Under Public Act 170 of 2016, the board of a school district or charter school must ensure that its school's social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 include age and grade appropriate instruction about genocide, including but not limited to the Holocaust, and the Armenian genocide. The statute "recommends" a combined total of six hours of such instruction during grades 8 to 12. The resources below are shared to support educators in learning and teaching about the Holocaust.
The USC Shoah Foundation is dedicated to making audio-visual interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides. Their website has resources and professional learning for both educators and students.
The Zekelman Holocaust Center (Farmington Hills, MI) has an educator resource page. In past years, several Eastern UP schools have taken field trips to the Holocaust Center.
Echoes and Reflections provides a variety of webinars and mini-courses that coach teachers on best practices in genocide education. Lesson plans and other resources are also available.
The Michigan Holocaust and Genocide Education website was created for individuals who want to teach and learn about genocides, or to connect to museums and events happening in Michigan. Resources and lesson plans around the Armenian Genocide are available.
Open Education Resources World History Curriculum Opportunity
The Learning Sciences Research team at Digital Promise is seeking teachers of 9th or 10th grade world history classes in public schools to participate in a research study of the free, online World History Project (WHP) curriculum. Specifically, we seek teachers who have not already used the World History Project but would be willing to use it for their on-level (non-AP, non-IB) classes in either the 2022-23 and/or 2023-24 school year(s). Participating teachers will receive a small stipend for their time. Learn more about this project and complete the interest form.
Helen Craig
Social Studies Curriculum Consultant
Regional School Health Coordinator
McKinney-Vento UPCED Facilitator
Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
Email: hcraig-isd@eupschools.org
Website: https://www.eupschools.org/Page/6003
Photos used in this newsletter have creative commons licenses. Sources:
https://www.maxpixel.net/Speech-Bubbles-Question-Speech-Bubble-Faq-1828268
Unsplash Photos: Alfons Morales, Kelly Sikkema, Bimatshu Pyakuryal, Giulia Gasperini, 愚木混株 cdd20