Course Logistics

Learn how to weave civic learning into everyday instruction across the curriculum. In this course, you'll explore strategies for integrating civic concepts through literacy and other content areas, helping students build meaningful connections to their communities, and assessing civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions through authentic learning experiences. Dates: Wednesday, March 10 to Tuesday, April 6, 2027 Course Format: Asynchronous Duration: 15 hours; 12 hours asynchronous Professional Development Points (PDPs): 15 Fee: $450 for all educators outside of Massachusetts (no charge for Massachusetts public school educators)

Course Overview

5 Chapters · 34 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

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      Pre-Course Survey

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      Using Inquiry Strategies to Support Social Studies and Civics in the Elementary Grades

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      Introduction to Inquiry-Based Learning (30 minutes)

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      Inquiry Is Foundational for Social Studies and Civic Learning (25 minutes)

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      Questioning (25 minutes)

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      Investigating, Analyzing, and Evaluating Resources (25 minutes)

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      Communicating and Sharing New Understanding (25 minutes)

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      Assessing Inquiry-Based Learning

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      Putting it All Together to Create an Inquiry-Based Experience (50 minutes)

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      Closing

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      Chapter: Teaching Hard Histories in Grades K–5

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      What Are Hard Histories? (50 minutes)

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      What Does the State of Massachusetts Say About Teaching Hard Histories?

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      Open and Settled Questions

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      Engaging Caregivers and Administrators (50 minutes)

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      Protocols and Strategies (50 minutes)

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      The Social-Emotional Side of Teaching Hard Histories (30 minutes)

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      Additional Resources

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      Closing

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      Module: Developing Media Literacy in Elementary Grades

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      What is Media Literacy? (25 minutes)

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      Key Elements of Media Literacy (55 minutes)

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      Analyzing the Media You Encounter and the Media You Create

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      Using an Inquiry Approach

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      Asking Critical Questions

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      Minor Shifts as a Guiding Approach

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      Integrating Media Literacy into Content Lessons

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      Stand-Alone Media Literacy Lessons

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      Decoding Media

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      Additional Resources

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      Closing

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Post-Course Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Culminating Task: Questioning the Past and Present: Inquiry and Media Literacy for Elementary Students

About Primary Source

Primary Source educates global citizens by working with teachers to foster students’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions for thoughtful and engaged citizenship. With our guidance and resources, teachers cultivate students’ civic-mindedness, cultural awareness, and global competence, preparing them for our increasingly diverse and interconnected world. We collaborate with teachers, schools, and educational organizations to offer professional development programs and resources that help make global, civics, and cultural education an integral part of every student’s classroom experience. Our engaging face-to-face and online programs, curriculum resources, and international study tours enhance global understanding, civic engagement, and cultural understanding, and help thousands of teachers every year bring the wider world to their students. To learn more, visit our homepage at primarysource.org!