Introduction to Facing History’s Approach to Teaching US History: A Mini-Workshop

Facing History & Ourselves supports educators to create democratic learning environments where students are able to grapple with the complex histories, choices, and actions of individuals, groups, and institutions in the past and present. Facing History’s new US History strand will provide resources that help teachers and students engage with inquiry-based practices using a diverse range of sources that can both shape and supplement existing curricula. Our approach supports educators to: explore the complexity of identity, membership, and belonging, analyze history and its connection to today through a critical and ethical lens, and develop the capacity for informed civic participation.

During this mini-workshop, participants will:

• Experience a Facing History approach to teaching US History through hands-on activities 
• Engage with C3 style inquiry units that explore the relationship between democracy and freedom, the Founding Era, and Angel Island Immigration Station.
• Collaborate with other educators to reflect on throughlines and themes of US history curriculum that engage students intellectually, emotionally, and ethically.

Taking place live on zoom, this mini-workshop offers a real-time, interactive online classroom where participants will connect in facilitated whole- and small-group sessions.

Institute At-a-Glance Details

Who should take this institute: Middle school and high school history teachers

Cost: Free. The registration fee and event fee for this online course have been waived thanks to generous funding from Facing History and Ourselves donors and partner organizations.

Duration: 12 pm - 3 pm ET, Thursday July 6th, 2023

Time Commitment: 3 hours

Format: Facilitated Zoom meetings

Accessibility: Facing History is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational environment for educators of all abilities. If you have an accessibility need, please contact us at support [at] facinghistory.org (support[at]facinghistory[dot]org).

Certificate of Completion: Awarded upon successful completion of the seminar for 3 professional development hours. Requirements for professional development hours vary by state. It is the educator's responsibility to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of their state. If you are an educator based in New York, after taking this course you are eligible for 3 CTLE hours. If you are an educator based in Illinois, after taking this course you are eligible for up to 3 clock hours. Please contact support [at] facinghistory.org (support[at]facinghistory[dot]org) to learn more about CTLE or clock hours.