Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education

Helping students make sense of the world—and their place in it.

About Social Studies Education

When students investigate real questions and connect history to their communities, they build critical thinking skills, strengthen literacy and historical context, and develop the skills needed to navigate a complex world.

We work with educators across Minnesota to make social studies engaging, relevant, and meaningful for students. Through professional learning, resources, and partnerships, we help schools bring the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies to life.

Questions?

Have a question or comment about the Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education? Contact us at:

education@mnhum.org

How We Support Educators

MHC supports educators in implementing state Social Studies Standards through:

Educator institutes, workshops, and presentations
Customized professional learning for districts and service cooperatives
Collaborative curriculum and unit development aligned to Minnesota standards
Instructional resources for teachers and building leaders
Curated primary source packets and teaching tools

Customized Trainings

Bring social studies professional learning to your district.

We offer customized workshops, trainings, and collaborative planning sessions tailored to your local goals.

Connect with us and see how we can partner together.

Learn More

Instructional Resources

Understanding the 2021 Social Studies Standards

Resources and guidance to support educators and district leaders in implementing Minnesota’s social studies standards.

Key Shifts in the Social Studies Standards Podcast
Overview of the 2021 Social Studies Standards & IDM Model
Principal’s Guide on Minnesota’s 2021 Social Studies Standards
MDE Social Studies Implementation webpage – Official standards documents, learning progressions by strand, and high school eras overview

Inquiry Design Tools

Tools and templates to support the design of inquiry-based social studies units.

Introductory Guide to Designing Inquiry-Based Units
Social Studies Bundling with Hexagons
IDM Unit Template and Instructions
Summative Task Guidance – Coming Soon!

Unit Maps

Pre-bundled social studies benchmarks with aligned compelling and supporting questions to guide unit design.

K-5 Unit and Grade Level Maps
7-8 Unit and Grade Level Maps – Coming Soon!
9-12 Unit and Grade Level Maps – Coming Soon!

Repeatable Routines (Classroom Activities)

Activities designed for repeated use across social studies content to build students’ disciplinary skills and independence while saving teachers time.

Professional Development

On-demand learning experiences that combine content knowledge and instructional support to strengthen inquiry-based, standards-aligned social studies instruction.

Navigating the U.S. History Eras Canvas course – asynchronous learning experience containing:
- Content videos led by expert historians that build historical context, analyze sources, and highlight key themes
- Pedagogy videos facilitated by MDE Social Studies Specialist Brittany Rawson-Haeg, offering hands-on support for designing inquiry-based, standards-aligned units
- Resources to support unit planning, including source lists, pre-populated unit templates, and key terms
Navigating the World History Eras – Online Content and Pedagogy Sessions