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Social Studies

As director of the National Council for the Social Studies CiviConnections program, Rahima worked with 300 elementary, middle, and high school teachers across the country to link local historical inquiry with community service-learning. Rahima offers professional development workshops, from two hours to two days, on CiviConnections as well as social justice education.

Rahima will also serve as a keynote speaker or workshop presenter for your state or regional social studies conference. Click on the About link for more information on Rahima's books on CiviConnections, service-learning in the social studies, and elementary social studies for social justice.

The one-day CiviConnections workshop introduces 3rd-12th grade teachers to this innovative program focused on local historical inquiry and community service-learning.  In the morning, participants will learn about the six steps in the the CiviConnections model (Choosing an issue and guiding question, Investigating our community's history, Exploring our nation's history, Examining government documents, Improving our community, Celebrating service learning) and hear about examples of the program in classrooms across the nation.  In the afternoon, we will focus on how to guide students in conducting historical inquiry on a local social issue and how to design a high quality service-learning project that incorporates the essential elements of preparation, collaboration, service, curriculum integration, reflection, student ownership, and evaluation.  There will also be time for participants to begin developing their ideas for a CiviConnections project to use in their own classrooms and to share their ideas with others.  Strategies used during this day long workshop will include PowerPoint presentations as well as interactive exercises and discussion. 

The CiviConnections program is a National Council for the Social Studies program that has been implemented by more than 900 teachers across the country in the past five years.  Research on over 3,000 student participants revealed that the program made a significant difference in improving students' attitudes, knowledge, and skills in regard to civic outcomes as well as their intent to be involved in their communities in the future.