Under the Red, White and Blue

Songs and Lesson Plans of America's Core Democratic Values

Under the Red White and Blue, by Dave & Dan Kimber, takes America's democratic values and sets them to music that all students can learn. Lesson plans designed for all grades K-12 have also been developed by teachers and consultants renowned in their field. Each value has its own song and its own set of lesson plans that are adaptable to all levels and learning styles. Read more for pricing and to order your CD.

55th Annual Conference

November 8-9, 2010
Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites
100 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
http://www.radisson.com/hotels/mikalama

MCSS is pleased to announce that sociologist and noted author Dr. James Loewen will be the keynote speaker at the MCSS Annual Conference in Kalamazoo. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, November 7, 2010 to hear the man who brought us Lies My Teacher Told Me, which has sold over 800,000 copies. In addition, he will be doing at least two sessions on Monday, November 8, 2010.

Exhibitor Prospectus is available. Click on the Read More button to access the links to the forms.
Online Registration will be available September 7, 2010.

Sheridan Road Teacher Honored

Melinda_Dickinson The Lansing School District presented one of its top honors, the Elsie A. Maile Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award, to Melinda Dickinson, a fifth grade teacher from Sheridan Road Elementary at a recent board of education meeting.

The award comes with an unrestricted cash grant. "Without the hard work and dedication of our teachers, we would not be able to provide to our students the opportunities for learning and growth that will allow them to succeed int he future," Superintendent T.C. Wallace Jr. said. "We are delighted to be able to recognize our outstanding educators and all they do to provide a quality education to our youngsters."

Dickinson was nominated and received the award because of her unique ability to establish a viable learning environment for her students, her evolving knowledge of instructional strategies and techniques, and her ability to foster collaborative relationships with her colleagues and parents.

The award is given in cooperation with the Lansing School District, the Gerick Foundation, and the Lansing School Education Association to honor an extraordinary elementary teacher.

Congratulations Melinda Dickinson!

First Freedom Student Competition!

The Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Council for Social Studies would like to offer an opportunity for students 9th-12th grade to participate in a national essay contest offering a chance to compete for a $3,000, $1,500, and $750 award. The students who choose to participate will be examining the First Amendment and addressing topics that delve into the history and current relevance of religious liberty. The 2010/2011 topic asks students to select a minority religion from any time period in U.S. history, research and analyze its history in their local community, state or region, evaluate how this religious group's local history compares to its place in the broader narrative of U.S. history and First Amendment law, and address where it stands today. The complete topic, guidelines, student flyer and classroom poster can be found at www.firstfreedom.org (click on the red button under First Freedom Center News)

Register Today for 2010 Will Steger Foundation Summer Institute

Applications Available Now for the Will Steger Foundation's Fifth Annual Institute for Climate Change Education! The event will be held Thursday, August 12th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Center, and is also availble as an online webinar. This year they will be looking back on the last five years of climate change education outreach and curriculum development. If interested, you can find more information at: www.willstegerfoundation.org, or call 612-278-7147 to have one sent to you today!

Michigan Social Studies Olympiad XXIV

Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Covington School in Bloomfield Hills, MI was a flurry of fun. The school was filled with students, parents and grandparents all eager to participate and congratulate winners of the 24th Annual Social Studies Olympiad.

MCSS congratulates all winners and participates for competting in this year's event. We encourage all students in the 4-12th grades to participate in the 25th Annual Social Studies Olympiad next year in May.

A list of Onsite and Offsite event winners can be viewed by clicking on the Read More button below.

MCSS Fuel Discount Program

The Michigan Council for the Social Studies is sponsoring a Fuel Discount Program that provides a 4.5% Speedway Discount card at all Speedway and SuperAmerica Stores. One yearly $25.00 fee covers all of these discounts for an MCSS member or member affiliates. To download the Fuel Discount Card Application and to learn more about the savings become a member of MCSS today!