WCSS 25: Full Schedule

Welcome to WCSS 25 - MAKING SOCIAL STUDIES MATTER! We are excited to host a powerful two day conference in our state capital, sharing countless ideas and methods to continue making social studies relevant to our students. Get ready to learn, grow, and have some fun in the process!

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8:30am CDT

19th Century Wisconsin: The Building of Communities

Friday March 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CDT

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The 19th century story of Wisconsin is one of ingenuity, innovation, and grit. Throughout Wisconsin people harnessed the power of water to saw lumber and grind wheat into flour. They mined for lead and iron and laid railroad track. Horse power, water power, and creative technology built communities across Wisconsin. The gears of change certainly were in motion. This is that story (Grades 4 - 5)

Friday March 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
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US History, Elementary K-5

Host Organization Sauk County Historical Society
Company Bridging Past and Present, Learning Through Inquiry
Audience 60 minute General Presentation

9:45am CDT

The Journey Back: Teaching Holocaust History Through Immersive Technology

Friday March 14, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

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Discover the power of virtual reality to enhance Holocaust education through 360-immersive technology. Based on the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s award-winning VR films, this session will introduce educators to this impactful learning experience. In addition to the films themselves, participants will explore accompanying teaching materials and learn how to book these trunks for their classrooms.

Speakers

Evan Phifer

Friday March 14, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
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General Social Studies, Middle & High School

Host Organization Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Company Sharing Untold Stories, Literacy for the Future
Audience 60 minute General Presentation

12:30pm CDT

Inquiry as a Steady Drumbeat: Looping Your Inquiries

Friday March 14, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

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Inquiry needs a steady beat to find a groove in social studies. We explore three IDM middle school curricular loops built around different concepts (culture, artifacts, and perspective) for Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Once the background is given, participants will be able to work on their own inquiries through a challenge with the new IDM blueprint model.

Speakers

Tanya Schmidt

Friday March 14, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
CONF 3

General Pedagogy, All Social Studies Educators

Host Organization Oshkosh Area School District
Company Learning Through Inquiry
Audience 60 minute General Presentation

1:45pm CDT

Forbidden Topics? Support Teachers!

Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

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In this session we will be present on strategies on how to present on topics that many regions consider “forbidden.” We will present on ways to navigate this ideology to meet standards.

Speakers

Carlos Romo

Mukwonago High School

I currently am a teacher at Mukwonago High School and serve on the Board of Directors for the WCSS. I teach AP World History and World History. I have taught grades 6-12, in various social studies capacities. I have worked with struggling learners and at risk students for most of... Read More →

Sarah Kopplin

Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
CONF 3

General Social Studies, All Social Studies Educators

Host Organization Mukwonago Area School District
Company Learning Through Inquiry, Social Studies Advocacy
Audience 60 minute General Presentation

3:00pm CDT

Teaching Asian America in K-12 Classrooms

Friday March 14, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

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In April 2024, Gov. Evers signed a bill requiring the teaching of Hmong and Asian America in K-12 classrooms. In this session, the authors of the book Teaching Asian America in Elementary Classrooms and developers of the Stop AAPI Hate K-12 Asian American Studies Curriculum Framework will offer an overview of Asian America and a wealth of suggestions and resources for K-12 classroom instruction.

Speakers

Sohyun An

Professor of Social Studies Education Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Kennesaw State University

Dr. Sohyun An is a professor of social studies education at Kennesaw State University. She received B.S. and M.S. degrees in social studies education from Seoul National University in South Korea, and Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison... Read More →

Noreen Rodríguez

Friday March 14, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
CONF 3

Professional Development, All Social Studies Educators

Host Organization Michigan State University
Company Sharing Untold Stories, Local & Global Connections
Audience 60 minute General Presentation