The Maine Department of Education recognizes that social studies is an integral part of a comprehensive education preparing learners for college, careers and civic life. Through the study of each of the four strands of social studies—civics and government, personal finance and economics, geography, and history—students are provided with opportunities to acquire and apply knowledge and skills in a variety of authentic contexts.
As part of the Maine DOE's commitment to supporting schools in the delivery of effective K-12 social studies instructional programs, this site offers teachers, administrators, nonprofits, higher education faculty, parents and community members with a broad range of resources reflective of Maine’s learning standards.
The State of Maine recently completed a mandatory Social Studies review process. Check out the new Standards and Instruction page to see the revised standards and supporting materials.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities:
National Geographic Resources in the Classroom
Join 2020 Maine History Teacher of the Year and National Geographic Certified Educator Sarah Bailey (South Portland High School) on Thursday, April 1 at 3:00pm ET as she shares resources from National Geographic that you can use in your classroom! Registration is required and educators can register here.
The Impact of Racial Discrimination on Black American Lives in the Jim Crow Era (1944-1960) with the National Archives
Join the National Archives on Tuesday, April 6th at 3:30pm ET as they talk using primary sources to discuss racial discrimination in the Jim Crow Era. Learn how your students can analyze documents from the holdings of the National Archives to assess the impact of legalized racial segregation on the lives of Black Americans from 1944 – 1960. Aftering analyzing primary sources, students will be able to discuss how Jim Crow, a system of laws and practices set in place to maintain white supremacy, limited the freedom of African Americans. These documents from 1944 – 1960 express the words and actions of people or institutions working to either remove or reinforce race-based barriers to equality. Registration is required and educators can register here.
Teaching the U.S. History and the American Revolution to Elementary Students
On Tuesday, April 13 at 3:00pm ET join Stephanie Connors (Grade 4 Teacher - Mount Vernon Elementary School) as she shares how she incorporates United States History into her elementary classroom using her American Revolution as an example. Registration is required and educators can register here.
What is Intellectual Charity, and Why Does it Matter? (with ThinkerAnalytix)
Understanding and Teaching The Electoral College
On Tuesday, April 27 at 3:00pm ET join Jamie Karaffa (Social Studies Teacher at Bruce Whittier Middle School) as she shares her recently completed capstone project related to understanding and teaching the Electoral College. Jamie will share different inquiries and approaches related to the Electoral College and Maine’s approach to dividing up our votes. Registration is required and educators can register here.
Writing in the History Classroom
Join Dennis Edmondson (Mt. Ararat HS) on Wednesday, May 5 at 3:00pm ET as he talks about how to teach writing in your history classroom. Registration is required and educators can register here.
Teaching Graphic Biographies with the OER Project
How can we tie together literacy, inclusivity, and all of the advantages of teaching history globally? Join the OER Project on Wednesday, May 12 at 3:30pm ET as they share their engaging graphic biographies of individuals, mostly drawn from the ‘margins’ of world history, carefully built to help students connect these lives to the ‘big stories’ of world history, and with lesson plans that will let them practice visual and textual literacy skills. Your students will love them, and the OER Projects hopes you will too. Registration is required and educators can register here.
Teaching Global Competencies
Join Bobbie Thibodeau (SAD 15) on Wednesday, May 26 at 2:30pm ET as she talks about how to teach “Global Competencies” in your classroom. Registration is required and educators can register here.