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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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Company: It’s Elementary! clear filter
Friday, March 14
 

8:30am CDT

“I don’t have time for social studies!” Teaching Elementary U.S. History with new BRI resources
Friday March 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
SENATE B
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Discover dynamic U.S. History resources, enriched with primary sources, tailored for grades 3-5 and beyond. Immerse yourself in Bill of Rights Institute’s new elementary curriculum exploring a lessons that simultaneously fosters literacy and history. Gain practical strategies and ready-made lesson plans to reclaim valuable social studies time in the elementary classroom.
Speakers
LR
Friday March 14, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
SENATE B
  US History, Elementary K-5

1:45pm CDT

Should students memorize the 50 states? Facts, Knowledge and Critical Thinking in K-8 Social Studies
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
SENATE B
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This session combines presentation and discussion about how foundational social studies in K-5 classrooms supports learning in middle/high school. The presenter will highlight what she learned when she set out to have her 7th graders learn the locations of all 50 states on a map, and then seek participant feedback on the implications for elementary level social studies teaching and advocacy.
Speakers
LB
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
SENATE B
  Elementary, Elementary K-5

1:45pm CDT

Storybook Adventures: Bringing Social Studies to Life
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
SENATE A
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Ignite your students’ curiosity and bring social studies to life through storytelling and art! Learn how integrating storybooks and art activities can make social studies MATTER. Walk away with practical strategies, lesson plans, and resources to create engaging, multi-sensory experiences that transform social studies into meaningful learning.
Speakers
avatar for Renee Schumacher

Renee Schumacher

Arts Integration Coordinator, Oshkosh Area School District
I was a K-12 visual arts teacher for 8 years before transitioning to the District Arts Integration Coordinator position in Oshkosh, WI.I received my Master's in Educational Leadership and got certified in Arts Integration and curriculum coaching. Now I get to work with and coach amazing... Read More →
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
SENATE A
  Elementary, Elementary K-5

1:45pm CDT

Primary Sources in Early Grades: Historical Literacy for Little Historians
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
UNIV CD
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Engage your elementary classroom with innovative primary source integration inspired by the Bill of Rights Institute’s curriculum. Gain practical strategies, resources, and hands-on techniques for engaging historical inquiry and empowering students. Leave prepared to inspire!
Speakers
LR
Friday March 14, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
UNIV CD
  US History, Elementary K-5

3:00pm CDT

Integrating Social Studies Inquiry in Elementary Classrooms
Friday March 14, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
UNIV CD
Feedback Survey
Many elementary students do not have chances to engage in social studies inquiry. Learn how to integrate elements of inquiry into your day-to-day instruction by hearing how early preservice teachers (i.e. novices) were supported in developing inquiry projects, exploring examples of quality inquiries, and identifying areas you can incorporate student inquiry.
Speakers
avatar for Matt McParker

Matt McParker

Associate Professor/ EME Program Director, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Friday March 14, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
UNIV CD
  Elementary, Elementary K-5
 
Saturday, March 15
 

9:15am CDT

The Pizza Impact – Cross-curricular connections through the context of food, fiber and fuel.
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 1
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Discover how frozen pizza can unlock conversations around communities, jobs, food security, and economies. Join us for real-life examples and lessons that utilize the rich context of food, fiber, and fuel. Leave with classroom-tested and student-approved lessons and activities that will put some pizazz in your social studies curriculum while building upon ELA, science, and EE standards.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Schaefer

Beth Schaefer

Coordinator, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom - Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
I am passionate about food, farming, and people. For the past 22 years I have worked in both formal and informal roles related to agriculture literacy and education. I spent five years as an Agriculture Educator and Biology teacher in both rural and urban schools and for the past... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 1
  Elementary, Elementary K-5

9:15am CDT

Bringing AAPI and Hmong Stories to Life: A Teacher's Guide to Implementing Act 266
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV CD
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Join Wisconsin Historical Society's workshop led by AAPI and Hmong educators! Learn effective strategies for implementing Act 266 through interactive demos and primary sources. Discover ways to integrate AAPI and Hmong histories into your curriculum. Includes hands-on activities and Q&A to help you confidently bring these important stories to your classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Van Haren

Kate Van Haren

Kate Van Haren teaches upper elementary school in Pittsville Wisconsin. She teaches social studies and reading. Kate is a board member of the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies and has worked on curriculum development for the Wisconsin Historical Society, Minnesota Historical... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV CD
  General Social Studies, All Social Studies Educators

10:30am CDT

Creating History Labs for Elementary Social Studies
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 2
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History Labs are powerful tools for engaging students in meaningful historical inquiry and developing critical thinking skills using primary sources. With careful planning and implementation, they can transform social studies instruction at the elementary level. Learn to curate inquiry boxes to make elementary social studies matter.
Speakers
KP
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 2
  Elementary, Elementary K-5

3:00pm CDT

Empowering Young Learners to Access Difficult Histories: Lessons From a Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Fourth Grade Holocaust Unit
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
CONF 3
Feedback Survey
This session will take elementary educators through two teachers’ collaboration around an interdisciplinary fourth grade Holocaust unit, addressing co-planning, social-emotional learning, content accessibility, and text accessibility as necessary pedagogical components. We will also offer teachers resources and time for reflection about how they might teach difficult histories to young learners.
Speakers
EG
IA
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
CONF 3
  Elementary, Elementary K-5
 
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