Oregon Social Sciences Teacher Update #91
March 1, 2011
1. Work on Social Sciences Standards Review and Revision Continues
2. Teacher Nominations Still Needed for Social Sciences Instructional Materials Evaluation
3. Oregon Humanities 2011 Summer Teacher Institute
4. K-12 Oregon Forestry Literacy Program
5. NCTA Seminar in Central Point--"China's Identities: Confucian, Maoist, New Culture?"
6. Historical Outreach Foundation Adds New Civil War Presentation
7. Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Offers New CD Materials
8. Centennials Highlighted in Blue Book
9. PeaceJam Northwest Your Leadership Conference at OSU
10. Aurora to Host Spinning Festival
11. Two History Presentations in Astoria during Spring Break
12. Zigzag Ranger District Interpretation and Conservation Education Project
13. OCSS Fall Conference Preview
14. Albany Museum Co-hosts Workshop on Women’s Work
15. Hats to be Displayed Saturday in Oregon City
16. Supreme Court Summer Institute
17. Toyota International Teacher Program to Costa Rica
18. Parks Service Seeks Student Digital Projects
19. United States Holocaust memorial Museum's 2011 Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators
20. Law-Related Education Resources
21. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's Interactive On-line Module
22. Zora Neale Hurston and Eatonville, Florida Workshops for Teachers
23. "Quebec Diminsions: Historical, Geographic and Cultural Explorations" Summer Institute for K-12 Professionals
24. National September 11 Memorial and Museum Interactive Timeline
25. Council on Economic Education Lessons
26. Seven Classroom Uses of Cell Phones
27. ODE Resources (in every issue)
1. Work on Social Sciences Standards Review and Revision Continues
Public comment has been collected on the Draft Standards and will be considered by the Social Sciences Content and Assessment Panel when it meets on Friday, April 1, 2011, in Salem. The Panel will review each comment, or set of comments, and make recommendations that will result in a second draft that will go out for another round of public comment. Completion of the process is expected in late spring. Materials created and comments submitted are available from the Content Standards Review page of the ODE website, http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2429.
A report on the progress of the revision will be given to the State Board on Education on Thursday, March 10. You can gain access to the live video stream of the State Board meeting at http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=144.
2. Teacher Nominations Still Needed for Social Sciences Instructional Materials Evaluation
To ensure that there is geographic representation, the Oregon Department of Education is looking for nominations of teachers, curriculum specialists, and others who have interest and experience in Social Sciences. Educators are still needed to complete panels in 9-12 Civics, 9-12 Economics, 9-12 Geography, and 9-12 US/World History. Additional applications are welcomed in the other categories.
Evaluations are scheduled for August 1-7, 2011 and involve a 7-day or less commitment with travel reimbursement and a paid stipend. The group will be evaluating Social Science materials for the approved list to be voted on by the State Board of Education in October 2011.
Nomination Form (to be completed by a superintendent or principal)
Nominee Information Form (to be completed if you have been recommended by a superintendent or principal)
3. Oregon Humanities 2011 Summer Teacher Institute
Oregon Humanities announces its 2011 Summer Teacher Institute, "The Many Faces of Fundamentalism". This FREE residential institute will be held July 7-10, 2011 at University of Oregon in Eugene.
At this three-day institute for middle and high school teachers, participants will explore the topic of religious fundamentalism. Participants will work with guest scholars and peers to explore the issue of religious fundamentalism and its related questions: What factors contributed to its rise in the twentieth century? How does fundamentalist authority function within American democracy, and how do popular conceptions of fundamentalism affect religious tolerance in schools and communities?
Room and board are provided and continuing education hours and graduate credit are available. There will be a $50 materials fee for participation in the institute. Preference will be given to those who haven't previously attended an OH Teacher Institute and those working full time in Oregon secondary schools.
A registration brochure is attached and you can find more information about this year¹s institute on our website oregonhumanities.org. I hope you will consider applying, and forwarding this on to teachers around the state who might be interested. We are anxious to fill the institute and expect a lively group of teachers from all subject areas.
PLEASE REGISTER BY APRIL 15, 2011.
4. K-12 Oregon Forestry Literacy Program
Teachers and school administrators now can access OFRI's The Oregon Forest Literacy Program, a K-12 Conceptual Guide to Teaching and Learning about Oregon Forests. The new program provides a framework for educating Oregon's K-12 students about forests.
Developed over the past 12 months by a diverse and collaborative statewide group, the effort resulted in a plan with three components: a conceptual framework; a K-12 scope and sequence; and connections to service-learning projects developed by teachers. The conceptual framework identifies important forest concepts, the scope and sequence is a blueprint for when to teach the concepts, and the service-learning projects provide an instructional strategy for how to teach the concepts. The Oregon Forest Literacy Program, in essence, provides guidance on the "what," "when" and "how" of forestry education.
The guide was made possible in part through a "Learn and Serve for Sustainability" grant from the Oregon Department of Education, jointly awarded to the Tillamook School District and OFRI. The Oregon Forest Literacy Program is available at Oregonforests.org, along with tools that correlate the forest-literacy concepts to Oregon's science and social science standards, as well as to OFRI's other educational materials.
5. NCTA Seminar in Central Point--"China's Identities: Confucian, Maoist, New Culture?"
Friday, March 4, 7:00–9:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Friday, April 1, 7:00–9:00 p.m., Saturday April 2, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; additional work to be completed by the participant online. 2 credits or 20 Washington State Clock Hours.
Sponsored by the University of Washington NCTA National Coordinating Site and instructed by Professor Steven Thorpe
The Central Point seminar will cover the historical, philosophical, and cultural developments of Chinese civilization from the traditional period through the revolutionary period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the present. Emphasis will be placed on key historical changes, the philosophies upon which the changes were grounded, and the cultural systems that emerged from the changes. The seminar will look at the imperial period, the revolutions that brought about the modern period, and the changes that led to the present situations for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan.
Throughout the course the focus is on defining Chinese identities seen in the changes the Chinese have made in their civilization. The seminar will be grounded in effective curriculum resources for teachers in upper elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
Visit the East Asia Resource Center website for more information.
6. Historical Outreach Foundation Adds New Civil War Presentation
The Historical Outreach Foundation in partnership with the Northwest Civil War Council has added a new presentation to its available presentations: The Civil War and Oregon's Role in it. Steve Betschart, the president of the NW Civil War Council and retired Social Studies teacher has developed a Civil War presentation that incorporates the stories of the Civil War soldiers and how they lived and died during the Civil War. He also comes dressed in Civil War era clothing and brings many different actual and replica Civil War items that can be touched and tried on. The Civil War presentations are preferred to be done in the Willamette Valley unless extra compensation is given for travel.
The Historical Outreach Foundation now has three fascinating, interactive and touchable presentations available to schools and organizations: Lewis and Clark, Oregon's Role in WWII and now Civil War. Please contact the Historical Outreach Foundation at or call 503-705-5965 to schedule any of these presentations. The Historical Outreach Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that asks for a donation (preferably $150), but it is not necessary to donate to receive a presentation. Any other donations are always gratefully accepted to help schools to receive these field trips that come to their school for free. For more information and the current schedule go to www.historicaloutreach.com
7. Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Offers New CD Materials
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project announces a new CD with education materials on the Japanese American experience during World War II is now available at no cost to educators in Oregon. Lesson plans, standards correlations, primary source materials, graphic organizers, background readings and more are on the CD. To order, email with your mailing address; you should receive your CD in about two weeks. 100 CDs are available on a first come, first served basis.
8. Centennials Highlighted in Blue Book
The new Web version of the 2011-2012 Oregon Blue Book features two exhibits that highlight centennials. The first exhibit celebrates the 2012 Oregon centennial of woman suffrage with colorful images and descriptive text. The second exhibit takes a nostalgic look back at 100 years of Oregon Blue Books from the evolution of the book covers to the wide-ranging subjects of the photos inside. Both exhibits are available at: http://bluebook.state.or.us/facts/scenic/scenic.htm.
9. PeaceJam Northwest Your Leadership Conference at OSU
"Dream of a Beautiful Future: Change Begins With You" featuring Nobel Peace Prize Winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum, April 16th & 17th, 2011
· Who: Middle school and high school students throughout the Pacific Northwest.
· What: Hundreds of PeaceJammers in 7th through 12th grades will join 1992 Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum, for a life-changing weekend, exploring issues of peace and social justice. Participants will be inspired by Rigoberta’s courageous story, perform hands-on service projects in the surrounding community, attend thought-provoking and skill-building workshops, and have the opportunity to present their Global Call to Action projects to the Laureate and their peers.
· Where: Corvallis, Oregon – Oregon State University
· When: All day Saturday, April 16 – Sunday, April 17, 2011
· Why: Participation sparks commitment to justice and peace, increases social responsibility, increases global awareness, increases academic performance, provides positive role models, engages students in service-learning.
· Cost: $75 per person attending. This includes two days of conference activities such as workshops and service projects, as well as three meals on Saturday, two meals on Sunday, a t-shirt, and water bottle.
Registration deadline: March 28, 2011
For more information or registration forms, contact Courtney Nikolay at or call (541) 737-3172. You can also refer to the website for more details: http://oregonstate.edu/studentaffairs/peacejam
10. Aurora to Host Spinning Festival
The 29th annual Spinning Wheel Showcase will be held March 12-13 at the Old Aurora Colony Museum in Aurora. This event is presented by the Aurora Colony Handspinners Guild and will feature over 30 antique spinning wheels, in working condition, exhibited by their owners. Spinners dressed in period costume will tell the story of the wheel.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12 and noon-4 p.m., March 12. For more information, visit www.auroracolony.org
11. Two History Presentations in Astoria during Spring Break
The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria will host two speakers during spring break. Both presentations are free with admission.
Saturday, March 19th, 2011 - 2:30 p.m.
“REDISCOVERING HISTORY: John Kendrick’s Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific” by Scott Ridley
This is the fascinating story of John Kendrick’s seven year odyssey through the American frontier. Ridley traces the life and adventures of this charismatic and daring Revolutionary War veteran against a backdrop of intense territorial conflict between Spain and Britain and high-stakes politics among the rest of the world’s powers. The story focuses on John Kendrick’s bravery, charm, and remarkable resolve to navigate unknown waters, escaping the Spanish officials who wanted him captured and a British captain who wanted him dead. Ridley will be available after his talk to sign copies of his book in the Museum Store.
Thursday, March 24th, 2011 -1:30 p.m.
“JOHN JACOB ASTOR: Ships, Furs and the Columbia River” by Rex Ziak
On March 24th, 1811, John Jacob Astor’s ship Tonquin crossed the Columbia River’s bar and sailed onto the pages of early Oregon History. Astor had grand ambitions for the mouth of the Columbia River as an emporium for a global trade network. Ziak’s lecture will describe the maritime aspect of Astor’s plan for the North American fur trade and will thoroughly describe the nightmarish and tragic voyage of the Tonquin.
Columbia River Maritime Museum is located at 1792 Marine Drive in Astoria. Open from 9:30 – 5:00. Admission $10 for Adults, $8 for 65 and older, $5 for 6-17 and under 6 are free. More information can be found at www.crmm.org or the museum’s Facebook page.
12. Zigzag Ranger District Interpretation and Conservation Education Project
March 2011
Timberline Lodge Tours
· What: Join a U.S. Forest Service Ranger for a 25 minute tour of historic Timberline Lodge. Explore the rich history of the Lodge and all it has to offer. Tours are free and available to everyone.
· Where: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service Desk inside Timberline Lodge.
· When: Friday - Sunday at 11:00, 1:00, and 2:00
· Cost: Free. Donations are not required but appreciated to ensure programs such as this can be continued in to the future.
· Additional Information: Please call 503-622-2033 or 503-272-3251 for more information or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/ (click on “learning center”) or www.timberlinelodge.com. No reservations required.
Government Camp History Hike/Snowshoe
· What: Accompany a U.S. Forest Service Ranger on a 2.5 mile round trip tour of Government Camp and the surrounding area. This hike will take participants though beautiful downtown Government Camp and into the forest above. Explore the rich history of Government Camp from the first settlers to the ski & snowboard industry boom.
· Where: Meet at the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum in Government Camp, 88900 Government Camp Loop, Government Camp, OR, 97028
· When: Friday’s & Saturday’s at 1:30 p.m.