Discover how Traditional Indigenous Games serve as a holistic bridge between mind, body, and spirit. Originally designed to hone survival skills and strategic prowess, these games offer a powerful way for educators to engage students of all abilities today. Participants will dive into the rich cultural heritage, rules, and techniques of the Dene, nehiyawak, Niitsitapi, Inuit, Nakota Sioux, and Saulteaux peoples. By experiencing these traditions firsthand, you will learn to foster physical literacy and deep cultural appreciation in your classroom. (Div 1, 2, 3, 4)
This session explores the draft of the new social studies curriculum for junior high, and how to coach a “doing” classroom—one that trains students not just for the next test, but for the long game of life as engaged, informed citizens in an ever-changing world. Like effective athletic training, strong instruction builds stamina, strategy, and teamwork. Participants will examine practical approaches that get students off the sidelines and into action, including cooperative learning structures, visible thinking routines, and ongoing formative assessment. In exploring how skills and procedures are directly connected to content knowledge in the new curriculum, educators will be challenged to rethink their game plan. A variety of strategies will be modeled, giving teachers a clear playbook for how they can be implemented in their own classrooms. *this session will provide all resources in english and in french.* (Div 3)
Sport is often celebrated as a space of teamwork, perseverance, and unity, but it also reflects deeper social tensions around race, gender, disability, and belonging. This session explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of sport as a powerful lens for Social Studies education. Participants will examine historical and contemporary examples where sport has both challenged and reinforced social inequalities, from moments of activism and inclusion to cases of exclusion and discrimination. Drawing on classroom experiences and examples from school athletics, the session will explore how sport can help students critically understand identity, power, and social change. Educators will leave with practical strategies, discussion prompts, and lesson ideas that use sport to engage students in meaningful conversations about fairness, participation, and belonging. By looking beyond the podium, teachers can help students see sport not just as competition, but as a window into society itself.
The key issue to be discussed is the pronounced and structural underrepresentation of women within North American secondary social studies education (SSED). Women's stories in history education account for only 11% of the content; therefore, this interactive session will explore areas within the Alberta social studies curriculum that teachers can integrate contributions of women throughout history in a meaningful way. This session will approach the issue through a lens of sport, highlighting Canadian women in sport and their contributions to our historical narrative. Lastly, teachers will have the opportunity to share their instructional practices and resources that highlight the voices and perspectives of women throughout history.
What if instead of another PowerPoint presentation or five-paragraph essay, your students could respond to the issues they're studying by coding and producing their own original song?
Your Voice is Power (Ta Voix est Puissante) is a free, bilingual (English/French) program that aligns with exactly what Alberta Social Studies teachers are already teaching. Whether your students are exploring Canadian identity and Indigenous history in Grade 7, grappling with the legacy of residential schools in Social 10, examining nationalism and collective identity in Social 20, or debating ideology and social justice in Social 30, this program connects directly to the conversations already happening in your classroom.
Through eight ready-made modules, students explore Indigenous history and the TRC's Calls to Action through the music of acclaimed Indigenous artists like Aysanabee, Dakota Bear, Jayli Wolf, Samian and more. Students then use EarSketch, a free browser-based music editor powered by Python, to remix and create their own original songs as a tool for advocacy and social change. Have no fear - no coding experience is required!
Join this hands-on PD workshop where you'll explore the full program, get comfortable with EarSketch, and walk away with everything you need to run this program confidently in your own classroom. The lessons are already built, the curriculum connections are already there, and your students will thank you for this fresh, creative way to demonstrate their learning. Bring your own computer!
Designed with new curriculum implementation in mind — especially when resources are limited but content expectations are high — this session introduces teachers to a variety of ready-to-use strategies that require minimal prep yet deliver meaningful engagement. From quick, low-prep activities and guided inquiry to larger projects that amplify student voice and choice, participants will walk away with practical tools they can use immediately.
