When teachers create lessons that include historical sources, it’s important to pay attention to source choice and source attribution. 

This issue of Social Education offers a rich set of articles on important topics for social studies teachers that range from engaging students in historical inquiry to promoting equity in the classroom and celebrating the mission of social studies education to prepare students for active democratic citizenship.

Lessons in history and civic life are often described as ageless or timeless. Watch as Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (or the closest we can come to their representations: professional reenactors who portray the two men) debate key design challenges and thematic questions in the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap.  This hour long, spirited debate covers topics such as protecting the rights of the individual while sustaining a collective republic, grappling with challenging realities in our past without becoming cynical, embracing our nation’s accomplishments without…

NCSS is in need of volunteers to assist us in putting on the 101st NCSS Annual Conference.  Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 21.  Responsibilities include the following: Assume admin responsibilities for an NCSS Zoom account for all live presentations. Provide co-host privileges for all presenters. Record all assigned sessions. Assign breakout rooms for attendees, if needed. Monitor Q&A and chat and share comments with presenter(s), if needed. Report and/or solve (if possible) any technical issues or problems. Provide general feedback on the session.…

101st NCSS Annual Conference Goes Virtual After much deliberation, the NCSS Board of Directors has made the decision to host the 101st Annual Conference as a fully virtual event. (Read the full announcement.) The NCSS 101st Annual Conference will be held online from Monday-Sunday, November 15-21, 2021. Last year we delivered the hottest virtual conference of the season, and this year will be no different as we focus on Solidarity in Social Studies. This year’s conference is designed with you in mind, based on what we have learned from hosting and attending virtual conferences. This is…

From its inception, NCSS has focused on preparing a democratic citizenry and providing social studies educators with a civic education roadmap.

The specific scaffolds and strategy instructions outlined in this article will help students engage in the complex task of historical inquiry. 

Examining life stories recorded through the Depression-era Federal Writers’ Project can launch classroom lessons on specific events like the 1871 Chicago fire or broader lessons on the Works Progress Administration and New Deal programs.