PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
When: July 21st, 2025, from 9 am to 3 pm (registration and breakfast starts at 8 am)
Where: Ohio History Center (800 E 17th Ave. Columbus, Ohio)
The Ohio History Connection and the School & Teacher Support team invite you to our Annual Professional Development Institute. The goal of this workshop is to bring social studies educators together and provide them with the opportunity to learn and discuss new ideas and resources that can be implemented in their classroom in the coming school year and beyond.
Throughout this day, educators will participate in various sessions focused on teaching social studies content. This year, we are happy to have sessions tailored to social studies standards for elementary grade bands and middle/high school grade bands. To provide a unique and engaging program, we have collaborated with experts in research, archaeology and social studies content from the Ohio History Connection.
Fee: $120, includes breakfast and lunch
Discounts & Additional Payment Instructions
Ohio as America Multi-year Subscribers Discounts: Register for free, contact ohioasamerica@ohiohistory.org for code.
Group Discount: Register 5+ participants, get each fee for $100.
College Students: Email education@ohiohistory.org with a copy of your student ID card to receive a coupon code for 50% off your registration.
Purchase Order Payment Directions: Contact education@ohiohistory.org with a copy of your PO in order to receive a coupon code to complete your registration.
For all other inquiries, contact us at education@ohiohistory.org
Schedule at a glance
8:00-8:55 am – Welcome/Registration/Breakfast
9:00-9:50 am – Introductory Remarks about the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks
10:00 – 10:50 am – Concurrent Sessions A
11:00-11:50 am- Concurrent Sessions B
11:55 am-12:55 pm – Lunch – 2nd Floor Plaza
1:00-1:50pm – Concurrent sessions C
2:00-2:50 pm – Concurrent sessions D
2:50-3:00 pm – Final remarks/Certificate’s distribution
Introductory Remarks on the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks-9:00 – 9:50 am
Presenter: Brad Lepper (Senior Archaeologist at the Ohio History Connection)
Learn about the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ohio’s first World Heritage site includes eight monumental earthen enclosures scattered across central and southern Ohio built by the ancient American Indian culture we know as the Hopewell. Discover the mathematical and astronomical genius that went into building this Indigenous earthen architecture. These amazing sites can inspire cross-curricular inquiries into history, geometry, astronomy, art and architecture.
Concurrent Sessions A- 10:00 – 10:50 AM
Elementary Track
Youth History Day 101
Presenter: Ellen Simon (Program Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
Explore Youth History Day (YHD) and why diving into history through project-based learning is so effective for young learners! In this session, you’ll learn the basics of the YHD program and how project-based learning fosters critical thinking, research skills and historical empathy. You’ll come away with strategies for fitting YHD into your curriculum and aligning it with standards, as well as how to develop a simple, yearly plan. Plus, we’ll share resources and lessons designed specifically with 4th and 5th graders in mind.
Middle/High School Track
Unlocking the Power of Newspapers in Education
Presenter: Lauren Kennedy (Digital Projects Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
Discover how newspapers can transform your classroom experience! In this session, you'll master the art of searching both the legacy and beta sites of Chronicling America. These skills are not only applicable to Chronicling America but can also be transferred to other online archives. You'll leave equipped with effective strategies to uncover valuable primary and secondary sources for your lesson plans. Additionally, you'll gain the confidence to teach your students how to utilize these resources impactfully, enhancing their research skills and historical understanding.
CONCURRENT SESSION B – 11:00-11:50 AM
Elementary Track
Ribbonwork to Teach about the Myaamia Culture
Presenter: Ellen Simon (Program Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
Explore an activity created in collaboration with Ohio as America and the Myaamia Center and professors at Miami University to teach students about the Myaamia culture. Ribbonwork is an art form that helps us learn about the history of the Myaamia and is being revitalized today. Each participant will have the opportunity to create their own bookmark that shows an appreciation for ribbonwork.
Middle/High School Track
Doing More with Less: How to Incorporate Native American History into your Curriculum
Presenter: Carla Mello (Department Manager, School and Teacher Support at the Ohio History Connection)
Ohio History Connection has worked with Tribal representatives to understand and highlight Native American history, focused specifically on what students should understand about them and the past. In this session, we will share the resulting pedagogy document that includes best practices, definitions, standards and sources that you can use in your middle and high school classes. This session will be an opportunity to reflect, discuss and brainstorm how to incorporate this history into your classroom, as part of the Ohio Social Studies Standards. Come prepare to share and engage with fellow teachers.
Concurrent Session C – 1:00-1:50 PM
Elementary Track
Trash Can Archaeology
Presenter: Linda Pansing (Archaeology Curator at the Ohio History Connection)
Ever wonder how archaeologists get glimpses into the past? In this session, you’ll put your critical thinking skills to work, evaluate different ‘site’ types, see the artifacts and then come to conclusions based on the evidence presented to you. We’ll also share resources that you can use to create your own version of “Trash Can Archaeology”!
Middle/High School Track
Core Conversations
Presenter: Trevor Rhodes (Content Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
The field of social studies is swinging towards civics and connecting the past to the present-day. How can teachers make these connections without inciting controversy? Ohio History Connection brings you Core Conversations—a series of activities that are designed to help teach current events through a historical lens. In this session, you will learn what Core Conversations are, how this model approaches teaching controversial issues and how to create versions for your own classroom!
Concurrent Session D – 2:00-2:50 PM
Elementary Track
What Happens If I Push This Button?
Presenter: Becky Sicking (Ohio as America Digital Curricula Manager at the Ohio History Connection)
This is your chance to take a deeper look into our award-winning digital curriculum, Ohio as America. We will discuss how to integrate the curriculum with Google classroom, highlight favorite content and activities within the program and showcase the latest updates. Additionally, this is your chance to get information directly from the manager of the curriculum, so a Q&A session will complete the presentation, allowing you to get the most out of Ohio as America for your classroom.
OR
Guided Look at the Ohio History Center
Presenter: Morgan McQueen (Education Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
Explore the different exhibits in the Ohio History Center and consider how they connect to your social studies standards. Learn more about the other supports the Ohio History Center can offer to bring the museum into your own classroom!
Middle/High School Track
Reconstruction: History or Foreshadowing?
Presenter: Valerie Boyer (Program Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection)
The way we approach the Reconstruction Era is in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing, and it's about as messy as the Reconstruction period is supposed to be. And that's okay! How can we tell the truth, add choreography to the chaos, meaning to messiness and ultimately lead scholars into a future and a present that makes sense? Ohio History Connection brings you Reconstruction: History or Foreshadowing? a session designed to help teach the Reconstruction Era by making cultural and sociological connections to the present day. You will learn how to not run from the controversy of that period's more under-discussed topics, but rather make them a friend, an ally and a tool for learning.