Region 1 News
 Andrew Levin
A Message from your Regional Representative:
Fellow teachers, welcome to the webpage for the Chicagoland Area (Region 1). This region is one of the most diverse in the state and is home to the most social studies teachers. As such, I look forward to collaborating and assisting in a wide variety of ways. As for some background, I have just begun my 11th year as an educator. I have taught courses including US History, World History, Sociology, Practical Law, US Government, Economics, Geography, World Cultures, Election Studies, Middle Eastern Politics, Comparative Politics, and Non-Western Comparative Politics. I currently teach at Harper College. |
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My main interests in the realm of education are technology and diversity & inclusion in the classroom (and online). There are so many great digital resources available that it is easier than ever to differentiate instruction and assessments. In terms of diversity, you may have seen my presentations at conferences on my classroom inquiry-based projects or "museums". These provide each student a voice and a choice.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments on how this organization can be helpful. I encourage you to stay in touch with me and allow me be to a resource for you: visit my website, www.internationalchicago.com, follow me on twitter @ProfessorLevin, or email me at alevin@harpercollege.edu .
Sincerely,
Andrew Levin, MAT, MS
Andrew Levin
Instructor of Political Science
Harper College
1200 W Algonquin Rd, J249
Palatine, IL 60067
847.925.3577
alevin@harpercollege.edu
harpercollege.edu
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments on how this organization can be helpful. I encourage you to stay in touch with me and allow me be to a resource for you: visit my website, www.internationalchicago.com, follow me on twitter @ProfessorLevin, or email me at alevin@harpercollege.edu .
Sincerely,
Andrew Levin, MAT, MS
Andrew Levin
Instructor of Political Science
Harper College
1200 W Algonquin Rd, J249
Palatine, IL 60067
847.925.3577
alevin@harpercollege.edu
harpercollege.edu
News and Opportunities
GSC GIS Teacher Meet-Up Monday, January 23, 2023 | 6:30 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
It’s a new year and that means the Geographic Society of Chicago is introducing a new event! The first GSC GIS Teacher Meet-Up will be held virtually on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
We'll discuss using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) in the classroom. You ...
· don’t have to be previously trained in using GIS.
· can use GIS in your classroom or any educational gathering—no experience needed!
Please register at https://www.geographicsociety.org/event/gsc-gis-teacher-meet-up/ to be a part of what we hope to be monthly meet-ups that will be both informative and fun.
If you have any questions regarding this event or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Please let me know if you are able to post. Thank you!
Olga Delgado
773.529.1212
773.529.1222 Fax
It’s a new year and that means the Geographic Society of Chicago is introducing a new event! The first GSC GIS Teacher Meet-Up will be held virtually on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
We'll discuss using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) in the classroom. You ...
· don’t have to be previously trained in using GIS.
· can use GIS in your classroom or any educational gathering—no experience needed!
Please register at https://www.geographicsociety.org/event/gsc-gis-teacher-meet-up/ to be a part of what we hope to be monthly meet-ups that will be both informative and fun.
If you have any questions regarding this event or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Please let me know if you are able to post. Thank you!
Olga Delgado
773.529.1212
773.529.1222 Fax
TEA NCTA announces free online professional development programs for Winter 2023.
Registration open at www.colorado.edu/ptea.
Book group: The Death of Woman Wang. January 19-March 8, 2023. This book group engages secondary teachers with historian Jonathan Spence's classic, The Death of Woman Wang. Explore the lives of the non-elite in 17th-century China's Qing Dynasty as they face climatic catastrophes, famine, banditry, and more. Through the lenses of peasants and the illiterate, learn about the daily struggles of those history often fails to record, with a special focus on women. The book and course interweave Spence's historical writing with tales from the 17th-century writer Pu Songling.
Book Group: Japan through Children’s Literature: Picturebook Biographies. January 19-March 8, 2023. This book group for K-8 teachers will discuss the possibilities of biography in the integration of social studies and literacy curriculum about Japan, through a consideration of three picture-book biographies of a Japanese inventor, artist, and composer.
Contemporary Issues Mini-course: China's Search for a Green Future: Clean Energy, Air, and Water. January 23- February 18, 2023. China has committed to becoming a leader in renewable energy technology, but air pollution, water scarcity, and overall environmental degradation continue to impact health and challenge China's continued economic growth. Through three weekly case studies, participants will examine how the Chinese government and citizen activist groups are responding to these challenges.
Contemporary Issues Course: What's Happening to China's Uyghurs and Why It Matters. January 20-March 4, 2023. China's Uyghur ethnic minority/indigenous people offer a case study for exploring issues of contemporary genocide, a topic mandated by numerous state social studies standards. Through three weekday evening webinars and a Saturday morning virtual workshop, this course examines the historical and political context of the Uyghur conflict in China; analyzes current events, resources, and research on this evolving crisis, and more. The Saturday workshop will provide participants with the 2022 revised Brown University Choices unit on genocide. Open to secondary teachers nationwide, with priority for Colorado social studies teachers.
Seminar: The Mao Era in Chinese History. January 12- March 2, 2023.Through asynchronous discussion of primary and secondary sources, online videos, and live Zoom sessions, participants will examine this critical historical period through five modules: The Rise of Mao, Establishing the People's Republic of China, The Great Leap Forward, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, and Looking Back at the Mao Era. Open to teachers nationally.
Seminar: Religion in East Asia: Diversity and Diffusion. January 12-March 1, 2023. This three-module course for secondary teachers of world history and world religions builds “religious literacy” by engaging participants with the religious and philosophical traditions, practices, and experiences of the diverse belief systems in East Asia. The course will also consider the diffusion and co-existence of these traditions in East Asia over time and across societies. Features three live webinars with specialists in religious and philosophy studies of China, Japan, and Korea.
Catherine Higbee Ishida
Japan and Korea Projects Coordinator & NCTA Staff Associate
Program for Teaching East Asia
University of Colorado Boulder
UCB 595
CASE E330, 1725 Euclid Ave.
Boulder, CO 80309
303-735-5115
www.colorado.edu/ptea
Registration open at www.colorado.edu/ptea.
Book group: The Death of Woman Wang. January 19-March 8, 2023. This book group engages secondary teachers with historian Jonathan Spence's classic, The Death of Woman Wang. Explore the lives of the non-elite in 17th-century China's Qing Dynasty as they face climatic catastrophes, famine, banditry, and more. Through the lenses of peasants and the illiterate, learn about the daily struggles of those history often fails to record, with a special focus on women. The book and course interweave Spence's historical writing with tales from the 17th-century writer Pu Songling.
Book Group: Japan through Children’s Literature: Picturebook Biographies. January 19-March 8, 2023. This book group for K-8 teachers will discuss the possibilities of biography in the integration of social studies and literacy curriculum about Japan, through a consideration of three picture-book biographies of a Japanese inventor, artist, and composer.
Contemporary Issues Mini-course: China's Search for a Green Future: Clean Energy, Air, and Water. January 23- February 18, 2023. China has committed to becoming a leader in renewable energy technology, but air pollution, water scarcity, and overall environmental degradation continue to impact health and challenge China's continued economic growth. Through three weekly case studies, participants will examine how the Chinese government and citizen activist groups are responding to these challenges.
Contemporary Issues Course: What's Happening to China's Uyghurs and Why It Matters. January 20-March 4, 2023. China's Uyghur ethnic minority/indigenous people offer a case study for exploring issues of contemporary genocide, a topic mandated by numerous state social studies standards. Through three weekday evening webinars and a Saturday morning virtual workshop, this course examines the historical and political context of the Uyghur conflict in China; analyzes current events, resources, and research on this evolving crisis, and more. The Saturday workshop will provide participants with the 2022 revised Brown University Choices unit on genocide. Open to secondary teachers nationwide, with priority for Colorado social studies teachers.
Seminar: The Mao Era in Chinese History. January 12- March 2, 2023.Through asynchronous discussion of primary and secondary sources, online videos, and live Zoom sessions, participants will examine this critical historical period through five modules: The Rise of Mao, Establishing the People's Republic of China, The Great Leap Forward, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, and Looking Back at the Mao Era. Open to teachers nationally.
Seminar: Religion in East Asia: Diversity and Diffusion. January 12-March 1, 2023. This three-module course for secondary teachers of world history and world religions builds “religious literacy” by engaging participants with the religious and philosophical traditions, practices, and experiences of the diverse belief systems in East Asia. The course will also consider the diffusion and co-existence of these traditions in East Asia over time and across societies. Features three live webinars with specialists in religious and philosophy studies of China, Japan, and Korea.
Catherine Higbee Ishida
Japan and Korea Projects Coordinator & NCTA Staff Associate
Program for Teaching East Asia
University of Colorado Boulder
UCB 595
CASE E330, 1725 Euclid Ave.
Boulder, CO 80309
303-735-5115
www.colorado.edu/ptea
Youthquake Attention Teachers:
Are you looking for an engaging program and curriculum to help you meet the middle school civics mandate? Youthquake is a civic engagement program that creates a respectful space for dialogue and action on important but politically controversial topics. This program seeks to bring youth together to communicate across their differences and move forward in collaboration through civic and political action.
The curriculum, which consists of 5 modules (20-25 hours), is aligned to ISBE Middle School Civics standards to meet middle schools’ semester of civics requirement. Youthquake is looking for 8-10 middle school social studies or civics teachers to participate in the middle school field test of the curriculum by using it in their classrooms and providing feedback on their experience to help us improve. We will provide $500 stipends to teachers upon successful completion of the program. Youthquake has been piloted with high schools in Chicago and Hanover (NH). If you’re interested in being part of our field test, learning more, or have any questions, please contact Youthquake's Director Rachna Shah at shah.r.rachna@gmail.com or 630-536-9842.
Are you looking for an engaging program and curriculum to help you meet the middle school civics mandate? Youthquake is a civic engagement program that creates a respectful space for dialogue and action on important but politically controversial topics. This program seeks to bring youth together to communicate across their differences and move forward in collaboration through civic and political action.
The curriculum, which consists of 5 modules (20-25 hours), is aligned to ISBE Middle School Civics standards to meet middle schools’ semester of civics requirement. Youthquake is looking for 8-10 middle school social studies or civics teachers to participate in the middle school field test of the curriculum by using it in their classrooms and providing feedback on their experience to help us improve. We will provide $500 stipends to teachers upon successful completion of the program. Youthquake has been piloted with high schools in Chicago and Hanover (NH). If you’re interested in being part of our field test, learning more, or have any questions, please contact Youthquake's Director Rachna Shah at shah.r.rachna@gmail.com or 630-536-9842.
Upcoming National Events
102nd National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference
December 2-4, 2022 • Philadelphia, PA
More details may be found here.
December 2-4, 2022 • Philadelphia, PA
More details may be found here.
Upcoming State Events
2022 ICSS Fall Conference
October 14, 2022
Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
More details and how to submit a session proposal may be found here.
October 14, 2022
Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
More details and how to submit a session proposal may be found here.
Upcoming Regional Events
Join Professor Levin's upcoming online course on Non-Western Comparative Politics at Harper College (PSC-280). It examines the political systems of selected non-Western countries, including common governmental problems, causes of political instability and revolution and techniques of political analysis. Plus, it is transferable to almost any Illinois college. It also meets ISBE political science licensing requirements. Let me know if you have any questions: alevin@harpercollege.edu
Regional Exhibits
Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago
Their current exhibit is: Lest We Forget: Sailors, Sammies and Doughboys Over There in World War One.
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is open to the public with new hours:
Monday - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday - Thursday - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
Friday and Saturday - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday - 12 - 4 p.m.
Admission to the Museum & Library is $5. Admission is free for members and all visitors with active military ID, Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m.
Their current exhibit is: Lest We Forget: Sailors, Sammies and Doughboys Over There in World War One.
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is open to the public with new hours:
Monday - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday - Thursday - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
Friday and Saturday - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday - 12 - 4 p.m.
Admission to the Museum & Library is $5. Admission is free for members and all visitors with active military ID, Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. Tours are offered daily at 11 a.m.
First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.
They have recently updated their museum with its new exhibit hall covering the First Division post Vietnam to present day. They also updated their collections on the main exhibit space (WW1 - Vietnam).
1s151 Winfield Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
Phone: 630.260.8185
Get Directions
HOURS
Closed Jan. 1 – Feb. 1
February (Fri-Sun)
10am – 4pm
Admission to the First Division Museum is always free. There is a parking fee for the park.
Daily: $5.00
Weekends (May through September): $10.00
They have recently updated their museum with its new exhibit hall covering the First Division post Vietnam to present day. They also updated their collections on the main exhibit space (WW1 - Vietnam).
1s151 Winfield Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
Phone: 630.260.8185
Get Directions
HOURS
Closed Jan. 1 – Feb. 1
February (Fri-Sun)
10am – 4pm
Admission to the First Division Museum is always free. There is a parking fee for the park.
Daily: $5.00
Weekends (May through September): $10.00
Social Studies Links
Democracy Schools are High Schools “dedicated to expanding and improving civic learning experiences across the curriculum (McCormick Foundation)
“Getting to the Point: Documentary Film Excerpts to Use in Your Classroom” by Andrew Levin
Alliance for Good: Global service club for Illinois high schoolers
Democracy Schools are High Schools “dedicated to expanding and improving civic learning experiences across the curriculum (McCormick Foundation)
“Getting to the Point: Documentary Film Excerpts to Use in Your Classroom” by Andrew Levin
Alliance for Good: Global service club for Illinois high schoolers
Local Historical and Genealogical Societies & Museums:
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The Chicago History Museum 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614 www.chicagohistory.org The Field Museum 1400 South Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 https://www.fieldmuseum.org/ DuSable Museum of African American History 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 http://www.dusablemuseum.org/ Pullman National Monument 11141 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60628 https://www.nps.gov/pull/index.htm Mitchell Museum of the American Indian 3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 http://mitchellmuseum.org/ Illinois Holocaust Museum 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077 https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org Lake County Discovery Museum (Museum is currently transitioning to a new building and will open again in late 2017) http://www.lcfpd.org/museum/ McHenry County History Museum www.mchenrycountyhistory.org/ 6422 Main Street, Union, IL 60180 Volkening Heritage Farm 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg http://www.parkfun.com/spring-valley/heritage-farm |
The Obama Presidential Center Site to be determined Elgin History Museum 360 Park Street, Elgin, IL 60120 http://elginhistory.org/ Naper Settlement Museum 523 South Webster Street, Naperville, IL 60540 http://www.napersettlement.org/ DuPage County History Museum 102 East Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187 http://www.dupagemuseum.org/ Will County Historical Museum and Research Center 803 South State Street, Lockport, IL 60441 http://willcohistory.org/ Joliet Area Historical Museum 204 Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL 60432 https://www.jolietmuseum.org/ Chicago Genealogical Society http://www.chicagogenealogy.org The Newberry: Genealogy and Local History Desk 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610 https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org Gail Borden Public Library: Genealogy section 270 North Grove Avenue, Elgin, IL 60194 https://www.gailborden.info/research/genealogy |