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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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Saturday, March 15
 

9:15am CDT

Bring Current Events Alive!
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 3
Feedback Survey
How do we bring current events to life? Move beyond the traditional and engage in active, thoughtful deliberation of events that shape our students lives.
Speakers
DV

Dean Vesperman

Dean Vesperman
CB

Chase Brown

UW-LaCrosse
TC

Terra Clark

UW-LaCrosse
AL
ZP

Zach Powley

UW-LaCrosse
SS

Shelby Schultz

UW-LaCrosse
YZ

Youssef Zahid

UW-LaCrosse
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 3
  Civics/Government, High School 9-12

9:15am CDT

Unlocking the Bill of Rights Using QR Codes
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV AB
Feedback Survey
Join us as we share our unique approach to bring the Bill of Rights to life for today’s students. From engaging infographics to captivating lessons, along with interactive poster puzzles and beyond, we’ve got all the tools to make the Bill of Rights unforgettable.
Speakers
PC
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV AB
  Civics/Government, Middle School 6-8

9:30am CDT

Teaching Civil Discourse: building skills and attitudes for civility
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
UNIV AB
Feedback Survey
Civil discourse is a core skill to support civic engagement and democratic decision making. It also helps create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas, and can productively navigate disagreement. We will dig into how to define civil discourse, and how teachers in all subject areas and grade levels can teach the skills for civility.
Speakers
AT
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
UNIV AB
  Civics/Government, All Social Studies Educators

10:30am CDT

ENGAGE: Building Global Citizenship Through Human Rights and Genocide Education
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
CONF 1
Feedback Survey
Dive into the world of human rights and genocide education! We'll explore powerful stories, global responses to crises, and real-world issues like migration and modern slavery. You'll swap ideas, tackle hands-on activities, and brainstorm how to bring these topics into your classroom. Walk away with creative strategies to get your students thinking like global citizens.
Speakers
avatar for Justin Glodowski

Justin Glodowski

Former WCSS President, Marshfield HS
Host of the ENGAGE: Teaching the Social Studies Podcast!
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
CONF 1
  Civics/Government, High School 9-12

10:30am CDT

Bringing Local History and Civics to Life with Beacon, a new Game for Place-Based Learning
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 4
Feedback Survey
Dive into the power of place-based learning with Beacon, a location-based game currently in development that makes civics and history education engaging, accessible, and relevant for students... all with a low lift for teachers! Participants will give feedback on the game and collaboratively brainstorm modules to address critical gaps in local civics curriculum in Wisconsin.
Speakers
avatar for Libby Falck

Libby Falck

Curriculum & Game Designer, Forward Games
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 4
  Civics/Government, MS and HS

10:30am CDT

The Bill of Rights in the Digital Age: Protecting Liberties in a Modern World
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
SENATE B
Feedback Survey
As technology evolves, so do the challenges of applying the Bill of Rights to new contexts. This session will explore how founding-era protections of freedom of speech and privacy translate into modern debates over surveillance, digital privacy, and freedom of expression online. Educators will learn strategies to help students apply the first ten amendments to modern issues.
Speakers
avatar for Emilee McHorney

Emilee McHorney

Teacher Programs Manager - Midwest, Jack Miller Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
SENATE B
  Civics/Government, High School 9-12

10:30am CDT

Your Own Backyard: Using Place-Based Learning and Field Trips to Meet Standards and Increase Student Civic Engagement
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
UNIV CD
Feedback Survey
Emphasize student-led inquiry and civic engagement through place-based learning! Learn how educators from organizations around the state built a template for teachers and historic sites to use field trips to meet social studies standards. How could you use this customizable template to increase student inquiry in your own backyard?
Speakers
avatar for Kris McDaniel

Kris McDaniel

Social Studies Consultant, WI Dept of Public Instruction
I am the DPI Social Studies Consultant. My main work is to provide quality PD and resources to teachers and to connect organizations and districts. My main focus and passion, though, is helping social studies teachers in whatever they may need to provide amazing, rockstar instruc... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
UNIV CD
  Civics/Government, All Social Studies Educators

1:15pm CDT

State Bar Association: Mock Trials as a Learning Tool In & Out of Class
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
CONF 1
Feedback Survey
Simulating courtroom trials is a great way for students to get a hands-on learning experience and learn how their individual rights are protected by our justice system. Join a Mock Trial Teacher Coach to find out more about the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament and how you can utilize opening statements, closing arguments, and direct/cross examination questions in your class!
Speakers
SK
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
CONF 1
  Civics/Government, High School 9-12

1:15pm CDT

Using the U.S. Supreme Court to Teach More Inclusive History
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
CAUCUS
Feedback Survey
Courts are often venues for people to challenge discrimination and seek relief and societal change. Sometimes court is the best or only option. Other times it is not. Explore how diverse advocates used court to pursue equity. Cases focus on 5 areas: religion, disability, LGBTQ, AAPI, and Native Americans. Ready resources included.
Speakers
TM
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
CAUCUS
  Civics/Government, All Social Studies Educators

1:15pm CDT

WI Civics Fellows in Action: Projects Around the State
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
ASSEMBLY
Feedback Survey
The Civics Fellows are classroom teachers from across WI who have been working to build knowledge and communities of practice for civics. Each Fellow has a personal project they have been working on and they'd like to share their work with you! Project examples include civic engagement in the classroom, teacher community and mentorship, and community/place-based learning.
Speakers
avatar for Kris McDaniel

Kris McDaniel

Social Studies Consultant, WI Dept of Public Instruction
I am the DPI Social Studies Consultant. My main work is to provide quality PD and resources to teachers and to connect organizations and districts. My main focus and passion, though, is helping social studies teachers in whatever they may need to provide amazing, rockstar instruc... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
ASSEMBLY
  Civics/Government, All Social Studies Educators

2:30pm CDT

From Parchment to Practice: Why the Constitution Still Matters
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
SENATE A
Feedback Survey
This session will explore how the U.S. Constitution, written more than 200 years ago, continues to shape modern-day politics and society. Educators will learn how to help students connect constitutional principles—such as separation of powers, federalism, and checks and balances—to contemporary debates on governance, justice, and civil rights.
Speakers
avatar for Emilee McHorney

Emilee McHorney

Teacher Programs Manager - Midwest, Jack Miller Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
SENATE A
  Civics/Government, High School 9-12
 
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