CSMP

The UCLA History-Geography Project is a state-wide professional development organization whose activities are based on the on the California History-Social Science Standards and current research on effective practices for increasing student achievement.  We are committed to building teacher leadership by using the complimentary fields of history and geography to bring together:

• teachers from different schools and with varying levels of experience
• parents and community members
• university based scholars including historians, geographers, law professors, and political scientists
• cultural organizations throughout the city such as museums, libraries, and archives

The focus of our work is teachers and students in high-need urban schools.  With this focus in mind, we develop and present research-based pedagogical strategies that help all students access our text-based content.  We assist teachers in connecting community knowledge to the standards-based curriculum so that they can create culturally relevant lessons that engage students in higher level thinking.

Throughout the school year the Project presents a variety of programs, all of which are developed and planned in conjunction with classroom teachers and university scholars and are guided by the evaluation of our activities. These include a World History Scholar-Teacher series, specialized history institutes, training to embed geography and utilize technology in the classroom as well as economics workshops.  Our programs are offered as after-school content lecture-pedagogy sessions, all-day workshops, and summer institutes.  We also provide in-school support for teachers.

Our ultimate goal is for all students in Los Angeles schools to have a quality social science education.