Are You Going to MEA? We Are!

My colleagues and I are excited about  the upcoming MEA Conference in Belgrade, October 17-18. We'll be staffing a table in the exhibit hall--so stop by and say hello. (Need incentive? We'll have prizes at the table for the first 5 people on both Thursday and Friday who tell us they read this blog).

You might also be interested in checking out one of our sessions.

Thursday

9:00 AM-9:50 AM: "Coming to Montana: Teaching About Immigration," Debra Mitchell

• Grade Level: 3-8
• Active learning using primary sources brings history alive while meeting Common Core standards. Learn about the Montana Historical Society's new immigration lesson plans and revamped footlocker and other available hands-on history trunks. (IE) (Record #207) 
• MS B110

3:00 PM-3:50 PM: "Bringing Literature to Life with Primary Sources," Jean O'Connor, Helena High School and Martha Kohl

• Grade Level: 6-12
• Relevant to the CCSS, this workshop will provide tools and examples for incorporating historical secondary and primary sources to bring literature to life. Participants will view digitized primary sources, analysis tools, and specific lesson plans on the Depression and the Gold Rush that demonstrate the integration of literature and history. (Record #197)
• MS B108 

3:00 PM-3:50 PM: "Mapping Montana: Tracing Community Evolution," Ellen Baumler

• Grade Level: 3-12
• Maps are fabulous tools that offer clues to the past and illustrate the evo-lution of places, roads, and vistas so familiar to us today. Take a trip through Montana’s historic communities and discover how they grew. Learn how your students can travel through time using easily accessible historic maps. (Record #213)
• MS B109

 

3:00 PM-3:50 PM: "Combining Art, IEFA, and History with K-6 Students," Debra Mitchell

• Grade Level: K-6
• With the Art of Storytelling: Plains Indian Perspectives bring ledger drawings and other pictographic art into your classroom to engage students in the study of a vibrant art form while learning about Indian peoples’ adaptabil-ity and resilience during a period of rapid change. (IE) (Record #357)
• MS B107

 

Friday

11:00 AM-11:50 AM: "Where Are the Women? Integrating Women's Stories," Martha Kohl

• Grade Level: 4-12
• The year 2014 is the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Montana and the perfect moment to revisit the history of Montana's women and the way we do, or don't, include their stories in the curriculum. Learn about new resources and opportunities to commemorate the anniversary. (Record #224)
• MS B110

In addition to presentations by MHS staff, here are other sessions that caught my eye:

Thursday

12:00 PM-12:50 PM: "Forum: Common Core in the Social Studies," Bruce Wendt

• Grade Level: K-12
• Teachers across Montana will need to incorporate the newly-released Social Studies Common Core. Come listen to experienced educators share their knowledge and contribute your own ideas in a sharing of ways of improving our discipline. (BT) (Record #149)
• IS Band Room

 

1:00 PM-1:50 PM "New Perspectives on Women of Montana," Mary Murphy, Montana State University - Bozeman

• Grade Level: K-12
• Women have long played an integral and pivotal role in Montana's devel-opment. Come learn new research that can help you invigorate your class-room learning and spark conversations with your students. (Record #310)
• IS Band Room

 

1:00 PM-1:50 PM: "Using Archival Sources Documents in the Classroom," Ellen Crain and Irene Schiedecker, Butte-Silver Bow Archives

• Grade Level: K-12
• The Butte-Silver Bow public archives staff will provide a perspective on archives, what they are and how to use them. The Archives staff will provide a hands-on demonstration on how to incorporate primary archival sources into classroom activities for example: reading immigration documents in a social studies class. (Record #185)
• MS A103

What sessions are you particularly looking forward to attending?