National Social Studies Organizations
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies has grown to be the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries, NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college teachers of history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education.
The website offers many valuable classroom, professional development, and social studies advocacy resources.
http://www.ncss.org/
Center for Civic Education (CCE)
Lessons, by grade span, are located under “Resources”. Two programs under both “Programs” and “Professional Development” – We the People and Project Citizen – deserve special attention!
http://www.civiced.org/
The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE)
The National Council for Geographic Education works to enhance the status and quality of geography teaching and learning. The organization works to enhance the preparation of geographic educators, facilitates communication among teachers of geography, supports research on geographic education, and develops, publishes, and promotes the use of curriculum, resource, and learning materials.
“Resources” and “Publications” sections offer a variety of lesson plans, maps, Advanced Placement materials, and professional articles.
http://www.ncge.org/
National Council on Economic Education (NCEE)
The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) is a nationwide network that leads in promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers. NCEE's mission is to help students develop the real-life skills they need to succeed: to be able to think and choose responsibly as consumers, savers, investors, citizens, members of the workforce, and effective participants in a global economy.
Economics programs for a variety of learners are described under “programs”. Many of these can be integrated or supplement a traditional economics curriculum. Lesson plans and teacher and student resources can be found under “resources”.
http://www.ncee.net/
Global Association of Teachers of Economics (GATE)
The Global Association of Teachers of Economics is a national and international membership organization sponsored by the National Council on Economic Education. The organization is exclusively for K-12 teachers who are interested in economic and financial education. From the homepage, click on “resources” at the top of the page to review resources and lesson plans that are available online and for purchase.
http://www.ncee.net/gate/
National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
The National Endowment for Financial Education is a private, nonprofit, national foundation wholly dedicated to improving the financial well-being of all Americans. The mission of the National Endowment for Financial Education is to help individual Americans acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their financial destiny.
From the homepage, the “High School Program” page and “Educators/Facilitators” page offer valuable programs and resources for teachers and students.
http://www.nefe.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship provides entrepreneurship education programs to young people from low-income communities so that every young person will find a pathway to prosperity.
Engaging, experiential curricula and tools to improve academic, business and life skills can be viewed and purchased on the website under “Buy Curriculum & Materials”. Here are some good resources on the concept of entrepreneurship and modern American and global entrepreneurs.
http://www.nfte.com/
National Center for History in the Schools
The mission of the National Center for History in the Schools [NCHS] is to improve history education in K-12 schools via its challenging, yet easy to use, curricular materials and assisting with the professional development of K-12 history teachers. Units (Bring History Alive!) for both US and World history.
http://nchs.ucla.edu/
