Agenda Topics

Enjoy a dinner with all conference attendees featuring key figures of the American Revolutionary Period including: 

• George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin

• Phyllis Wheatley

• James Forten

• Abigail Adams

This session will be presented by Humanities Scholar Clay S. Jenkinson.  Mr. Jenkinson is a nationally recognized historian, author, and public humanities scholar with special interest in Thomas Jefferson and the American republic.

Dr. John "Chuck" Chalberg, a historical impersonator of American and British characters from history, will delight K-12 teachers with his characterization of America's 26th president.

This session will focus on readings aligned with the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings which may be incorporated into daily classroom lessons.

This session will examine the bill of rights debate and its relationship to Anti-Federalist concerns about diversity, plutocracy, and the size of a republic. Additionally, the session will examine Madison’s grand solution to the problem of factions and his 'change of mind' about the importance of a bill of rights. 

This session will note individuals and associated events that are focuses of the new standards, recommending biographies that can help teachers meet goals identified in ELA standards as well as Social Studies standards, by reading level.

In this session, our presenter will share a crosswalk that highlights what’s new in South Dakota’s recently adopted Social Studies standards, what has been moved to different grades, and what is no longer part of the standards. The focus will be on standards in the elementary grades.

In these hands-on sessions, teachers will explore strategies and resources to incorporate the new standards into their lessons. These will be working sessions where teachers discuss the ins and outs of implementation.

Using Abraham Lincoln’s much admired 1839 “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions” address, delivered before the Springfield Young Men’s Lyceum, this session will discuss how prudence and moderation are an important part of healthy civic engagement. Lincoln’s address considers how the rule of law contributes to a healthy society, as well as the threats of mob rule and demagoguery.

This session will introduce teachers to high-quality literature for children with strong themes applicable to American history and civics to aid teachers in their delivery of instruction aligned to both the ELA and Social Studies standards.                                                                                  

This session will be a hands-on workshop to aid teachers in the development of first-person lessons focusing on historical figures.  Session leaders will assist teachers in the creation of lesson plans centered around a historical figure of their choice.                                                                            

This session will be led by John Mollison, an aviation artist, writer, and filmmaker.  Mr. Mollison will demonstrate resources for classrooms which engage learners and feed hungry minds.     

This session will introduce various primary documents from the Jacksonian Era which may be of service to instructors who teach this era of history.  The Jacksonian Era is often considered as the time when democracy truly arises in America. It is also a time of great social change, namely the Second Great Awakening, the rise of Transcendentalism, and the Indian Removal Act.  

This session will walk teachers through secondary-level strategies for using primary sources to generate curiosity from students at the outset of a lesson, as well as to teach content found in the standards.  The session will  provide collaboration space to generate plans to share with other session participants. 

In this session, West Central School District will share their History and Civics Grant journey.

This session workshop introduces various primary documents from the Reconstruction Era which may be of service to instructors who teach this era of history.  An often-neglected part of American history, the Reconstruction Era is fundamental to American history in that it represents a reconsideration of what it means to be equal and how the powers of government might be used to secure equality. 

In this session, the South Dakota State Historical Society will provide a hands-on demonstration of the Buffalo Kit.  The Museum’s education suitcase kit program has grown from two cases on two topics in 1996 to 32 cases on fourteen topics today. Kits include hands-on objects, topic background information, worksheets, and lesson plans for activities using the hands-on items. At this session, you can see a kit, handle the objects, and learn how the kits are assembled.    

This session will identify opportunities for teachers to integrate civics-related topics into the teaching of American history at various grade levels prior to a stand-alone high school civics / government course.

This session will identify opportunities for teachers to integrate civics-related topics into the teaching of American history at various grade levels prior to and within a stand-alone high school civics / government course.

More to come! 

More to come! 

This session focuses on the political history of South Dakota’s early counties and county seat conflicts, the role of the initiative and referendum, legislative districts, and proposed revisions regarding the state’s county governments. The session will also focus on the state-tribal relations in South Dakota and the impact of treaties and federal legislation on the nine federally recognized tribes of South Dakota.

Individual sessions with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Tubman, Lewis and Clark, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. 

Starr Chief Eagle will provide a complete ethnic dive into Lakota Culture that will explore the language, art, and stories of the Lakota people through a fun and educational way.  The Hoop Dance encourages the use of important values including respect, creativity, determination, and self- balance. 

Other topics to be announced soon.