Washington State Social Studies Learning Standards

Social studies is a vital component of education in Washington state. The Office of Superintend¬ent of Public Instruction (OSPI) envisions “all students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.” Additionally, the National Council for the Social Studies states, “The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an inter¬dependent world.” Students who receive quality instruction in social studies are engaged in learning that promotes inquiry and thoughtful civic participation. With this in mind, we are pleased to introduce OSPI’s updated Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for Social Studies. Our hope is that you will find these standards to be rigorous, thoughtful, inquiry-driven, and organized for easy accessibility.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Conference for Social Studies 2020

In these short TED-style talks, Washington social studies educators share their thinking and experiences with colleagues in Washington state and around the world.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Jerry Price, Kari Tally, Washington OSPI OER Project

Conference for Social Studies 2022

These 10-15 minute videos from the 2022 Conference for Social Studies provide inspiration and practical ideas for improving teaching practice. Talks are organized into the following tracks: * Assessing Historical Thinking * Bringing Context to World Events * Crafting Inquiry * Literacy * Taking Informed Action These videos are free for online viewing.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Big History Project

3rd Grade History Unit: Geography & Cultures of North America

The unit is focused on the examination of geography in terms of “place.” Students dive into inquiry to answer the compelling questions, “Where are we?” and “Who are we?” Through these two questions students will understand where they live and where people around the world live. Students will also dive into the term “culture” and define it through many characteristics. Students will examine and reflect upon their own culture and research different cultures of North America.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Authors: Leslie Heffernan, Morgen Larsen

Grade 5 Inquiry: Representation in Congress

This inquiry by Melissa M. Kunert, Evergreen Public Schools, is based on the C3 Framework inquiry arc. This inquiry provides an opportunity for students to analyze the constitution as it pertains to life today. Becoming a responsible citizen in society is an important role that also requires education about how our constitution was first written and that changes can always be made in our world

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project, Jerry Price, Melissa Kunert

Grade 5 Inquiry: The Boston Massacre. What Really Happened?

This inquiry by Amy Johnson, Longview Public Schools, is based on the C3 Framework inquiry arc. The students will highlight the two primary sources then reflect. They will then do the Open Mind activity illustrating both points of view they learned from the primary sources, develop a three-event timeline and create a newspaper front page describing “What really happened March 5, 1770.”

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Primary Source, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project, Jerry Price

3rd Grade History Unit Design: Native Americans of North America

This unit on American Indians: By studying the regions of the United States and the cultures that live in each region, students are able to compare/contrast within regions and across regions how tribes used their environments, and their cultural and other contributions to American life. Note that the emphasis here is on broader groups of tribes for each region with some instruction on specific tribes representing each region. In no way is this case study approach to learning about one tribe meant to be generalized to all tribes of that region. We understand that each tribe was and continues to be unique in its culture, practices, lifeways, and traditions.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Leslie Heffernan

Grade 5 Inquiry: Plight of the Honey Bees

This inquiry by Karen Morley-Smith, Evergreen Public Schools, is based on the C3 Framework inquiry arc. Through shared reading, videos, articles, class discussions, reflections, and the study of natural rights and common good, students develop a rich understanding of the honey bee's role in the survival of life.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project, Jerry Price, Karen Morley-Smith

Living in Washington: Geography, Resources, and Economy

The unit is focused on the examination of geography in terms of “place.” Students dive into inquiry to answer the compelling question, What is unique about living in Washington? Through this question students will understand where and why people live in Washington State. Students will dive into the regions of Washington State and define it through many characteristics. Students will ultimately choose a region to become an expert on and communicate what makes that region unique. Each student’s performance task product will reflect choice and build upon student strengths according to their skill set.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Data Set, Diagram/Illustration, Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Module, Primary Source, Reading, Simulation, Student Guide, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Author: Leslie Heffernan

Top 10 Tips for Creating Accessible Documents

Tips and lessons learned from creating accessible documents. This is not an exhaustive list so please add your own guidance.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project

State We're In Teacher Guide Template

Template used by educators developing teacher guides for State We're In Washington.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Leslie Heffernan, Ryan Theodoriches, Amy Ripley, Melissa Webster, Callie Birklid, Washington OSPI OER Project, Jerry Price

Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources - Webinar Series

As educators begin to develop OER, one component of that process is navigating concerns around copyright when finding digital teaching materials. This webinar series addresses that and is divided into two tracks: K-12 and Higher Education. There are also two stand-alone webinar options that can be attended by both the K-12 and Higher Education community. All of the webinars will also be available on YouTube and linked to this page after the live event has ended.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: American University Washington College of Law

Open Licensing Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure that all the requirements for open licensing are met. Please note that it is very helpful to review this checklist BEFORE you begin development work so that you are designing your resource with open licensing requirements in mind from the beginning.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project

Using the Open Author Editor Toolbar

This document provides explanations and instructions (with screenshots) for using the various functions on the Open Author editor toolbar.  A downloadable Word document is also included. Document by #GoOpenVA Image by IO-Images from Pixabay

Material Type: Reading

Author: #GoOpenVA Administrator

Quickstart Guide: Openly Licensed Images and Attribution

This guide provides information on:searching openly licensed image librarieshow to locate and provide attribution for openly licensed imagesguidance on which images cannot be used due lack of copyright permission

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project

Civics CBA Template

Template used by educators developing teacher guides for Civics CBA.

Material Type: Assessment

Author: Jerry Price

Elementary Civics CBA Template

Template used by educators developing teacher guides for Civics CBA.

Material Type: Assessment

Author: Jerry Price

C3 Civics Test Inquiry

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the civics test, a current graduation requirement for Kentucky students, in order to consider the ways in which the test addresses needed knowledge and skills to prepare students for active engagement in civic life. The compelling question for the inquiry—can the civics test make you a good citizen?—frames students’ assessment of the civics test in consideration of what it means to be a “good citizen,” a purpose of the Kentucky civics test, as well as national initiatives to have similar civics test in all states, notably by the Joe Foss Institute.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Module, Unit of Study

Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

The Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State instructional materials, have been developed by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State, The curriculum uses an inquiry, place-based and integrated approach.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Authors: Barbara Soots, Washington OSPI OER Project, OSPI Social Studies

Women in History - Political and Scientific Achievements

In the long nineteenth century, women joined numerous movements that fought for labor rights, suffrage, abolition, universal education, and health care reforms. These reform movements would lead to the passage of legislation that enshrined equal rights into constitutions around the world. Historically, women’s contributions to science had been overlooked, with their discoveries often credited to men. But women’s scientific discoveries advanced our knowledge of the Universe—the Big Bang, stars, chemical elements, dark matter, evolution—and many fields of study. These lessons highlight women’s political and scientific contributions from the long nineteenth century to the present. In the final lesson, students use their inquiry and research skills to investigate a woman who inspires them. . Length: Three lessons. Each lesson should take two or three 50-minute class periods.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: OER Project