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Calendar
March, 2010
| Coming Soon... |
| Wednesday, Mar 17 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Thursday, Mar 18 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Friday, Mar 19 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Saturday, Mar 20 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Sunday, Mar 21 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Monday, Mar 22 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Tuesday, Mar 23 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Wednesday, Mar 24 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Thursday, Mar 25 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Friday, Mar 26 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Saturday, Mar 27 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Sunday, Mar 28 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Monday, Mar 29 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
| Tuesday, Mar 30 |
| All Day | Icons of Washington |
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About WSCSS
More civics education needed, advocates say
Florida lawmakers are listening and may require more classes — and testing — on the subject
By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel
March 15, 2010
More than a decade ago, Florida social-studies teachers started lobbying to make their subject part of a statewide testing program. If it wasn't, they feared, then classes in civics, geography and history would be shoved aside in favor of tested subjects such as math and reading.
Their fears were well-founded. Today, the time to devoted to such courses has been cut, and social studies is often the class interrupted when everything from school pictures to career days needs scheduling.
But now some state lawmakers are supporting these advocates, as the Legislature considers making civics a required — and tested — subject.
Florida's "civic health," they say, is among the worst in the nation. And, to combat that, school kids need a regular dose of lessons on government, civic responsibility and key historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence.
It is a high-profile and bipartisan effort that mirrors national civic-education drives but is also controversial and very similar to efforts that failed previously.
Read the entire article
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Announcements
2010 Study Canada Summer Institute |
| Western Washington University is now accepting registrations for the 2010 STUDY CANADA Summer Institute for K-12 Educators held in Vancouver and Whistler, BC (June 20-25). |
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History Day Opportunities |
History Day Judges are needed -- You can help ensure that their efforts are rewarded, by judging at the Washington History Day state contest on Saturday, May 1, at Bellevue College.
New History Day Teacher Award -- In recognition of the motivational aspects of History Day for educator professional development, HistoryLink.org is pleased to sponsor the Walt Crowley Teacher Mentor Award. This award will provide funding for a History Day teacher who has not attended the national contest, but has at least three years of History Day teaching experience, to attend the 2010 National History Day competition near Washington, D.C. |
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“The Politics of the Brokenhearted,” a national conference led by Parker J. Palmer that will be held May 20-23, 2010, at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island |
If you believe in the promise of democracy and lament the ways ours is falling short; if you want to rethink the meaning of citizenship at a time when divisiveness diminishes the power of “we, the people” while other powers run the show; if you want to help our society renew a sense of the common good as an individual and in the institutions where you live and work, we’d like you to join us. –Parker Palmer. |
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Seattle Times Newspaper in the Classroom |
| Teachers can find a wide variety of information and lessons (many on current events and other civic-related issues) on the Seattle Times site. |
Puget Sound Explorers Maritime Education |
Puget Sound Explorers is a maritime education program provided by the Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend, WA. Lessons are based around themes of Captain George Vancouver's explorations, developed in partnership with teachers. On-water rowing and sailing activities, team development, history, knot typing and other activities are catered to each school group.
Earn clock hours at our upcoming professional development workshops on developing maritime education lessons. |
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State Capitol Virtual Tour |
| Virtual tour offers Capitol access to all visitors. |
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NEW CBA-Aligned Washington State History & Culture Curriculum Available Free on Web |
| Northwest Heritage Resources has developed a new (in 2008) 10 week curriculum unit of 40 Lesson Plans with accompanying cultural community and traditional art form essays and a searchable database of Washington state traditional artists titled, "King County and Washington State Cultural Geography, Communities, Their History and Traditions". The curriculum unit is designed to meet the educational requirements of the Washington Superintendent's Office of Public Instruction Classroom-Based Assessment for "Enduring Cultures". While it specifically targets a 7th and 8th grade social studies CBA unit, many lessons, cultural essays, and the database can be adapted for use at levels 4-6 (intermediate) and higher. The curriculum and companion educational resource materials can all be accessed for free (downloaded as .pdfs) from Northwest Heritage Resources' website: www.northwestheritageresources.org. Supported with grant funding from 4Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. |
Lady Washington Seamanship Expeditions |
| Lady Washington Expeditions offers a rare opportunity to learn traditional seamanship on a square-rigger. |
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