Professional Development
Throughout the year we offer in-person workshops in Helena and across the state including summer workshops and our annual fall history conference. OPI Renewal Units are always available. Learn more.
2023-24 Online Professional Development for Educators
Montana: Stories of the Land
Companion Website and Teacher’s Guide Professional Development Training Part 1 and Part 2
(One OPI renewal credit)
This one-hour training will introduce you to resources designed to enrich your Montana history class. Part 1 focuses on lesson plans available through our Educator Resources page. Part 2 focuses on resources available through the Montana: Stories of the Land Companion Website. You will need to take both parts (the training is broken into two parts to reduce the file size). At the end of the training, there is an opportunity to take a brief quiz. Those completing it successfully will be eligible to receive one OPI Renewal Unit. Click here for Part 1. Click here for Part 2 and the quiz.
Monthly Monday Meetups
Join colleagues on the second Monday of the month, September-November 2023 and January-March 2024, from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. for a series of online sharing sessions around a variety of social studies topics. These sessions will NOT be recorded. Attend all six sessions to earn six renewal units or attend individual sessions to earn one renewal unit each.
September 11, 2023: Introduction to Montana Historical Society Resources
In addition to curriculum for fourth grade and middle school, the Montana Historical Society has an abundance of lesson plans for every grade, most of which are interdisciplinary. Discover how MTHS’s varied and extensive resources can enhance your students’ learning across disciplines. Register.
October 9, 2023: Introduction to National History Day in Montana
National History Day is a grade 6-12 social studies and literacy program that teaches Common Core and social studies skills while teaching students to think like historians. Learn why you should bring National History Day to your school, the curricular resources available, and about National History Day’s contest model, including the upcoming competitions in Montana. Register.
November 13, 2023: Indian Education for All Resources
Find out what’s new on tap at the Indian Education for All Unit of the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Join OPI Indian Education Specialist Mike Jetty as he shares bad jokes and great resources to help you teach your students about Indian culture and history. Register.
January 8, 2024: Finding Primary Sources Online
We all know that a great primary source—a photo, a newspaper article, a letter—can bring history to life. So much is now accessible online, but how do you find what you need amidst the hundreds of thousands of pages of digitized content? Learn techniques for searching the Montana History Portal and Montana Newspapers, brainstorm uses for the primary sources you find there, and discover lesson plans that already incorporate primary sources. Register.
February 12, 2024: Connecting Past and Present
History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme, and many of the issues we face today were pressing topics in our state's rich and robust history. Let’s talk about how to use Montana history and MTHS resources to connect the past to the present and share strategies for making discussions and projects surrounding current events more deliberate and reflective. Register.
March 11, 2024: Incorporating Children’s Literature into Social Studies
Novels, memoirs, and picture books are a great way to excite your students about history. Bring your favorite titles to share and learn what other Montana teachers are using in their classrooms to teach Indian Education for All, U.S., and Montana history. Register.
Previously Recorded
Montana History in 9 Easy Lessons (One Renewal Unit per presentation, with a possible total of 9 if you take the whole course.)
Montana Historical Society staff members and other subject matter experts explored the last twelve thousand years of Montana history. Their presentations were recorded and are now available on YouTube Click here for a full schedule and links to the recordings.
Montana History in 9 MORE Easy Lessons (One Renewal Unit per presentation, with a possible total of 9 if you take the whole course.)
Montana Historical Society staff members and other subject matter experts explored the last twelve thousand years of Montana history in another series of nine lectures. Their presentations were recorded and are now available on YouTube Click here for a full schedule and links to the recordings.
The Constitution at 50 Speaker Series (One Renewal Unit per presentation, with a possible total of 4 if you take the whole course.)
The year 2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Montana State Constitution. In recognition of this anniversary, the Montana Historical Society hosted a speaker series, examining the history, legacy, and impact of the 1972 Montana State Constitution. All presentations are available on the MHS YouTube Channel. After watching the recording, educators are invited to take a quiz to earn a renewal unit. Find links to the presentations here.
Looking for Professional Development for your school or district?
We can help through our Teacher Leaders in Montana History program! MHS Teacher Leaders are available to present at in-school or in-district PIR trainings.
