Learning is a Lifelong Journey - Let Us Join You.
You strive to be an educator who inspires students. But who and what inspire you? The Kentucky Historical Society offers a variety of workshops (both virtual and in-person) and more for K-12 educators.
These professional learning opportunities strive to make social studies education accessible and relevant by increasing content knowledge, sharpening skills, sparking creativity, and positively impacting students’ – and all Kentuckians’ – experiences with history.
Professional Learning Partnerships
KHS regularly collaborates with local and national organizations to offer professional learning opportunities in Social Studies (including civics, economics, geography, and history), humanities, and Language Arts. All workshops align with the latest Kentucky Academic Standards and provide educators with ample resources. See individual professional learning opportunities for more details.
7/21/2026 - DBQ Workshop Series Session #1: Inquiry and Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom
Date & Time: July 21, 2026, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm EST
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: $25
Promoting inquiry and strengthening literacy without sacrificing content can feel like an impossible balance. Document Based Questions (DBQs) make it possible. For over two decades, The DBQ Project has helped students of all ability levels think critically through inquiry-based units that mirror the kind of evidence-based writing and synthesis expected on assessments like the SAT and AP exams.
Led by DBQ Project team members, this interactive workshop will provide practical instructional strategies and model how to build historical thinking skills, support argumentative writing, and scaffold DBQs for students with a range of abilities.
Special emphasis will be placed on the Kentucky Document Collections, an incredible digital resource of primary sources curated by the Kentucky Historical Society.
*Registration for each session includes lunch, a DBQ sample lesson, and preview access to DBQ Online.
Click HERE to register.
7/22/2026 - DBQ Workshop Series Session #2: Advancing the Work
Date & Time: July 22, 2026, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm EST
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: $25
This follow-up session is designed for educators who have already been introduced to the DBQ Project through prior professional development or classroom use and are ready to take the next step.
We will revisit the DBQ Project 6-Step Method through the lens of student writing. Together, we will analyze real student responses, focusing on claims, evidence, and reasoning, and discuss what truly moves the needle.
You will have time to norm and calibrate student work, reflect on instructional decisions, and walk away with practical strategies you can use right away. We will also explore ways to strengthen academic discourse so students are not just writing more, but thinking and engaging more deeply.
The goal is simple. To help you feel confident refining your approach so your students grow as writers, thinkers, and active participants in the DBQ process.
*Registration for each session includes lunch, a DBQ sample lesson, and preview access to DBQ Online.
Click HERE to register.
8/1/2026 - Teaching American History Series Session #1 - French & Indian War to Revolution: 1754-1776
Join the Kentucky Historical Society for a Teaching American History Seminar series focused on early American history. Select a session that piques your interest or attend all three!
Date & Time: August 1, 2026, 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: FREE
Session #1 French & Indian War to Revolution: 1754-1776: The global Seven Years’ War (known in America as the French and Indian War) caused Britain, France, and their allies to clash from 1754 to 1763. Although important in its own right, perhaps it is even more significant in that it reordered the world in ways that would prove consequential beyond anyone’s expectations. In colonial America, especially, this great victory for Britain and the British American colonies had the unforeseen effect of unraveling the great empire that the 1763 Treaty of Paris codified.
Register here for this session.
Each session will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.
9/19/2026 - Teaching American History Series Session #2 - The First Three Presidents
Join the Kentucky Historical Society for a Teaching American History Seminar series focused on early American history. Select a session that piques your interest or attend all three!
Date & Time: September 19, 2026, 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: FREE
Session #2 The First Three Presidents: The presidencies of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson established precedents and dealt with issues of executive power. This seminar will examine documents from the Washington, Adams and Jefferson administrations including topics like the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Louisiana Purchase.
Register here for this session.
Each session will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.
10/10/2026 - Teaching American History Series Session #3 - Mr. Madison's War - 1812
Join the Kentucky Historical Society for a Teaching American History Seminar series focused on early American history. Select a session that piques your interest or attend all three!
Date & Time: October 10, 2026, 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: FREE
Session #3 Mr. Madison’s War – 1812: The War of 1812 represented the first instance that the young republic declared war on another nation. This seminar will explore the causes and events that led to the war, President James Madison’s policies and the aftermath of this Second American Revolution.
Register here for this session.
Each session will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.
KHS Educator Workshops
Choose from one of the Kentucky Historical Society's educator professional learning opportunities. Bring an expert to your district to conduct the workshop or tune in virtually for a presentation.
LOGISTICS
- Date/time: Available Monday - Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm EST
- Capacity: Minimum 5 attendees, Maximum 100 attendees
- Virtual Platform: Virtual Conferencing (Zoom, Google Hangout/Classroom, Teams, etc.) School must provide KHS with the Virtual Link.
- Scheduling: All workshops must be scheduled no less than three weeks in advance
- Representatives: KHS requires each group to designate a representative from the group, school, or booking agency. When scheduling, ensure the “point of contact” information is for that designated representative who will represent your group on the day of your Professional Development.
- Booking Requests: Scheduling is based on a first-come, first-served basis and staff availability. Your registration is not guaranteed until you receive an email confirmation of your reservation. Confirmation emails are sent to the designated school representative.
- Registrations: All workshop requests must be submitted through the website inquiry form (below).
- Questions: Submit them to KHSeducation@ky.gov
Engaging with Kentucky's Past: An Overview of KHS Resources & Programs
Time: 60 minutes
Cost: FREE
Location: Virtual ONLY
Recommended: K-12 Teachers
How can the Kentucky Historical Society help teach Kentucky history? This session is an introduction to our portfolio of education resources and programs. Learn about the programs KHS offers for students in the classroom, virtually, and at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort. Resources for educators will be provided along with activity and research demonstrations.
Navigating National History Day in Kentucky
Time: 60 minutes
Cost: FREE
Location: Virtual ONLY
Recommended: K-12 Teachers
Are you ready to participate in National History Day in Kentucky (NHDKy)? Join the NHDKy Coordinator for a session that will help you and your students navigate the steps to competing in a National History Day contest. Learn how to guide students through choosing a topic based on the annual theme. developing historical thinking skills, and creating a project in one of the five NHD categories.
Visual Thinking Strategies: Enhancing Visual Literacy and Historical Understanding
Time: 60-90 Minutes
Location: Virtual
Recommended: K-12 Teachers
Cost: FREE
Learn how KHS uses Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to teach art-infused history lessons that improve students' visual literacy, historical literacy, and critical thinking skills. We'll demonstrate how VTS is included in our portfolio of educational programs and provide helpful tips for designing a VTS implementation strategy for your classroom. We'll also explore KHS'd research library and digital collections to find resources.
Professional Learning Cancellation Policy
Refunds will be made up to the registration deadline. Refund requests must be made in writing and directed to KHS Education. Any cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows on the day of the event will be charged the full amount.
Other Cancellation Policies
We may consider emergency circumstances for cancellations, but you must contact the event coordinator within a week of the event date.
KHS also reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. In the event of such a cancellation, participants will receive a full registration refund. KHS is not responsible for any expenses, travel, or otherwise, that participants incur due to participation in or cancellation of a program unless otherwise noted.
Inclement Weather Policy
If you have registered for a KHS workshop and traveling may be hazardous the day of the event, please use your own judgment when deciding to attend. Those who cannot attend because of inclement weather should contact the event coordinator. Refund decisions will be made on an individual basis.