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! The! ! ! POINT!E-Letter of the Western Pennsylvania Council for the Social StudiesVol. 5 No. 12!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! December 2012
In promoting our mission to focus on local and family history, WPCSSannually presents two $100 Savings Bonds for the best local or
family history exhibit in both Junior and Senior Entries of the localNational History Day competition at the Heinz History Center
NOW ON GOOGLE!Home Page | Western Pennsylvania Council for the
Social Studieswpcss.org/
See "We Believe" for Mission Statement and links to reference works, film strips, and other items. Back issues of THE POINT, can be found on Publications. ...More...
Win $25! Find the answer!! The person who finds the answer must e-mail the editor, [email protected] with subject heading “Got the Point.” The first email with the correct heading and answer will win $25, provided they are a member. ! Non-members will receive $15 + a membership. The program islimited. Only one winner a month and no repeat winners in a given year.EXAMPLE OF CLUE: A program of FDR. (An article mentions TVA)
OrCLUE:: He probably did not sleep here. (A picture of the Washington monument.)
Have fun! Look for answers in each issue.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
TODAYʼS RIDDLETODAYʼS CONTEST: Name the article and page number suggested by
this statement:
In your Face History!_______________________________
There were no entries last month!Question: Where it all comes together.
The answer: Page 3 NOTE: The article about social studies being the core of the curriculum illustrates that every subject is important in the field of social studies. Math, science, music, art, etc. are all put into practice at one time or another.
$25
The Point Vol. 5 No. 12! ! ! December 2012 Page 2
Soldiers & Sailors Hall! Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum houses a vast collection of primary and secondary documents and military artifacts. It is their mission to promote the use of these educational items and create an understanding for all groups who visit the museum. They provide a rich learning experience for all people by exploring the deeds and sacrifices of ordinary citizens during extraordinary circumstances.
The Education Dept. 412.621.4253 Tim Neff x 219http://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/education.html
Compass Inn Museum Located three miles east of Ligonier on Route 30, this restored 1799 stage coach stop offers guided tours. Features a stagecoach furnished with period pieces, cookhouse with beehive oven, the blacksmith shop with working forge, and barn housing a stagecoach and Conestoga wagon. The restored Inn is completely furnished with period pieces. Visitors can tour seven rooms including the common room, serving kitchen, ladies parlor and four bedrooms. Staying in a hotel was very different in 1820 than it is today. You have to see it to appreciate it. Receive an informative and entertaining tour by costumed docents that tells the story of transportation and everyday life in the early 1800's. The tour delivers "history with a smile" by incorporating agenerous sprinkling of etymology (word and phrase origins). For example you can learn why we drink in “bars” and “toast” people. The 1-1/2 hour tour includes the original Inn, and three reconstructed outbuildings: a cookhouse, blacksmith shop and barn, all completely furnished with period pieces http://compassinn.com
LeMoyne House The stately stone house, located at 49 East Maiden Street in downtown Washington, Pennsylvania, was built in 1812 by John Julius LeMoyne, the father of Francis Julius LeMoyne. Both father and son were practicing physicians, but it was the courageous Francis Julius LeMoyne who, despite the strict Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, risked his personal freedom and fortune to do what he knew was morally right — take a stand against the institution of slavery. This successful 19th Century doctor, reformer and builder of the first crematory in the western hemisphere, opened his home and properties as stops along the Underground Railroad, the series of safe hiding places for runaway slaves as they trudged north on their precarious journey to Canada and freedom. The father of five daughters (and three sons!), he also believed in and promoted education for women, specifically helping to found the Washington Female Seminary. Pennsylvania's first National Historic Landmark of the Underground Railroad, LeMoyne House is one of only seven such sites in the United States. The stately stone house in Washington County is open for tours.
http://www.wchspa.org/history.htmlOPEN TUESDAY - FRIDAY, 11AM - 4PM
The Point Vol. 5 No. 12 December 2012 Page 3
Feedback • • • Nice to see social studies called The Core of the curriculum. It truly is the place where it all comes together.
- R. M.
PA District School Board President Pans State DOE. The Allentown (PA) Morning Call (11/15, Duffy) reports that according to Russ Giordano, president of the school board in Salisbury, Pennsylvania, local citizens "need to know what's going on in Harrisburg with their education tax dollars. ... Giordano said he doesn't believe state legislators and state Department of Education allocate tax dollars in the best interests of Salisbury residents. ... He was referring to actions by state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis, whose support of charter and private schools through legislative initiatives and policies led the Bethlehem Area School Board's Human Relations Committee on Monday to bring forth a resolution denouncing him and calling on area school boards to follow suit.
Pa. district considers resolution opposing federal cuts: Officials in the Pittsburgh school district are considering a resolution opposing federal sequestration. The so-called "fiscal cliff," officials say, could reduce federal funding in the district by $3.5 million -- a potentially devastating cut that officials say would affect school programs and student achievement. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (11/14)
Literacy lessons are showing up in social studies, tech classes
One of the fundamental aspects of the Common Core State Standards is that reading skills should be developed across all subject areas, including social studies,
science and technology. For example, science students at Lewis County High School in Vanceburg, Ky., were recently asked to analyze a 1946 scientific essay by
Albert Einstein. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (11/14)
Literary approach to civic education How do we create thoughtful and engaged citizens? By reaching students' hearts and minds. What So Proudly We Hail offers curricula, discussion guides, primary texts, and a new series of ebooks on holidays (like Thanksgiving!) to help educators use literature to teach citizenship. And it's all free! Visit us at WhatSoProudlyWeHail.org.
The PointWestern Pennsylvania
Council for the Social Studies
Richard WilliamsPresident
Leo R. WestSecretary / Treasurer
The Point is the e-newsletterof WPCSS
issued monthly via e-mail.WPCSS is a non-profit 501c
organization dedicated to promoting the teaching and learning of social studies
in Western PennsylvaniaWestern Pennsylvania Council for the
Social Studiesc/o Leo West
11533 Clematis Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15235-3105
Advisory BoardKay Atman
Steve BullickPaula Calabrese
John FordRon GancasJohn Larner
Tim NeffMike RydeskiCarl WalzerJeff Zeiders
Leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita The ancient verses of the Bhagavad Gita shape the mindset of Indian executives in much the same way that Judeo-Christian texts have shaped the approach of Western CEOs, argues Debashis Chatterjee, director of the Indian Institute of Management. "If anybody wants to do business in India, they have to study The Gita because most Indian CEOs swear by the book," he asserts. Knowledge@Wharton (11/15)
Euro Challenge - Competition Would your students enjoy living history as it happens? If so, the Euro Challenge is the program for you! This FREE program for schools provides 9th and 10th grade students with an exciting opportunity to explore economic and other issues facing the euro area, propose solutions, and compete against other teams from across the United States. Student teams select and research one from a range of challenge issues such as the debt crisis in Greece, the aging population in Italy or the problems in the banking system in Spain and present their findings during regionals in March. The top teams then compete in the national finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY in April. Winning teams earn monetary awards and a trip to Washington DC ! To register visit www.euro-challenge.org/registration.html or contact Brian Scios
at 212-421-2700 or [email protected] for more information.
Nellie Bly: Local Girl Makes Good! On Nov. 14, 1889, 23 year-old journalist Nellie Bly set out to circle the globe, seeking to beat the fictional record set by Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days."Nellie Bly was born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in Cochran’s Mills, Pa., May 5, 1864. Nicknamed “Pink,” she was the most rebellious of her father’s 15 children, according to PBS. When Bly was 6, her father died and left little to his family, leaving them in near poverty. After reading a misogynist article called “What Girls Are Good For” in the Pittsburgh Dispatch, 18-year-old Bly penned a fiery letter of protest, which impressed the editor so much he offered her a job. Do your students write about the same five women for Women's History Month year after year? Help them discover inspiring women such as Nellie Bly - by perusing the list of women we cover in SweetSearch Biographies. It can be further sorted by profession and race or origin.
Book examines eating-tool designs throughout the ages British food writer and historian Bee Wilson examines the history of eating utensils and their effect on societal eating habits in "Consider the Fork: A History of Invention in the Kitchen." The book explores the design of the fork and other eating tools dating back to prehistoric cups and bowls. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) 11/11)
Researchers discover remains of Neolithic man, teenage girl Archaeologists might have uncovered a murder that occurred 8,500 years ago when they discovered the skeletal remains of a 19-year-old woman and an older man that were dumped in a well in the Jezreel Valley in Israel. Many artifacts were found in the well, suggesting that the pair were farmers. "The impressive well that was revealed was connected to an ancient farming settlement, and it seems the inhabitants used it for their subsistence and living," said Yotam Tepper, the archaeologist in charge of the dig. The Daily Mail (London) (11/9)
The Point Vol. 5 No. 12 December 2012 Page 4
Facing History program empowers, inspires students Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit educational program, uses lessons from historical events, such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights movement, to teach lessons about overcoming adversity, writes Margot Stern Strom, the program's cofounder and executive director, in this opinion article. The Memphis-based organization, which supports programs around the world, has been especially inspiring to students in urban schools, who realize what can be learned about oneself by studying others rising up to challenges throughout history, she writes. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.)(free registration) (11/10)
Professional development gets "flipped" at EdCamp event Educators in Ottawa, Canada, planned to take a "flipped" approach to professional development with a recent education conference. Rather than listen to an expert talk on a preselected topic, participants of EdCamp Ottawa planned to meet in a conference room to choose topics and present ideas to each other. "It's a huge shift in the way that teachers and administrators and students and parents are really learning about the issues in education," said organizer Erin Paynter, vice principal of Elizabeth Park Public School. Ottawa Citizen (Ontario) (11/8)
New Curriculum from -CHOICES-Freedom Now: The Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi
The civil rights movement was one of the most pivotal events in U.S. history. Today we think of the key leaders, mass demonstrations, and watershed legislation that have become synonymous with this movement. Often forgotten are the everyday people who were on the frontlines of the fight for justice and equality, working for change in their home communities. Freedom Now: The Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi explores the history of the civil rights movement at the local and national level. Mississippi was one of the most racially divided states in the South. It symbolized the oppression and violence of white supremacy, and the strong black movement that rose up in response.
*iTextbook version will be available in the iBookstore soon.Try one of our iTextbooks Free
We are offering our Human Rights iTextbook free from the iBookstore. Free Human Rights iTextbook
iTextbook editions include enhanced graphics, embedded videos, and other interactive materials. iTextbooks can be viewed on an iPad.
Free Human Rights Teacher Resource Book (iTRB) A Teacher Resource Book (iTRB) with graphic organizers, student handouts, and day-by-day lesson plans accompanies each iTextbook. iTRBs are available from the Choices online store.
The Point Vol. 5 No. 12 December 2012 Page 5
Leave other people’s mistakes where they lie.” --Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor
When a Teacher Quits (November 16, 2012, Finding Common Ground Blog)
"I refuse to be led by a top-down hierarchy that is completely detached from the classrooms for which it is supposed to be responsible.
A New Low in Teacher Union Scapegoating (November 16, 2012, Walt Gardner's Reality Check Blog)
Ordinarily I avoid addressing political issues in this column. But after reading an explanation for California's fiscal ills by Charlotte Allen, I'm going to make an exception ("Decline and Fall," The Weekly Standard, Nov. 19). According to Allen, the state is technically insolvent because of - you guessed it - California's teachers unions. Here's why.
Have you seen these History videos on Youtube?Started by Erik Schreefel
Erik, great addition! I've been working on a unit built on artifacts from the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame to connect music and revolution.... more »
By Brad Maguth
Technology, Social Studies, and the Common Core: Part II...Started by Michael Milton
America in Class from the National Humanities Center offers Lessons which are designed to help teachers use primary sources and integrate .
.. more » By Caryn KoplikBreaking down primary documents using Common Core Standards for Social Studies/History in
3 different ways. Started by Michael Milton, English and World History Teacher
Nationwide program encourages student civic involvement A Georgia high-school senior was one of 1,500 students from across the country who recently participated in the Washington Youth Tour, is a leadership program designed to build stronger communities by inspiring in students a sense of citizenship and civic involvement. The students, from 43 states, toured Washington, D.C., while engaging in various activities intended to develop their leadership, problem-solving and communication skills. The tour included a visit to Congress, where students questioned their legislators about local issues. The Times-Herald (Newnan, Ga.) (8/26)
The Point Vol. 5 No. 12 December 2012 Page 5
Everybody wants results, and so do I, but teaching cannot be seen as an industrial unit, where just by working some extra hours you can increase production. I am completely dedicated to my profession, but there is only so
much we can do. —Manuel A. Rodriguez
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONWestern Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies
Name_________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________
City___________________________________________________________
Phone_________________________________________________________
e-mail address__________________________________________________
School or Institution_____________________________________________
Position and Grade level__________________________________________
Dues: $10. 00 Amt. enclosed_______Check made out to WPCSS
* NOTE: Most communication will be handled by e-mail. Please include e-mail address in order to be informed of coming events. Also, check with your school tech director to see if the fire wall will allow you to receive The Point, usually about is size 10 mb. Some firewalls reject attachments over 2 mb.• Send application and dues to: Leo R. West Treasurer • 11533 Clematis Blvd. • Pittsburgh,
PA 15235
The Point Vol. 4 No. 5 December 2012 Page 7
Teachers are not against reforming education. They are against the corporate-backed data-driven high-stakes-testing version of education reform, devolved from multi-sensory forms of learning experiences that
impoverish the imagination and sap the human spirit. —ClydeG • View this comment
