The Social Studies Professional | April 21, 2026 | No. 468
NCSS Executive Director Kelly McFarland Stratman breaks down the upcoming opportunities for place-based learning and advocacy on the Hill at the 2026 Summer Leadership Institute.
Celebrating Earth Month and Earth Day with NCSS
April is Earth Month, a time to focus on environmental awareness, sustainability, and action. In recognition, NCSS is pleased to offer a curated collection of classroom-ready lessons and interdisciplinary resources to help K–12 social studies educators teach environmental issues, climate change, and civic sustainability through inquiry, primary sources, and discussion-based strategies. Explore the collection.
Apply for the American Civic Education Teacher Awards
Run by the Center for Civic Education, the Center on Representative Government at Indiana University, and the National Education Association, the American Civic Education Teacher Awards (ACETA) honor elementary and secondary civic education teachers with specific expertise in teaching about the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Congress, and public policy at the state and local levels.
Awardees will present at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference in Chicago this December and gain access to additional leadership opportunities. Submit an application here by May 31, 2026.
The CFR Education Ambassador program connects educators nationwide with free resources, professional development, and a vibrant network of professionals. Apply today! Sponsored by CFR Education
Creating Space for Real Listening Around Environmental Issues
In this interactive April 23 eeWEBINAR, the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) introduces deliberation as a values-based approach for engaging both youth and adults in meaningful public dialogue. With guest panelists to share their real-world experiences in productive deliberation, this webinar offers tools and takeaways for educators and EE professionals. Register now.
Teach and Learn with the New York Times Learning Network
The New York Times Learning Network frequently publishes activities for students and lesson plan ideas based on Times articles, photos, videos and graphs. All resources are free and can be accessed here. Recently published resources include a lesson plan about the War in Iran and a conversation about screens in schools.
Award Opportunity for Students Age 11-18
Bow Seat's 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest—Your Story, Our Ocean—encourages students between ages 11-18 to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. Submissions are welcome in a variety of formats, from art to film to poetry and more. Learn more and submit here by June 8 for a chance at cash awards up to $1000.
Tennessee Geographic Alliance: What's In a Name?
Developed by the Tennessee Geographic Alliance and sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Southern Region at Middle Tennessee State University, “What’s in a Name? Exploring Place Names as Forms of Social and Geographic Storytelling” is an asynchronous learning experience that offers a series of instructional videos and classroom resources focused on exploring place names as meaningful forms of social and geographic storytelling. Access now.
