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.
Creating Portraits of Community Project
Creating Portraits of Community Project
Saturday, January 11, 2025 (in-person); 9:00 am - 12:30 pm ET
Saturday, February 22, 2025 (virtual); 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET
Both events are FREE
The Kentucky Historical Society and the Smithsonian Institution are collaborating to provide two workshops for K-12 educators.
The first workshop will be held in person at the Kentucky History Center located in Downtown Frankfort, Kentucky (lunch included). This session will emphasize a project-based approach to the humanities, integrating historical resources like photographs with the collection of oral histories from Kentucky communities. Participants will engage in critical thinking activities that leverage art, documents, and museum artifacts to discover fresh ideas and real-world connections. This workshop aims to furnish educators with a wealth of activities to implement in their classrooms.
Register here for January 11 Workshop (in-person).
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The second workshop will be held virtually. It will focus on similar themes and provide educators a platform to share their experiences after applying a lesson in their classrooms. Those unable to participate in the in-person workshop are encouraged to join the virtual session.
Register here for February 22 Workshop (virtual).
For questions, contact our Teacher Resources Manager at elsie.merlie@ky.gov.
Educators attending both sessions will receive a $100 stipend, capacity limited to 20 (in-person) and 20 (virtual).
Teaching American History: Westward Expansion
Teaching American History: Westward Expansion
March 15, 2025; 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST (lunch included)
FREE Professional Development Session
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.
Register here.
For questions, contact our Teacher Resources Manager at elsie.merlie@ky.gov.
Teaching American History: Origins of the Cold War
Teaching American History: Origins of the Cold War
April 12, 2025; 8:30 am - 2:15 pm EST (lunch included)
FREE Professional Development Session
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.
- Led by David P. Hadley, College of International Affairs- National Defense University
Register here.
For questions, contact our Teacher Resources Manager at elsie.merlie@ky.gov.
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: 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
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.