Updates
09/15/20
Latest on State and Regional Social Studies Fairs . . .
Regional and State Social Studies Fairs have been postponed to school year 2021-22.
The fairs are funded by the in-person GCSS conference, which will not take place this school year.
We encourage teachers to have students maximize the extra time by stretching out each step of the
process in anticipation of entering thorough, well-developed projects next year. Stay tuned for
suggestions on how that might be done to be posted on this website.
Our directors and judges miss the interaction with the students but look forward to next year!
06/08/20
06/08/20
The retreat has been rescheduled for June 17-18, 2021 and that we will open registration in the late fall, 2020.
04/06/20
2020 GCSS State Social Studies Fair Regional Winners and Directing Teachers!
CLICK HERE to see the online state social studies fair welcome letter and submission instructions information.
10/23/19
The 2019 award winners are online. To take a look here CLICK HERE.
10/16/19
The 2019 annual conference photos are up. CLICK HERE to check them out.
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Virtual Session Schedule
2020 GCSS Virtual Sessions
In lieu of the annual GCSS Conference, GCSS members will have access to a series of virtual social studies opportunities including:
- Author talks
- Seminars
- Virtual Sessions with teaching tips and resources
- Eyewitnesses to History
- Virtual mini-conference
Join/renew GCSS for $40.00 to receive access to over 15 events beginning August 11, 2020. Click here to join GCSS for the 2020-2021 school year. When you join GCSS, you will receive virtual session registration information and after you register for a session, you will receive a meeting link to attend the session. You can attend as many sessions as you wish.
All sessions will be held on Tuesday/Wednesday night at 7:30 PM. Most sessions will be recorded for later viewing. See below for session information.
Please Click Here to Checkout the Session Schedule
Please Click Here to Download the Sessions Flyer
2020 Annual Conference
Due to COVID-19 uncertainties, the 2020 face to face GCSS Conference has been replaced with a virtual conference.
As an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) the Georgia Council for the Social Studies agrees with the statement below.
January 7, 2021
NCSS Responds to Assault on Democracy
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the United States witnessed a devastating moment which tore at the very fabric binding our nation together. That fabric is the result of values and ideals that have been shaped and retested many times over the past few centuries—sometimes peacefully, sometimes through brutal conflict, and often with still more issues left unresolved. The words of our founding documents have been debated and expanded upon many times, yet our biggest strength as a nation is our ability to engage in civic discourse peacefully, and to transition power based on the consent of the people. That fabric begins to be woven in our K-12 social studies classrooms right when our youngest learners walk through the door on their first day in school. It continues to be nurtured to what we all aspire to be a lifetime commitment to engage in civic life.
Yesterday was a day of shock, division, and hatred. It was a day that reiterated the fragility of our democracy. Today, however, must be a day of recognition, discourse, and healing. It must be a day when all educators are supported in their communities when students arrive to ask questions about how our civic society works. Our students are coming to a new school day with many questions. They may be wondering about the structure of our republic, our democratic process, the hypocrisies and racial disparities in our responses to protests, and the difference between a peaceful exercise of First Amendment freedoms and a mob riot. They may be confused, frightened, enraged, or simply wondering what happened and why it happened. Our students must have the unbiased opportunity to ask those questions—and our educators must have the resources and support to allow those questions to be asked, and the support to provide for meaningful and truthful inquiry to occur. Today must be just a starting point for these conversations.
One of the greatest signs of respect we can give to our nation today, and in the future, is to support our educators and our students in their civic learning and engagement. Let them unpack, process, ask, and engage. The future of a healthy civic life and the strength of our republic depend on it. Let’s recognize the vital need to prioritize civics, history, and social studies education. We call on elected leaders and decision-makers at all levels—from the United States Congress to local school boards—to make this investment for student learning and teacher professional development and ensure a healthy democracy. If we learned anything from yesterday’s events, it is that this investment is needed now more than ever.
Stefanie Wager
President, National Council for the Social Studies
Lawrence M. Paska, Ph.D.
Executive Director, National Council for the Social Studies
NCSS Resources
Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport: The Role of Social Studies in Safeguarding the Republic.
Kenneth C. Davis
Social Education (September 2019)
It's a critical time to engage in classroom discussions about democracy—what it is, what threatens it today, and how we can protect it
Strongman: The Rise of Dictators and the Fall of Democracy
Kenneth C. Davis
Social Education (October 2020)
Teaching students about the history and patterns of authoritarianism can help bolster our own collective awareness of the vulnerability of democracy. .
Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? An Interview with Dr. Alexander Keyssar.
Social Education (October 2020)
This probing discussion of the Electoral College offers new approaches to teaching about this often-perplexing political system
Demystifying the Electoral College: 12 Frequently Asked Questions
Tiffany Middleton
Social Education (September 2012)
What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is a body of people appointed by each U.S. state and the District of Columbia, who elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state and the District of Columbia select electors to be the authorized participants in each presidential election. The electors cast electoral votes after the general election and officially elect the president and vice president.
Election Security: Fundamental and Threatened
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, Suzanne Spaulding and Devi Nair
Social Education (September 2020)
Inviting students to ponder the meaning of secure elections can launch an important discussion about public trust in election results.
Confronting Confirmation Bias: Giving Truth a Fighting Chance in the Information Age
Alan C. Miller
Social Education (October 2016)
At a time when algorithms shape and filter our newsfeeds, teaching students news literacy—how to differentiate credible information from misinformation—has taken on unprecedented importance.
Misinformation in the Information Age: What Teachers Can Do to Help Students
Erica Hodgin and Joe Kahne
Social Education (September 2018)
Three educational approaches outlined in this article help young people develop the capacity to judge the accuracy and credibility of online information.
Teaching Students to Navigate the Online Landscape
Joel Breakstone, Sarah McGrew, Mark Smith, Teresa Ortega, and Sam Wineburg
Social Education (September 2018)
There is no silver bullet for combatting the forces that seek to mislead online, but we can equip students with a digital tool belt stocked with strategies.
Teaching Controversial Issues in a Time of Polarization.
Kei Kawashima-Ginsburg and Rey Junco
Social Education (November/December 2018)
Families and principals can play a crucial role in fostering controversial-issue classroom discussions that support students’ civic learning.
Invoking History in Today's Politics
Jocelyn Stanton and Laura Tavares
Social Education (October 2016)
Studying the Weimar Republic can help students make connections between the past and present and understand how history can inform our choices today.
Beyond the Nineteenth: A Brief History of the Voter Suppression of Black Americans
Anthony Brown, Joanna Batt, Esther June Kim
Social Education (September 2020)
A close look at the history of African American voting rights can launch a lively classroom discussion about present-day democratic struggles.
Additional Resources
Disclaimer: National Council for the Social Studies has curated these materials to offer helpful teaching strategies and resources for educators. The links posted on this webpage do not represent an endorsement of any organization or product by the association as a whole, its staff, or the members of its board.
#sschat resources
ADL-Discussing Political Violence and Extremism with Students
Civics for All Resource Guide
Civil Discourse in the Classroom
Creating Civic Spaces in Troubling Times
CSPAN: Learning from Previous Presidential Transitions
CSPAN: The History of Contested Presidential Elections
District of Columbia Public Schools
Dr. Alyssa Hadley-Dunn Teaching the Days After
Facing History and Ourselves
Fostering Civil Discourse: A Guide for Classroom Conversations
Fostering Civil Discourse: How Do We Talk About Issues That Matter
iCivics Peaceful Transfer of Power
Illinois Civics
Michigan Council for the Social Studies
Mikva-Attack on Capitol
National Constitution Center
Newseum-Front Pages From Around the Country
PBS
PBS-Structured Academic Controversy
Teaching About Controversial or Difficult Issues
Teaching Tolerance-Civic Disobedience
National Council for the Social Studies, 8555 16th Street, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States, 301-588-1800
In Honor of Congressman John Lewis
In 2014, the Georgia Council for Social Studies was honored to host Representative John Lewis as keynote speaker to our annual state convention. In his speech that day, Rep. Lewis did not champion his many accomplishments. He did not use the opportunity to campaign. He did not promote a sponsored bill. No. In his speech that day, John Lewis honored not himself, but the selfless work of the teacher. He spoke of the power of a teacher to change a life. He spoke of the power of a teacher to inspire a future. He spoke of the power of education to change the world. It should not surprise anyone that John Lewis would champion the power of education and the teachers who chose teaching as their career. The child of sharecroppers, John Lewis overcame many obstacles to make it to school every day. The school he attended was not meant to raise leaders; it was meant to meet the minimum standards for schooling as provided by laws meant to separate but never equalize. However, within those walls, John Lewis was given the tools needed to change his own life. He was inspired to dream of a future for himself beyond the fields of the farm. He was empowered to believe that not only could he have that dream but that he could help others achieve that dream, as well. As we know, John Lewis would accomplish all those things. In his speech in 2014, John Lewis revealed that the secret of his success lay within the walls of that small schoolhouse and within the heart of his teacher. Let us never forget the power we have as educators. Let us never forget that every child, regardless of obstacles placed in their life, has a leader within them. Somewhere in your class this year is the next John Lewis. Now, maybe more than ever, let us be ready.
Tammy Ponder, Past President, GCSS
Statement on Racism
We, the Georgia Council for the Social Studies, stand together with the Black community against racism. As social studies educators, we have the desire and ability to support causes that work toward racial justice and equality.
Link to the statement from the National Council for the Social Studies. https://www.socialstudies.org/about/ncss-condemns-killing-george-floyd-countless-black-people
Scroll through the list of NCSS Notable Tradebooks for books that are about or relate to racism. https://www.socialstudies.org/publications/notables/notables2020
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2021 GCSS Virtual Conference
Saturday, November 6, 2021 (8:30-4:00)
Teaching Social Studies in Challenging Times
2020 was a challenging time for all Georgians regardless of the role we played. Heroic educators worked tirelessly to provide normalcy for students despite the challenges. As social studies teachers, we are aware that challenging times have existed in the past and will emerge in the future. Let’s face teaching social studies in challenging times together. GCSS invites you to join us for our annual conference virtually on Saturday, November 6, 2021 from 8:30-4:00. Sessions will be offered for all grade levels and HS content.
Join us as we continue to learn engaging strategies for all students, pair literacy in the telling of the “stories” to teach social studies content, access instructional resources and virtually network with social studies colleagues as we navigate challenging times. The regular registration fee will be $90.00, $30.00 for students, and $50.00 for retirees which includes access to the virtual conference, GCSS membership and access to four new virtual sessions throughout the 2021-2022 school year plus access to all the 2020-2021 virtual sessions.
Registration Links:
For additional information, contact:
Pam Knauer (knauer.pamela6@gmail.com)
Gretna Soltis (gretna.soltis2020@gmail.com)
Dr. Eddie Bennett (gcss1964@gmail.com)
2021 GCSS Virtual Conference Keynote Speakers
Keynote #1: Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Dr. Karen Korematsu (8:30-9:30)
Our conference theme is “Teaching Social Studies in Challenging Times.” On November 6, we will have the rare opportunity to hear directly the story of desegregating the University of Georgia from Charlayne Hunter-Gault, along with Fred Korematsu’s story of challenging Japanese internment. We will hear from both Ms. Hunter-Gault and Dr. Karen Korematsu, Fred’s daughter, their stories of surmounting those obstacles and learning from the past. There will be a brief Q & A time at the end of their talks. Let’s keep their stories of strength and persistence alive in our classrooms. *
Keynote#2: Christy Hale and Duncan Tonatiuh (12:30-1:30)
We have all learned firsthand about “Teaching Social Studies in Challenging Times” in 2021. Join us in this dual author keynote to listen as Christy Hale and Duncan Tonatiuh share the stories they uncovered of little-known events in the history of school desegregation. Learn about the Lemon Grove lawsuit in 1931, the first in the U.S., as well as the story of Sylvia Mendes and her family’s suit in 1946 to expand school access. Both of these events occurred before Brown v. BOE and help us build a more layered and complex story to deepen our students’ understanding. There will be a brief Q & A time at the end of their talks. *
* Live keynote attendees will be able to receive two free books to use in their teaching, related to Hunter-Gault, Korematsu, Lemon Grove, and/or Sylvia Mendes. Books and speakers provided with the support of GaDOE Social Studies and L4GA Grant, along with the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement.
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