MAINE COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Check out the links below for upcoming social studies professional development opportunities

NCSS WEBINARS - titled Power Up Your Instruction with Social Entrepreneurship: Institute Introduction -Join to learn how social entrepreneurship seamlessly integrates across social studies grades and subjects, while optimizing student motivation to pursue their interests and passions in the classroom.  A quick demonstration of how design thinking skills—creative, innovative, problem-solving skills—double as highly effective instructional strategies for teaching social studies and boosting engagement.  Free, classroom-ready resources are included. This is a virtual event to be held on January 27, 2026 from 7:00 pm to 8:00. Find out more and register here.

ICIVICS EDUCATOR NETWORK - is a  a community of civics, history, government, and social studies teachers from kindergarten to post-secondary education.The Educator Network is free and members receive sneak peeks of new resources, professional development opportunities, and a network of like-minded educators. The application for new members closes on January 12, 2026. Find out more here.

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG -offers a series of online workshops for teachers on a wide range of historical topics, as well as a weeklong immersive program for teachers in the summer. Applications for the summer institute are now being accepted. For more information on the online workshops click here, and to apply for the summer institute, click here.

FIELD TRIPS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

The First Amendment Museum is currently accepting tour reservations (10-2 Tuesdays and Thursdays) for December and accepting virtual field trip requests which are ongoing.