History, Social Science, and Civics

• Race, Racism, and Culturally Responsive Teaching in History and Social Science in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions

• Resources for Planning Through an Inclusive, Critical, and Responsive Lens: Guiding Principle 2 of the History and Social Science Framework emphasizes that history and social science instruction should be inclusive of diverse perspectives; challenge students to think critically about power, prejudice, and oppression; and be responsive to students' multiple identities. This quick reference guide and the attached planning questions are intended to support educators in using Guiding Principle 2 to reflect upon and plan their instruction.

  • Guiding Principle 2 Quick Reference Guide and Planning Questions
  
  

  These examples illustrate how the Guiding Principle 2 planning questions might be answered about selected topics from a variety of grade levels within the Framework. Created in consultation with content experts, they include suggested resources and historical developments tied to each question.

  • Grade 3, Topic 5: The Puritans, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Native Peoples, and Africans
  • Grade 6, Topic 4: Sub-Saharan Africa
  • High School US History I, Topic 6: Rebuilding the United States: Industry and Immigration

• Civics Projects Guidebook (Online Version; Microsoft Word Version ): Guidance to support implementation of Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018, An Act to promote and enhance civic engagement, including a description of key project characteristics and stages of civic action.

• Curricular Materials Guide: Grade 8 Civics (Online Full Report; Curricular Materials at a Glance ): Highlighted, high-quality instructional materials aligned to the Grade 8 United States and Massachusetts Government and Civic Life course.

• Civics Projects Quick Reference Guide

• Civics Projects Reporting Requirements: FAQ

• Student Government Day: April 1, 2022

• 2020 Civics Literacy Conference: Event Program and Workshop Materials

• Webinar (9/9/2020): Building a Foundation for Community, Connection, and Civil Discourse in History and Social Studies

• Genocide Education in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions : This provides additional information related to the genocide education requirement signed into law in December 2021. The document includes examples of what genocide education might look like in different grade levels as well as links to instructional resources that can support educators in teaching about genocide.

• Curricular Materials at a Glance: Personal Financial Literacy : Guide to free curricular resources aligned to one or more personal financial literacy topics.

• Personal Financial Literacy in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

Investigating History is an innovative, open-source history/social science curriculum that DESE is currently developing for fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. It is designed to be fully aligned to the Massachusetts 2018 History/Social Science Framework , engaging students with its content, practice, and literacy standards through an inquiry-based approach.

In the 2021-22 school year, a cohort of districts across the Commonwealth will pilot the Investigating History materials. The pilot materials will then be revised based on feedback from educators and students, and we anticipate making the first Investigating History units publicly available in Summer 2022. Learn more about Investigating History.

• 2021-2022 History/Social Science Leaders Network: This network is intended to support school and district leaders in their work to ensure excellent, equitable history/social science instruction for all students. This network will help leaders continue their implementation of the 2018 Framework through sharing resources and strategies and providing a space to connect and collaborate with others across the Commonwealth. While the focus of our work will be responsive to participant need, likely topics include culturally responsive practice, student-driven inquiry, vertical progression of standards, embedding civics across grades K-12, and news and media literacy.