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.
The Power of Parks: Exploring Social Studies Through Place-Based Education
Empowering Educators Through Archives Workshop Series
Empowering Educators Through Archives
Free Virtual Civics Series for 2025 - Click on the links below to register!
The Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation are collaborating with the National Archives to provide a series of virtual workshops for K-12 educators. The five-part series will be held virtually throughout 2025. Each session will concentrate on civics, aiming to empower educators to leverage the resources the National Archives has to offer educators. By the end of the series, educators will thoroughly understand how to access and incorporate primary sources, making civics more accessible for their students. Educators receive a certificate of completion for each session attended. For more information, contact KHS's Teacher Resource Manager at elsie.merlie@ky.gov.
ALL EVENTS ARE VIRTUAL. Click on the event below to register!
March 11, 2025, 7:00 pm ET - Teaching the Bill of Rights for Educators
June 10, 2025, 7:00 pm ET - Interrogating Presidential Photographs
August 12, 2025, 7:00 pm ET - Civics for All of US with the National Archives
October 14, 2025, 7:00 pm ET - Teaching Native American Treaties for Elementary Educators
December 9, 2025, 7:00 pm ET - Teaching the 14th Amendment
DBQ Project: Inquiry and Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom - 7/23/2025
DBQ Project: Inquiry and Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom
July 23, 2025, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm ET
Cost: $25 - includes lunch and 2 DBQ sample lessons
Promoting inquiry and improving literacy without sacrificing content seems like an impossible task. Document Based Questions (DBQs) makes it all very possible! For over two decades, The DBQ Project has helped students of all ability levels and ages to think critically with inquiry based units that mirror the type of evidence-based writing and synthesis required in the SAT and AP exams. Led by DBQ Project team members, this lively one-day workshop will provide instructional strategies and intensive modeling on historical thinking skills, argumentative writing, and how to scaffold DBQs for students with various abilities.
Special emphasis will be placed on the Kentucky Document Collections, an incredible digital resource of primary sources curated by the Kentucky Historical Society. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, you'll also receive two sample lessons from the DBQ Project to bring directly into your classroom.
Click here for more information and registration.
Teaching Civics Through History - Free Speech with Gilder Lehrman - 7/26/2025
Teaching Civics Through History – Free Speech with Gilder Lehrman
July 26, 2025, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm ET
Cost - $25; Lunch Provided
Teaching Civics through History (TCTH) Professional Development sessions give teachers a new set of pedagogical tools while building their content knowledge of the history of key civic issues. Eminent historians and Gilder Lehrman master teachers lead the workshops, helping to unpack the teaching philosophy that ground the lesson plans.
The TCTH curriculum shows students that an understanding of the past can help them shape a better future.
Students will:
- Develop their civic voices
- Understand the historical roots of important, often divisive issues
- Read and assess primary and secondary sources written from different perspectives
- Recognize their ability to influence history in their own communities and nationwide
In the process, students develop literacy, research, and critical thinking skills. The program culminates with a civic engagement project that has students apply the ideas and skills they have learned.
This workshop will examine the Freedom of Speech through historically relevant primary sources, as well as connecting history to current events.
Certificates will be provided for professional development credit.
Teaching America 250 with the National Constitution Center - 9/12/2025
Friday, September 12, 2025, 9 am - 3:30 pm ET
In-person at the Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky Teachers, Grades K-12
Session Details
In this professional learning session, we will discuss methods and strategies for bringing America 250-related content into the classroom. Using the National Constitution Center’s educational framework, participants will understand how to integrate America 250 components via historical foundations through storytelling, constitutional thinking skills, and civil dialogue and reflection.
Schedule
9:00 am - Welcome and Introductions
9:15 – 10:30 am - NCC Educational Framework Overview
10:30 – 10:45 am - Break
10:45 – 11:15 am - Kentucky’s First Constitution
11:15 – 11:45 am - Kentucky Constitution and U.S. Constitution Activity
11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Lunch
12:45 – 1:45 pm - Old State Capital Tour America 250:
1:45 – 2 pm - Kentucky Resource Sharing
2 – 2:15 pm - Break
2:15– 3:25 pm - Classroom Application with NCC Protocols
3:25 – 3:30 pm - Closing Remarks
3:30 pm - Program Concludes
KCSS/KHS Conference: Sharing Our Commonwealth - 9/13/2025
KCSS/KHS Conference: Sharing Our Commonwealth
September 13, 2025, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT
Address: 100 West Broadway Street . Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: $25 - $50
Kentucky Council for the Social Studies and the Kentucky Historical Society 2025 Conference
Meet Us in the Heart of Kentucky!
Meet with Kentucky's social studies educators, administrators, and professionals from across the state to rejuvenate your teaching strategies and collaborate with others in social studies education.
The KCSS Annual Conference in conjunction with the Kentucky History Education Conference will address the sub-themes of:
- How do I build a simple inquiry with Questions, Sources, and Tasks?
- How do I practice critical literacy in an inquiry lesson/unit?
- How do I practice information literacy in an inquiry lesson/unit?
- How do I make sources accessible for an inquiry lesson?
- How do I scaffold sources across inquiry lessons and units?
- National History Day
- And so much more!
You will leave the conference with strong strategies for delivering instruction that engages students, the best ways to advocate for the most pressing issues of social studies education, and a network of colleagues to support you throughout the year.
Native American Citizenship & Sovereignty - 10/4/2025
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025; 8:30 AM - 2:15 PM ET
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W. Broadway St., Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: FREE
Native Americans occupy an anomalous position in the United States. Federally recognized tribes each are separate sovereigns within the federal system. States hold no authority over them except what Congress may give them. Their enrolled members are dual citizens – of the United States and of their tribal nation. By virtue of the Constitution and the federal government’s responsibilities toward them it means the government can do things for and to Native Americans that it cannot do to any other citizen. This seminar will examine this situation in both historical and contemporary context.
This program will be conducted as a 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.
Teaching Literacy Through History with Gilder Lehrman - 10/18/2025
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025; 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM ET
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W. Broadway St., Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: $25
Teaching Literacy through History (TLTH) is an interdisciplinary professional development program that uses primary sources to improve K-12 education. TLTH workshops are beneficial for elementary, middle, and high school teachers who teach American history, social studies, civics, and English language arts.
In the TLTH program, educators learn a series of integrated literacy skills that directly impact student understanding and performance. Student skills addressed in TLTH sessions include:
- Evidence-based writing
- Vocabulary development
- Analysis of document and visual materials
Jacksonian America - 10/25/2025
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025; 8:30 AM - 2:15 PM ET
Location: Kentucky History Center, 100 W. Broadway St., Frankfort, KY 40601
Cost: FREE
This seminar will consider Jackson’s ascendancy to President, its historical context as well as many of his controversial policies such as the Bank War, Nullification Crisis and the Indian Removal Act.
This program 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
- Payment: Due one week before the session.
- Virtual Platform: Virtual Conferencing (Zoom, Google Hangout/Classroom, Teams, etc.) School must provide KHS with the Virtual Link.
- In-Person: KHS staff will travel to the requested location.
- Scheduling: All visits 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 PD requests must be submitted through the website inquiry form (below).
- Sharing: Please obtain written permission from the Kentucky Historical Society before sharing any links or resources related to your Teacher PD.
- 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: In-person or 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.
Reconstruction & Redemption in Kentucky
Time: 60 Minutes
Location: Virtual ONLY
Recommended: High School or College Teachers
Cost: $75
During the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, the United States attempted to re-integrate the former Confederate States while also protecting newly freed African Americans. Following a prolonged period of political violence perpetrated by former Confederates against Southern Blacks and their white allies, in 1877, the government eventually abandoned Reconstruction's loftier goals, content to allow the formerly enslaved to be all but re-enslaved in exchange for national unity and peace.
This session is designed to highlight some of the main themes of the Reconstruction Era and its continuing significance for today, as well as the absence of any meaningful Reconstruction policy in Kentucky and how that absence profoundly influenced race relations in the years and decades after the Civil War.
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.