Director's Row 1

8:00 AM

Noelle Carter

Whether the standards specify Tennessee, national, or world geography, how do you make geography studies relevant, robust, and fun for your students? A K-8 look at standards and context.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8)

Director's Row 1

9:00 AM

Cathy Meredith & Satomi Izumi Taylor

Engage in activities to help students explore interactions and interdependence of individuals, societies and the environment, and to develop inquiry skills around these interconnections. Topics include global population trends and human migration, people’s use of natural resources, and uneven resource distribution around the world. Create concept-maps on cause-and-effect connections, explore global land use in a 3-D modeling simulation, and take part in a group simulation of world population’s history and future. Lessons build skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and communication. Receive lesson plans and background readings aligned to state standards.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 1

10:00 AM

Alison Taylor, Brian Smith, & Cherie Timberlake

This interactive workshop invites educators to explore the profound social, historical, and political meanings behind the names attached to places. Far from simple labels, place names, or toponyms, are power-laden expressions of a community’s identity, values, and ongoing struggles for recognition. Together, we will examine how naming practices function as forms of public storytelling, shaping our understanding of who belongs, whose histories are remembered, and how communities claim and contest space through names.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 1

11:00 AM

Kendra MIller

With only 29% of 8th graders proficient readers, students struggle to access Geo-Inquiry knowledge. This session offers research-based strategies to embed literacy into Geography. We will explore Scarborough's Reading Rope and the Simple View of Reading to build background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills within Geo-Inquiry lessons. Participants will learn how to empower students to confidently read disciplinary texts and maps, ensuring a deeper understanding of geography's global impact. Leave prepared to immediately implement these impactful strategies.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 1

1:15 PM

Erin Adams & Sjobor Hammer

Indigenous Tennessee looks vastly different than the American version. Using a variety of historic maps, students create their own map of Native Tennessee, including documentation of Removal. This activity is specifically created for 4th-6th grade audiences, but it is scalable for younger and older groups.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 1

2:15 PM

Madison Westphal

Unlock the world with the power of Geographic literacy! It’s essential for understanding the world around us. It’s the ways in which a person views, understands, and interacts with the world. This goes beyond knowing places in the United States, locations of countries or reading a map. Geographic literacy helps students understand history and the present world they live in. Only 25% of eighth-grade students performed at or above proficiency in geography. Join us as we explore what a good instructional framework for geographic literacy looks like in the classroom and do some hands-on mapping activities!

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 2

8:00 AM

Jill Cross & Christa Jolly

Explore how K–8 students can use design thinking to take informed civic action rooted in empathy and real-world problem-solving. Through design thinking, students identify issues, research causes, and develop creative solutions, such as nonprofit projects and community initiatives. This session shares student examples, planning tools, and strategies for integrating social studies, literacy, and student voice. Empower young learners to become active, thoughtful citizens.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8)

Director's Row 2

9:00 AM

Rebekah Reed & Michael Bradburn

Led by representatives of TDOE, this session will guide educators through the process of earning Tennessee’s Governor’s Civics Seal, a recognition for schools and districts that prioritize civic education. Participants will explore the six key criteria, discover practical implementation strategies, review sample lesson plans, and receive guidance on organizing documentation to help every school successfully meet the submission requirements. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to elevate civics instruction and foster student engagement in democratic principles. Join us to learn how to empower your school and become a model of civic excellence.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 2

10:00 AM

Jackie Morgan & Maria King

What happens when a penny disappears? We'll use the potential elimination of the US penny as a launching point to explore broader themes in currency, economics, personal finance, and classroom instruction. Participants will dive into the unintended consequences and economic impacts of phasing out the penny, including the potential real-world implications for pricing, production, automated systems, and consumer behavior. We'll also compare how other countries have navigated similar transitions. You'll discover ready-to-use activities and lesson ideas as well as fun facts about US currency that bring money concepts to life in your classroom

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 2

11:00 AM

Keith Harris & Katina Harris

Step onto the pitch for Kickin’ Around Creative Writing, an interactive session that transforms social studies instruction through high-energy, themed writing strategies. Attendees will experience hands-on activities, explore creative writing tasks beyond traditional journals, and discover how narratives deepen historical understanding and student engagement. Participants will collaborate in writing rounds, create their own historical commentary, and leave with a take-home resource pack filled with ready-to-use classroom materials. Join us to see how creative writing can turn every student into a star player on the learning field.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 2

1:15 PM

Imali Kent

In this interactive session, participants will engage with a brand-new unit from The DBQ Project’s World History binder that models how students can collect, examine, and synthesize evidence from multiple sources. Grounded in the idea of “hard history,” this session demonstrates how inquiry-driven instruction helps students confront difficult topics with confidence and care. Participants will explore strategies that support learners in evaluating perspectives, identifying bias, and drawing informed conclusions. The session highlights practical scaffolds that promote critical thinking and academic discourse. Attendees will leave with a lesson sample aligned to Tennessee standards.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 2

2:15 PM

Shauna Williams

Bring economics to life with project-based learning that connects classroom concepts to real-world issues. In this session, participants walk through an economics PBL model—framing an essential question, guiding students through inquiry, and developing a final public-facing product. We’ll demonstrate how teachers can scaffold skills, support diverse learners, and keep the focus on meaningful economic thinking. Participants will receive ready-to-use materials to help implement project-based learning in their own classrooms.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 3

8:00 AM

Jane Hill

The objectives of the presentation are discuss and provide examples of how to use primary and secondary sources from Women & the American Story to expand and diversity the narratives we teach in our classrooms. Learning how these narratives and achievements of women from diverse backgrounds can be effectively utilized to provide a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of our nation's past. The content of the presentation will include examples of the sources and guidance in researching to find a variety of additional resources. Instruction on implementation of strategies to utilize best practices. Time to review, reflect, and discuss ideas for content connections.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 3

9:00 AM

Samantha Sanchez

This interactive session uses National WWII Museum resources to explore how African Americans confronted the contradiction of fighting for freedom abroad while facing discrimination at home. Through the Double V Campaign, participants will analyze primary sources, oral histories, and images that reveal the complexities of patriotism and civic identity. Attendees will sample the lesson, practice source analysis, and consider how this approach builds critical thinking. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use materials and strategies.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 3

10:00 AM

Andy Sisk

This discussion will chart the development and cultural reach and impact of popular Memphis recording artists throughout the history of Memphis.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 3

11:00 AM

Gena Henderson

Celebrate America250 with the Tennessee State Library & Archives’ brand-new American Revolution DocsBox! Learn how to use primary sources and three-dimensional reproduction items to engage your students with the American Revolution. Participants will even take part in a lively taxation game! Join us to learn about the DocsBox program and how to use this free resource! In addition to learning about the new DocsBox, teachers will hear about our Activity Bank and activities that can be found related to civic engagement in pre-statehood Tennessee.

Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8)

Director's Row 3

1:15 PM

Jane Kim

Democracy increasingly takes place online. Children encounter information, form opinions, and engage with others on social media and AI. Algorithm-driven platforms shape what’s seen, shared, and believed, contributing to misinformation, bias, and declining civic engagement. This session examines social media and AI literacy as a core social studies skill, tied to critical thinking, media analysis, and civic participation. Educators will evaluate how algorithms, creator intent, and AI-generated content influence public discourse and student understanding. Participants will leave with NC and NCSS aligned strategies to strengthen sourcing and discernment to prepare students for civic life.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 3

2:15 PM

Joshua Kenna

This session introduces a three-era approach for reading film historically in social studies classrooms. Teachers examine film as a primary source by analyzing the historical era depicted, the context in which the film was produced, and the present-day moment in which it is viewed. Using examples from the National Film Registry, participants practice strategies that integrate media literacy, historical thinking, and inquiry-based instruction. The session models adaptable discussion routines and analysis prompts that help students contextualize migration, identity, and cultural exchange while strengthening their ability to interpret film as historical evidence.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 4

8:00 AM

Daniel Rivera

Today’s students, raised on fifteen-second videos, instant answers, and endless information, present new challenges for history teachers. This presentation shows how to turn those hurdles into opportunities for engagement. Attendees will learn strategies to transform short attention spans into curiosity, promote deeper inquiry, and help students evaluate information critically. The session offers a roadmap to guide students through history, and the modern world, with purpose and discernment, using critical thinking as the key to connect with and inspire the TikTok generation.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 4

2:15 PM

Katie Jerden & Renee Baum

YOU ARE NOT THROWING AWAY YOUR SHOT to grab students' attention in class! Keep your students engaged through early U.S. History with the music from Broadway's Hamilton! Examples of real lesson plans are provided that you can use in your classroom immediately. If you don't teach American History, you will still learn strategies you can use to make your own music-based lesson plan.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 4

10:00 AM

Mary Galeas

History can seem a world away to our students. Bringing aspects of history to life is one way to engage learners. In this session, we will explore play-doh maps to teach geography and the use of a costume trunk in class to pique interest.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 4

11:00 AM

Lauren G. Santarelli

For over fifty years, historical empathy research has shown positive impacts on student development. Given these impacts, teachers and curriculum developers around the world have constructed perspective taking activities for students to explore. Historical empathy-based activities are typically designed to engage students with an in-depth analysis of how historical figures thought, acted, and made sense of the world around them. However, as research shows, activities like these can rarely result in their desired outcomes. This presentation will offer teachers with strategies on how to improve perspective taking activities to best foster the development of historical empathy among students.

Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 4

1:15 PM

Haley Kidd & Gracee Peters

Discover how gamification and simulation can transform your social studies classroom into an interactive, student-centered learning environment. This session explores practical strategies and tools that bring history to life through game-based learning and immersive simulations. Participants will experience sample activities, learn how to design engaging lessons that foster critical thinking and collaboration, and leave with ready-to-use ideas to boost student motivation and deepen understanding of abstract social studies concepts.

Middle School (6-8)

Director's Row 4

9:00 AM

Megan Gunter & Amber Cummings

Are you looking for low-prep, high-reward strategies to boost student engagement? This session will equip educators with practical, research-backed techniques to ensure every student is actively participating and retaining knowledge. We'll dive into powerful retrieval practices and versatile EduProtocols that are designed to be implemented in any classroom setting. Leave with a toolbox of actionable strategies that you can use tomorrow to transform passive learning into a dynamic and highly effective experience for all students.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 5

8:00 AM

Dan Butler

General elections are not competitive in most districts, meaning that primary elections are the most important elections in most states. Yet only half the number of people who vote in the general election also vote in primary elections. Professor Butler will discuss the crucial impact of primary elections in safe districts, debunk common myths that deter primary voting. Our civic society needs to have an engaged electorate that votes in primaries. This presentation will make the case for encourage students to participate in primaries in a way that is nonpartisan.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 5

9:00 AM

Cameron Parsons

What if AP Government were less about memorizing institutions and more about practicing democracy? This session shares how Cameron Parsons uses the AP framework as a foundation for civic action through a “Citizen Lab” model. Adapting the Say–Mean–Matter structure, students move from describing how government works (“Say”), to interpreting its impact (“Mean”), to taking civic action (“Matter”). Through activities like interviewing officials, engaging with campaigns, and invoking constitutional rights, students connect AP content to real-world citizenship and develop the habits of democratic participation.

High School (9-12)

Director's Row 5

10:00 AM

Chris Weiner

Middle schoolers don’t have cars, jobs, or opportunities to engage outside of what their families are doing. However, they see and learn so much that they bring with them to class every day. As middle school social studies educators, we need to engage our students by making the content relevant to civic engagement. We have to go beyond just making it culturally relevant. How can we use the standards and shape our units and lessons to empower students to make change in their schools, their neighborhoods, and their city?

Middle School (6-8)

Director's Row 5

11:00 AM

Matt Hensley

Why do cities exist? How do they work? Who keeps the roads clear, budgets balanced, parks clean, and people safe? What exactly does a city council do? How can I be a part of it? For most students, the answers to these questions are a mystery. Civic Ready TN is a K-12 civic outreach initiative designed by the University of Tennessee’s Institute for Public Service’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), with the goal of deepening students’ civic knowledge and literacy by bringing local government and careers in public service into focus. Attendees will explore a ready-to-use toolkit featuring open educational resources designed for TN Social Studies classrooms!

Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 5

1:15 PM

Sarah Lane & Bruce Stubblefield

Explore America’s founding principles and their modern meanings through inquiry and civil discourse. Make examining the Declaration of Independence at its 250th engaging and thoughtful by examining multiple perspectives from the past and present. Discover strategies to support students in analyzing sources, multiple perspectives, and scenarios that connect past to present. The activities use founding principles to examine images, artwork, and primary sources through role play and reflection. Participants will receive complimentary content resources that link historical thinking to civic life and inspire students to carry forward the work of strengthening our democracy.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Director's Row 5

2:15 PM

Dali Atchley & Christopher Grisham

.Discover the Tennessee State Museum’s free traveling trunk designed to bring civics and government to life in your classroom. This hands-on resource helps students understand the roles and responsibilities of citizens, the functions of the three branches of government, and how they work together. The unit culminates in an engaging mock government experience where students pass, implement, and challenge a law. Join us for an exclusive preview of the trunk and a deep dive into the accompanying lesson plans that will empower your students to better understand how government works.

Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), High School (9-12)

Grand Ballroom D

8:00 AM

Lamont Maddox & Jay Howell

Social studies teachers are challenged to engage learners in inquiry-based instruction as a way to prepare students for competent citizenship. Inquiries require students to grapple with historic and contemporary controversies, but which controversies should teachers prioritize? How can teachers maximize the civic benefits of inquiry without damaging the trust they have with parents and the community or being accused of teaching divisive concepts? In this session, we will draw on our lesson study research to provide attendees concrete suggestions for inquiries that we believe feature authentic controversies that can reasonably be taught in most settings.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Grand Ballroom D

9:00 AM

Javier Martinez & Liz Ortiz

Discover how the Medal of Honor Character Development Program brings democratic principles to life through powerful, real-world stories. This interactive session showcases free lessons that build civic engagement, ethical decision-making, and student voice. Participants will explore primary sources, short video scenarios, and discussion strategies that help students connect acts of courage and service to their own roles as citizens. Leave with ready-to-use resources that inspire character, empathy, and community-minded action.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Grand Ballroom D

10:00 AM

Suzanne Shovlin

During this session, participants will review important assessment information for the middle school and EOC TCAP, including the blueprints and overview documents. Educators will walkthrough the various social studies assessment resources, including resources on the LiveBinder, TestNav, and SchoolNet platforms. Educators will also learn how to apply and get involved with the state's educator committees so they can get involved in providing feedback on social studies items and processes.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Grand Ballroom D

11:00 AM

Emily Connuck

Explore the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s Citizenship Test suite of materials and resources based on the US naturalization examination, including quizzes, a video library, lesson plans, and contests. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about and engage with these materials, as well as share their experiences and suggestions for teaching civics. Exploring the 128 questions on the exam works as a springboard for teaching students the fundamentals of democracy, sets them up to be active participants in society, and expands their knowledge concerning the expectations of those who want to become United States citizens.

Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

Grand Ballroom D

1:15 PM

Katie Mara & Lydia Lanzoni

Discover innovative practices to elevate any middle school social studies course including STEAM Projects, Academic Discourse, One-Pagers, and more!

Middle School (6-8)

Grand Ballroom D

2:15 PM

Kali Chapas

Storymaps offer a unique way for students to receive and create information whereby information is tied to a geographic location. Information presented geographically enhances student understanding of causal and relational links. Storymaps are versatile and applicable in many of the social science fields. In this session, learn about storymaps–what they are, how they work, and how to create one of your own. We will also explore how to facilitate students creating storymaps as a hands-on learning experience. Computers encouraged.

Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)