This article focuses on children’s literature by and about Jane Goodall. Readers are provided with recommended titles; examples for how to address social studies skills and concepts using her biography; and compelling and supporting questions that can drive students to investigate her work. The associated pullout, by the same author, consists of a brief elementary-level biography, “The Inspiring Jane Goodall,” and follow-up activities and questions for further study.

It is difficult to overstate the power of visual images, particularly historical primary source photos, to provide a window into the past. Here, the authors outline how educators can utilize historic photos to provide students with a deeper understanding of the past. When students do not see their heritage and culture represented in images, the development of their historical understanding can be incomplete or fragmented. Historical understanding can be enhanced, however, when students “see themselves” in the primary sources presented to them.

In the first article in this issue, a professor-teacher team of authors, Karen L. B. Burgard, Caroline O’Quinn, Michael L. Boucher, Jr., Natasha Pinnix, Cynthia Trejo, and Charnae Dickson offers, “Using Photographs to Create Culturally Relevant Classrooms: People of San Antonio, Texas, in the 1930s.” The authors outline how educatorscan utilize historic photos to provide students with a deeper understanding of the past. When students do not see their heritage and culture represented in images, the development of their historical understanding can be incomplete or fragmented. Historical…

Teaching About the U.S. Capitol Siege the Day After it HappenedSamantha Mandeville Teaching the Civil War in 2020–21Deirdre O’Connor Epidemics and Pandemics as Social Phenomena: Pivotal Moments in History that Altered SocietyEric B. Claravall

Are discussions about Black Lives Matters making their way into your classroom? Do you want to bring up topics in the news like immigration, COVID-19, and the 2020 election, but are not sure how? Between overheard conversations and social media feeds, young people are regularly exposed to news featuring controversial issues that involve bias, hate, and social justice. They want to be part of the conversation and we should encourage their engagement. Are you concerned that these discussions will backfire and deteriorate into arguments, discord, and less understanding? Anti Defamation League’s…

Welcome to the first issue of The NCSS Leader e-newsletter! We are deeply proud of our network of affiliated councils, associated groups, special interest communities, and committees. Together, you form a solid foundation within NCSS and a core pipeline for advancing our profession. We are delighted to introduce this new monthly resource and the other benefits of affiliation. We hope this e-newsletter becomes your go-to resource for vital information on social studies advocacy and programs, your connection to other council leaders, and help in growing your council. It builds upon other…

  Guest Editors: Ben A. Smith and J. Jesse Palmer A History of NCSS: 75 Years of Service Development of a written history of National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) began in 1992 with an examination of NCSS archival materials held in the Milbank Memorial Library, Special Collections, at Teachers College, Columbia University. We want to thank David M. Ment, Head of Special Collections, and Bette Weneck, Manuscript Curator, both with the Milbank Library, for their valuable help during this project.We also wish to thank those responsible for the collection of audio tapes held by Texas…

Thursday, March 3, 1921 On this date, a century ago today, educators from Teachers College at Columbia University “called a conference to discuss the desirability of organizing a council in cooperation with the meetings of the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association.”  1   This first meeting was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and would eventually result in the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), which, a century later, is the largest professional association in the United States dedicated to social studies education.   There were three outcomes…

The 21st century is a digital age where we can access learning, connect with each other and construct new learning using technology. Utilizing technology to create engaging virtual field trips breaks down classroom walls to facilitate access to narratives, places, and primary resources that would normally have restricted access due to time, distance or cost. Join the NCSS Indigenous Education Community to learn about the assets of a virtual field trip, the planning process and see two examples of virtual field trips. Both virtual field trip examples center on students' understanding this…