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Professional Learning

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, the annual Kentucky History Education Conference, and more for K-12 teachers.

These educator professional learning opportunities strive to make social studies education accessible and relevant by combining our vast historical collections with inquiry-based, participatory learning strategies to help make your students active and informed citizens.

We also put you in touch with a network of other teachers, public history professionals, and volunteers focused on increasing content knowledge, sharpening skills, sparking creativity, and positively impacting students’ – and all Kentuckians’ – experiences with history.

Teacher Workshops

KHS offers a diverse array of high-quality professional learning for Kentucky’s K-12 educators. We frequently partner with local and national organizations to provide relevant professional learning opportunities related to Social Studies (civics, economics, geography, and history) and the Humanities and Language Arts. All workshops connect to the latest Kentucky Academic Standards. Opportunities include full and partial-day workshops (held onsite and online) and premier events such as our annual Kentucky History Education Conference.

Teaching American History: Origins of the Cold War - CANCELLED - WILL BE RESCHEDULED

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED.

Teaching American History: Origins of the Cold War

Saturday, September 21, 2024; 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST

How did the alliances of World War II break down, and so quickly, after 1945? How close were these alliances in the first place, and what differences existed between the United States and the Soviet Union that acted as wedges between these two states and their respective allies? This seminar focuses on the ideas, events, and people – as expressed in key documents – of the years immediately after the end of World War II and how the Cold War began.

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. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.  

Creating Community Portraits

Creating Community Portraits

Saturday, January 11, 2025 (in-person); Time TBD

Saturday, February 22, 2025 (virtual); Time TBD

In conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute, teachers will learn how to utilize collecting local oral histories as learning opportunities for their students while capturing local histories. More information coming soon!

Teaching American History: Westward Expansion

Teaching American History: Westward Expansion

March 15, 2025; 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST

This seminar will focus on America’s westward expansion and its “Manifest Destiny” to expand from sea to shining sea. This seminar will consider the purposes for westward expansion, Jackson’s Indian Removal Policy and westward expansion’s impact on slavery.

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.

 

Access agenda here.

Register here.

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.

Bring Teacher Workshops to Your District!

Choose from one of the Kentucky Historical Society's teacher professional development opportunities. Bring an expert to your district to conduct the workshop or tune in virtually for a presentation. 

Engaging with Kentucky's Past: An Overview of KHS Resources & Programs

Time: 60 minutes

Cost: FREE

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

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.

Using Visual Thinking Strategies & KHS Resources in the Classroom

Time: 60-90 Minutes

Cost: In-person: $200; Virtual: $75

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

Cost: In-person: $200; Virtual: $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.

Project Citizen

Time: 2 hours

Cost: FREE

The Project Citizen curriculum provides a practical, first-hand approach to learning about our complex system of government and how to monitor and influence it. Through the program, students work together to conduct research in their community to discover problems that they think their governments could handle better. Through this curriculum, students will:

  • Learn how to Monitor and Influence Policy
  • Learn the Policy-Making Process
  • Develop Concrete Skills, Effective and Creative Communication Skills, and the Confidence Necessary to Exercise their Rights and Responsibilities

Project Citizen provides an engaging, rigorous approach for students to learn the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of being a responsible citizen. This introductory session provides a broad overview of how the program addresses the Kentucky social studies standards and initial steps in how to implement Project Citizen in your classroom.

Recorded Sessions from KHEC July 2023