Social Studies Insider
December 2018
WANTED: Social Studies GO-TO Teachers
Looking for Something Specific? Collaborate with a Colleague via Google Classroom!
West Georgia RESA Social Studies Resource Pantry
NOW Seeking FRESH Digital Resource Tools
New to the List this Month: Flippity.net
Flippity.net will help you "easily turn Google Spreadsheets into cool stuff." This is an understatement! You can create flashcards, Jeopardy games, random name pickers, and more in just seconds. You can create interactive timelines even make your own "badges" for your students to help your students "level up their learning." This is one of those resources you'll wonder how you ever did without it!
Brush Ninja allows you and/or your students to create animated GIFs. The system platform requires no sign in credentials making this a great tool for elementary and up. Use this tool to help demonstrate student comprehension of sequenced events, timelines, etc. in a fun and exciting new way. Consider watching the following tutorial video for additional support.
GAETC 2018 Conference Round Up
Spotlighting Excellence
This is our fifth-grade social studies teacher, Kristi Lange, helping students understand how immigrants at the turn of the century were separated by social-class during their travels. She sorted them into groups, with her third class having to sit in a crowded huddle on the floor (representing the conditions some passengers would experience in the bowels of the ship). In all her lessons, Mrs. Lange strives to keep things relevant and meaningful for students, as well as being FUN! The enthusiasm she strives to include within each and every lesson has gone unnoticed and overwhelmingly supported our staff's choice in distinguishing Mrs. Lange as last year's Teacher of the Year. Currently, Mrs. Lange is guiding students through a 30-book challenge. Throughout the challenge, Mrs. Lange is focusing on encouraging students to increase the volume of quality literature they read throughout the year. We are blessed to have Mrs. Lange at Arbor Springs Elementary!
Steve Quesinberry and Frank Henderson are not only neighbors on Newnan's 200 Hall, they are also passionate educators driven to bring history to life by bringing the very people who helped write our nation's story into the classrooms of NHS.
Steve Quesinberry, NHS Social Studies and History Department Chair, has taught at NHS for over thirty years. While teaching at NHS, Mr. Quesinberry has helped develop one of the nation's largest History Clubs as well as a department full of engaging history based electives. Mr. Quesinberry teaches a Vietnam War class, where he often invites guest speakers into his classroom from various branches of the armed services who actually fought in the Vietnam War. This provides students an opportunity to learn our history from the speakers directly. Mr. Quesinberry has even organized Vietnam era helicopters to land directly on campus to add a "little" excitement to his lessons.
Frank Henderson teaches a World War II class that follows in the same suit. Mr. Henderson regularly utilizes veterans within his courses to provide primary accounts of the history students are learning. In addition, Mr. Henderson provides his students with additional live-action learning experiences that make learning history relevant and exciting.
As a tandem, their respect for those who have served and the history they represent gets passed on directly to the students. Beyond just the classroom, Mr. Quesinberry and Mr. Henderson run several major programs on an annual basis to celebrate our nation's veterans. For Veterans Day, Mr. Quiesinberry and Mr. Henderson co-host ceremonies outside the front of NHS. Here, students, teachers, and community members gather to recognize veterans both from the local area, as well as those who serve on the NHS faculty. In addition, NHS History celebrates veterans through its Vet Connect event. The Vet Connect program is a day-long celebration where students from all social studies classes visit various booths staffed by veterans, shake hands with them, and learn about the past directly from the source. Throughout this celebration, dozens of veterans bring relics, artifacts, and memorabilia from their time in the service to share with students who visit. NHS History also has a veteran outreach program called Adopt-A-Vet. This program allows students to form friendships, visit with veterans who are often elderly, and gain great insight from the stories these veterans have to share. In a continued effort and dedication to those who have served our nation, NHS History puts on a Veterans Day 5K race where people from all over the community show up to run in support of our nation's veterans. The proceeds collected go directly to veterans organizations. In fact, over the past five years, Mr. Quesinberry and Mr. Henderson have helped raise over $50,000 to go towards local veterans organizations. NHS is proud of its designation as a "Purple Heart High School," and it can largely thank both, Mr. Quiesinberry and Mr. Henderson for bringing these kinds of heroes to campus to inspire the next generation of leaders that walk the halls of Newnan High.
Attention Elementary Social Studies Teachers:
Integrating Social Studies into your ELA/Reading Lessons Made Easy
Located within the GA DOE Teacher Notes, teachers can find a list of standards connected books that can easily be integrated into your ELA/Reading lessons.
For Kindergarten access, Click Here.
For 1st Grade access, Click Here.
For 2nd Grade access, Click Here.
For 3rd Grade access, Click Here.
For 4th Grade access, Click Here.
For 5th Grade access, Click Here.
Mission US (Most appropriate for 4-5th Grades)
Make your social studies lessons revolutionary with simulator-based historical games by Mission US. Click the link to view the game trailer. To view all versions of the game, click here.
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Attention Middle School Social Studies Teachers:
8th Grade Georgia Studies Economics Review App Coming Soon
GCEE is planning to release the 8th Grade Economics review app in the Spring. Please be on the lookout next semester.
Mission US (Grade 8)
Make your social studies lessons revolutionary with simulator-based historical games by Mission US. Click the link to view the game trailer. To view all versions of the game, click here.
Holocaust Traveling Exhibit
The Museum of History & Holocaust Education provides temporary traveling exhibits for schools, libraries, & other community and educational centers. The exhibits provide context for some of the more complex stories of World War II and the Holocaust taught. Click here for more info.
Middle School District Social Studies Meeting
There will not be a Monthly Middle School Meeting this month. We will meet again on January 23rd at Smokey Road. I will send additional information after the holiday break.
6th Grade Social Studies Teachers, consider attending the following professional development opportunity:
- An Evening with the Consul General of Canada
For specific information about additional opportunities, scroll down to the section titled Professional Development for All.
Attention High School Social Studies Teachers:
Holocaust Traveling Exhibit
The Museum of History & Holocaust Education provides temporary traveling exhibits for schools, libraries, & other community and educational centers. The exhibits provide context for some of the more complex stories of World War II and the Holocaust taught. Click here for more info.
Newnan-Coweta Historical Society Student Scholarship Program
The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society is now taking applications for its 2019 offering of a $10,000 scholarship for local students intending to pursue a college education with a history major or minor.
The NCHS has offered $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors at each Coweta County public high school for many years, but the Scholarship Committee established last year wanted to do more to encourage the study of history. The new $10,000 scholarship — now offered for the second year — will be available to all local students, not just those in public schools. Included now are students who attend private school, virtual school, are home-schooled or are otherwise educated. The scholarship is issued at the rate of $2,500 per year, paid in installments per semester or quarter depending on the institution’s system.
The committee decided the historical society needed to take a position that will encourage talented students to consider a career in history-related studies and will generate enthusiasm and interest from parents, students, educators, and guidance counselors.
Students must be Coweta County residents and eligible for a high school graduation certificate or diploma. They must also intend to pursue history as a major or minor field. History is an important field to have some basic knowledge about, just to be a good citizen if nothing else. History helps us understand change, and understand how the world we live in came to be.
NCHS also hopes to help preserve and protect local history, and that’s nearly impossible unless people learn to appreciate it, NCHS representatives felt. This scholarship is an investment in the Newnan and Coweta community and its future, and part of the historical society’s effort to protect and preserve its past.
The scholarship application is available at the NCHS website, www.newnancowetahistoricalsociety.com. You may download an application form here or pick up a copy at the NCHS offices at McRitchie-Hollis Museum, 74 Jackson St., Newnan, GA 30263. For more information call the NCHS offices at 770-251-0207.
Mailing Deadline is March 1, 2019.Bank of America Charitable Foundaition's Student Leaders Program:
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Student Leaders Program is accepting applications for the 2019 Student Leaders program. Since its inception in 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders Program has recognized more than 2,000 exemplary high school juniors and seniors who have a passion for improving their communities. The program helps students gain a greater understanding of how nonprofits create impact in the community and helps develop them as the next generation of community leaders through two components:
- A summer eight-week paid internship with a nonprofit organization selected by the bank. This internship is designed to provide opportunities for the students to develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on work experience, while raising their awareness of community issues addressed by their Host Organization.
- The week-long, all-expense paid Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 8 – 13, 2019 conducted in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, the Summit introduces students to aspects of civic, social and business leadership and provides them with knowledge and skills they will use throughout their life to create positive community change.
Please help spread the word about the Bank of America Student Leaders Program. If you would like to receive posters, please contact terri.block@bankofamerica.com and we will send them to you. Students can apply for the program by going to www.bankofamerica.com/studentleaders. Please note the application opens on November 11, 2018 with a deadline of February 1, 2019.
For additional information on the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
AP and General Economics Review Apps by GCEE
General Economics and AP Economics review apps are now available in the Apple and Google Play Stores. These apps were created by GCEE and will provide students with a great review resource for general Economics and AP Economics course assessments. The current bank of questions holds nearly 400 questions and is constantly working to add additional questions. Encourage your students to download and use these apps today!
Social Studies Civic Engagement Diploma Seal
Our district application for the Civic Engagement Diploma Seal has been accepted by the Department of Education. Department heads at both East Coweta and Newnan High schools will be working to finalize the rubric for students. If you teach at either ECHS or NHS, please advertise this opportunity to your students. I encourage each high school to run morning announcements about this opportunity to attract student interest.
EOCT Review Support:
The EOC's will be here before you know it. Get a jump start on reviewing with your students. Click Here to access the DOE Georgia Milestone's EOC Review Guides for U.S. History and Economics.
Additional professional development opportunities are located within the section titled Professional Development for All.
Network Connectors
Connect with Georgia's virtual learning community for Social Studies
Georgia Council for the Social Studies
Georgia Council on Economic Education
Professional Learning for All
An Evening with the Consul General of Canada
Register By: November 26
Want to Register? Click Here
Monday, Dec 3, 2018, 05:30 PM
Fayette County School System, GA, USA
Fiscal Policy: History of Fiscal Policy Decisions (US History)
From Jackson to Roosevelt to Johnson, fiscal policy decisions have impacted the people of the United States. Workshop participants will engage in lessons focused on the Second National Bank (SSUSH7b), the history of Social Security (SSUSH18b), and the creation of Medicare (SSUSH21b). Participants will receive seven non-partisan lesson plans organized around the application of primary source documents to the history of Social Security, Medicare, the Federal Reserve, the Second National Bank, and the Panic of 1893/Election of 1896. There is no registration fee for this workshop, instructional materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is included.
Want to Register? Click Here
Wednesday, Jan 16, 2019, 08:30 AM
Fayette County School System, GA, USA
Economic Decision Making and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement (Grades 5 & 8)
Register By: January 29
This one-day workshop for 5th and 8th grade teachers focuses on the economics of the Civil Rights movement during the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s. Workshop participants will receive lessons and activities related to the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, the March on Washington, Jim Crow laws and the Brown v. Board of Education case. There is no registration fee, materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is included.Want to Register? Click Here
Thursday, Jan 31, 2019, 08:30 AM
Coweta County Schools- WERZ
Teaching the GSE: High School Economics (Grades 9-12)
Register By: February 13
The Georgia Standards of Excellence clarify many of the vague elements that were present in the Georgia Performance Standards. In addition, there are several new concepts teachers are expected to teach. In this workshop, teachers are provided a comprehensive overview of the standards and engaging lessons in each of the five domains. There is no registration fee, materials and lunch are provided, and substitute reimbursement is available.Want to Register? Click Here
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2019, 08:30 AM
Coweta County Schools- WERZ
Incorporating Literacy and Economics in the Grade 3 Curriculum
This workshop focuses on strategies and new materials that will help 3rd grade teachers incorporate effective literacy strategies into creative and engaging math, science, language arts, and social studies lessons. There is no registration fee for this workshop, instructional materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is provided.
Want to Register? Click Here
Friday, Mar 1, 2019, 08:30 AM
Carrollton City Schools, Trojan Drive, Carrollton, GA, USA
Focus: South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya (7th Grade)
The Georgia Standards of Excellence have clarified and focused the countries to be studied in-depth in Africa. This one-day workshop for 7th grade teachers provides with a targeted look at the economies of these three countries and how they interact within the region and on the world stage. There is no registration fee for this workshop, instructional materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is included.
Want to Register? Click Here
Friday, Mar 8, 2019, 08:30 AM
Coweta County Schools- WERZ
Focus: Canada, Australia, and the United States (6th Grade)
This one-day workshop for 6th grade teachers examines Canada and Australia in relation to the United States. The elementary curriculum is focused on six years of U.S. History and lays the groundwork for this workshop. Canada and Australia are the only two units of study in the GSE that are not taught as part of a cultural region, so this workshop demonstrates a way to organize the standards to teach economic systems, international trade, and economic growth/GDP in a comparative context. There is no registration fee for this workshop, instructional materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is included.
Want to Register? Click Here
Thursday, Mar 14, 2019, 08:30 AM
Coweta County Schools- WERZ
Tour of Georgia Film Academy at Pinewood Studios
The Georgia Film Academy has helped create an amazing crew base in Georgia to support it's burgeoning film and television industry. In this workshop you will be able to tour the primary GFA facility at Pinewood studios, hear from industry insiders about the film industry, and receive lessons and teaching materials to help teach your students about the economic impact of the industry and ways students can get involved. There is no registration fee, materials and lunch are provided, and substitute reimbursement is available.
Want to Register? Click Here
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019, 08:30 AM
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, Sandy Creek Road, Fayetteville, GA, USA
Lights, Camera, Econ- The Economic Impact of the Film and TV Industry in Georgia (Grades 8, 9-12)
Georgia is now one of the largest hubs for television and film production in the c world. This one-day workshop for 8th - 12th grade teachers focuses on the various characteristics of Georgia that make this possible including Georgia's infrastructure, its location, crew-base and the all-important tax credit. There is no registration fee for this workshop, instructional materials are provided, substitute reimbursement is available, and lunch is included.
Want to Register? Click Here
Friday, May 10, 2019, 08:30 AM
Coweta County Schools- WERZ
Picturing History: Using Great Children's Literature to Spark Inquiry in Social Studies K-12
Thursday, Jun 20, 2019, 08:00 PM
6321 U.S. 76, Young Harris, GA, USA
Comments, Concerns, Questions?
Email: phillip.sykes@cowetaschools.net
Website: http://curriculum.cowetaschools.org/
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, USA
Phone: 770-254-2800
Twitter: @Syked4SS