Teaching the Arab-Israeli conflict is a required instructional standard, yet it is often complicated by the unpredictable nature of what students encounter online. Join the Institute for Curriculum Services and the Or Initiative for a professional development event that provides a practical roadmap for educators to address social media’s influence on student perception while maintaining a rigorous, inquiry-based approach to the history itself.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

Teaching about religion is essential for a comprehensive understanding of history, culture, and global society, yet many educators find the subject daunting. This collaborative workshop, featuring the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS), provides teachers with a clear, constitutionally sound framework for bringing religious literacy into the classroom with confidence.

Whether you are navigating real-world classroom challenges or looking for high-quality primary sources, this session empowers you to move past the tension of religious topics. You will leave equipped to foster a learning environment that is rooted in historical accuracy, pedagogical best practices, and mutual respect.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

Delve into the history of the American Revolution, going beyond the Declaration of Independence to look at the early United States from multiple perspectives.

First, explore "Declaring America: Revolutionary City,” highlighting the experiences of Indigenous people, African Americans, and women in the Revolution, using a resource guide from the New York Public Library. Then, investigate the evolution of religious liberty through early Jewish American experiences, using resources from the Institute for Curriculum Services.

Eligible New York State Educators can earn 1.5 hours of CTLE credit.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

Where does antisemitism come from? This is a question that students often ask when learning about the Holocaust. The phenomenon of antisemitism is over 2,000 years old, yet social studies curricula often do not consider pre-20th century history.

In this collaborative workshop, featuring the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) and the Maltz Museum, teachers will explore primary sources and historical tropes that outline the larger context of antisemitism. We will bridge the gap between museum exhibits and the classroom, offering the content and tools educators need to help students understand the origins, persistence, and modern expressions of this hatred.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, how can we help students explore the relationship between the founding ideals of liberty and the ways those principles have been understood and applied over time?

This session, featuring the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) and the National Constitution Center (NCC), invites educators to move beyond a surface-level study of the Founding Era and engage students in a deeper examination of how religious freedom has developed through both constitutional interpretation and the actions of individuals and communities.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

Presented by the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, this workshop invites participants to trace the journey of the Andrew Doria to St. Eustatius to uncover the story of the "First Salute", the first official foreign recognition of the United States, and examine how Caribbean Jewish merchants risked everything to supply the Continental Army. Crossing back to the mainland, educators will analyze restrictive 1776 state constitutions to uncover how early religious minorities fought to tear down civic barriers.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

This session focuses on the complex ways religion and government intertwine in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, and Iran, comparing and contrasting them with the United States to gain insights into global religious diversity.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

We'll discuss the push and pull factors that brought Jewish immigrants to America, explore the challenges of assimilation, and grapple with the repercussions of the 1924 Immigration Act.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

This workshop will utilize research and case studies to navigate the challenges involved in teaching about religion and explore digital options for incorporating this topic into the classroom.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!

Using archaeology, ancient texts, and current research, we will explore ancient Israel society in the context of ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. Focusing on daily life, religion, and law, students will be able to develop a fuller picture of the Israelites' role in the ancient world and the development of Judaism as we know it today.

This is an open workshop, but registration is required to attend. Register Here!