National Council for the Social Studies Conference
December 6, 2025
Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) will be hosting two breakout sessions at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference. These sessions will be located in Conference – Room: 206 – Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Session: Investigating Identity Through the Jewish American Experience (10:50 AM – 11:45 AM)
This session examines the rich history and diversity of the Jewish American community, highlighting a vibrant and multifaceted tapestry of identities within the American context. We explore how individual Jews, carrying the weight of history and the resilience of survival, have forged new expressions of their Jewishness in America, contributing to the diverse landscape of both the Jewish community and American society at large. Learning about the diversity of Jewish identity illustrates how identities of all people are multifaceted and how people’s unique combination of identities shape individuals’ experiences of and with the world, particularly in the context of post-traumatic growth and cultural adaptation. Teachers of World History, Ethnic Studies, Human Geography, and World Religions will find the resources on this topic particularly useful.
Session: Where Did Antisemitism Come From? Teaching the History of European Antisemitism (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Where does antisemitism come from? This question – often asked when students learn about the Holocaust – is as relevant today as it has ever been. The history of this phenomenon is over 2,000 years old, but courses that deal with the Holocaust often do not consider pre-20th century history. This session will equip teachers in helping students understand the origins of this form of hatred, and the development of antisemitism’s religious, economic, political, and racial forms. This session also examines how antisemitism has persisted within modern expressions, allowing students to better understand and combat its current manifestations. Using an array of interactive primary sources, teachers will gain essential background knowledge while experiencing student activities and receiving classroom ready materials.
