These 10-15 minute videos from the 2022 Conference for Social Studies provide inspiration and practical ideas for improving teaching practice. Talks are organized into the following tracks:
* Assessing Historical Thinking
* Bringing Context to World Events
* Crafting Inquiry
* Literacy
* Taking Informed Action

These videos are free for online viewing.

This inquiry will provide students with an opportunity to investigate the impact of the Industrial Revolution on humanity. They will construct an argument in response to the compelling question “Was the Industrial Revolution helpful or harmful to humanity?” This question will guide students in deciding whether innovations have made life better or worse for humans. This inquiry will emphasize history and civics.  Resource created by Jordan Nelson, North Bend Central Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This lesson focuses on the drafting of the United States Constitution during the Federal Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. Students will analyze an unidentified historical document and draw conclusions about what this document was for, who created it, and why. After the document is identified as George Washington’s annotated copy of the Committee of Style’s draft constitution, students will compare its text to that of an earlier draft by the Committee of Detail to understand the evolution of the final document.

Connect particular phrases and ideas set down in the Bill of Rights with texts that preceded it.

Connect particular phrases and ideas set down in the Declaration of Independence with texts that preceded it.

Connect particular phrases and ideas set down in the Constitution with texts that preceded it.

Videos created by the Center For Civic Education to support the We The People curriculum. These videos are designed to support teachers in their understanding with the possible use with high ability students in high school.

The purpose of these lessons is to help students think about how to resolve difficult ethical decisions related to injustice. By role-playing, researching people who have made courageous ethical decisions, and writing about their own role models, students will come to understand the importance of standing up for what they believe in.

Students examine what deepfakes are and consider the deeper civic and ethical implications of deepfake technology. In an age of easy image manipulation, this lesson fosters critical thinking skills that empower students to question how we can mitigate the impact of doctored media content. This lesson plan includes a slide deck and brainstorm sheet for classroom use.

This lesson plan from the Levin Center at Wayne State University is about Defining Congressional Oversight. This resource includes a downloadable document (PDF), embedded video, and images.The lesson plan also includes a Spanish version. 

The unit focuses on the struggles for self-identity and self-determination that continue to be problematic even a century after Puerto Rico’s inclusion in the United States’ territory. As a teacher of Spanish and Latin American culture, I find it very appealing that my Puerto Rican heritage students are aware of their roots and I have tried to bring that perception into the unit using a variety of lesson plans to help students understand the political status of Puerto Rico and their rights as citizens of the U.S. In this unit students will be exposed to various topics in the history of the Caribbean islands but with a focus on Puerto Rico. Students will be able to contrast the different historical epochs and their political implications. Finally, using the research as a guide, students will able to evaluate how the outcome of the Spanish-American War changed Puerto Rico’s political status from Spain’s colony to a U.S. territory. After exploring what being a Commonwealth meant for the people of Puerto Rico, they will be able to explain Puerto Rico’s “dual” citizenship and how it affects the Island’s national identity and culture.

What is needed to end mass incarceration and permanently eliminate racial caste in the United States? Legal and policy solutions alone are not enough to dismantle racial caste because the methods of racial control within this system are “legal” and rarely appear as outwardly discriminatory. A social movement that confronts the role of race and cultivates an ethic of care must form or else a new racial caste system will emerge in the future.

Module 11 of the 16-module ESL course explores the importance and relevance of law in the community. The lessons consist of critical thinking discussions on laws and scenarios dealing with the absence of laws. Conditionals are practiced as the grammar component. Reading and comprehension is on Veterans Day.  

This module entitled, Buy This Buy That, is the seventh of 16 modules in the ESL course. Students learn names of shopping items for different purposes – groceries, clothing, home, garden, etc. Higher level critical thinking activities and discussions are included in the lesson plans. Extensive vocabulary is provided to strengthen students’ word power especially to name everyday items to buy. The role-play activity mirrors actual experience at the store. Descriptive writing opportunities are provided in this module.

This is an introductory Module of 16 modules in the ESL course. Using ice-breaker activities and the friendly culture of the class, students will be able to warm up to the course and ease into the curriculum. Students get to know one another and be able to use appropriate grammar to write and present prompt responses. Grammar focuses on verbs 'to be' and continuous tenses. Students consider their goals in taking this course.

This is Module 10 of 16 modules in the ESL course. Students learn about civic engagement, civic duties, and giving back to the community. Higher level thinking on advantages and disadvantages of civic engagement are offered as whole-class discussions. Grammar focus is on conjunctions, cause and effect, and the infinitive ’to’ verb tense. Extensive discussions using prompts strengthen students’ understanding and perception of civic consciousness leading to civic engagement.

Module 6 of the 16 modules of the ESL course is all about House and Home. Verbal and written discussions, in-class and LMS assignments, and group activities reinforce the vocabulary related to house and home. Writing samples in the descriptive genre affords opportunities for students to write a one-paragraph or a three-paragraph piece about their house and home.

American Heritage, American Experience is the title of Module 12 of the ESL course. Lessons on American symbols, celebrations, school systems, states, capitals are among topics covered in this module. Discussions on the meaning of ‘heritage’ and assignments sharpen student awareness of the American culture. Prompts also urge students to compare and contrast their different native cultures to American culture.

Entitled Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, this is Module 8 of 16 modules for the ESL course. Verbal and written discussions, in-class and LMS assignments, and group activities reinforce the vocabulary related to health and wellness. Grammar focus is on simple present and simple past tense verbs. hrough charts, and worksheets, students reflect on their lifestyles – diet, exercise for physical health. Emotional, spiritual, and mental health aspects are also discussed in this module.

This is Module 2 of 16 modules in the ESL course. Lessons cover new experiences of immigrants in America. Grammar focus is on past tense verbs. Students practice the three different sounds of past tense form of regular verbs. The role play activity gives students more practice on verbs. There is also a reading and writing activity on Labor Day.