The UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project (UCBHSSP) is a program that helps K12 history educators around the Bay Area improve upon and develop their instructional practices. Staffed by current and former classroom teachers, team members support educators by fostering critical inquiry in students, and by encouraging young scholars to support, extend or challenge dominant narratives of history (as well as construct narratives of their own). UCBHSSP educators collaborate with members of the UC Berkeley Department of History, teacher leaders, colleagues on the UC Berkeley campus, and the sibling sites of the California History-Social Science Project
In the past year they have supported the instruction of social sciences and history by leading the following initiatives:
-
Integrating Civic Engagement into History and Social Science Instruction
UCBHSSP uses The Integrated Action Civics framework to support teachers in developing the foundational skills of civic engagement in student education. This framework offers classroom-tested strategies that connect course themes with the contemporary world, and apply change-analysis skills throughout the K-12 curriculum (e.g. analysis of power, stakeholders, strategies, and tactics of social change.) This initiative also supports the pursuit of California State Civic Seal, and empowers students to shape their communities.
-
Supporting the effort to bring Ethnic Studies instruction to California High Schools
The 2019 adoption of AB101 legislation has made Ethnic Studies a graduation requirement course for California High Schools. As educators around the state prepare for the course roll-out by developing or refining their course offerings, the UCBHSSP provides professional development opportunities for K12 educators hoping to develop a deeper understanding of the field. Our support emphasizes the history of the field of Ethnic Studies, Understanding California AB-101 legislative demands, building educator capacity to teach the course, and learning essential disciplinary theory, concepts and pedagogies.
-
Supporting History Instruction for Newcomer Students
The UCBHSSP Newcomer Educator Initiative aims to address the needs of teachers of newcomer students by supporting their work towards language development as well as content understanding. This initiative features an ongoing Community of Practice that supports the professional growth of newcomer teachers and administrators. Summer Institutes, community convenings and a series of conferences have also been designed for newcomer teachers to develop and improve their pedagogies. These gatherings center cultural & community awareness, incorporate the scaffolding of content specific vocabulary, and allow for the adaptation of existing teaching resources to the needs of newcomer students
Some highlights from their past year include:
-
Participating in and being featured by the 2024 National Council for the Social Studies Conference (NCSS) Conference in Boston, Massachusetts
-
Their continuing partnership in the UC Berkeley High School Ethnic Studies Initiative, and their convening of 1969 TWLF activists from UC Berkeley
-
A UCBHSSP-hosted conference of Bay Area educators and administrators interested in providing broader support for Newcomer Students and their teachers
-
The development of instructional resources that reframe modern World History for K12 classrooms by centering colonialism, climate change, and civic action
-
The convening of a Student Advisory Group who have been tasked with producing research informed calls to action around topics that affect various Bay Area communities
If you have any questions or feedback about UC Berkeley HSSP's work, please feel free to reach out to them at ucbhssp@berkeley.edu