Teacher Professional Development

The Science of Art Conservation in K-12 Classrooms

Cost: Free
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN) 
Audience: K-12 Teachers

Register

Have you ever wondered how art and cultural artifacts are preserved for future generations? Or how the stories they tell can connect to your classroom curriculum in meaningful ways? 

Join us at the Minnesota History Center for a professional development workshop for K-12 teachers that will introduce the field of art conservation as an multi-disciplinary lens for learning through historic objects. Conservation provides a different approach to artworks that focuses on materials and making, allowing teachers to integrate topics from science, history, math and other subjects into exciting and collaborative lesson plans. 

This professional development event will give you an in-depth look at the art and science of conservation and preservation while exploring two ongoing exhibitions: Our Home: Native Minnesota and Girlhood (It’s Complicated). You will meet with art conservators, educators, and specialists in/of Native Minnesota material culture to learn about how MNHS preserves, studies and protects objects from the past for the future. 

Attendees will receive:  
✔ Free parking      ✔ Exhibit access    ✔CEUs

Contact Heidi Kloempken (heidi.kloempken@mnhs.org)with program questions. Contact Jessica McMahon (jessica.mcmahon@mnhs.org) with registration questions.

Image provided by MNHS Conservation team. Ann is surface cleaning a Native American beaded piece.

Historical Sources and Evidence: Vietnam War

Cost: $70
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 9:00-3:30
Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN) 
Audience: K-12 Teachers

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In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, join us to learn about historical sources you can use in the classroom to engage students with this topic. We will hear from speakers, explore primary sources, and learn about digital resources to support your classroom. See the agenda here. We recognize that the entirety of the war and its impact on the region cannot be covered in one workshop so we encourage you to attend the Historical Sources and Evidence: Refugees from the Vietnam War Era on Wednesday, June 18.  Get 50% off the second workshop when you register now!  Reimbursement subsidies are available to support in-person workshop participation. We want to ensure that teachers have the resources to attend professional development regardless of how far they live from the History Center. Apply for funding to reimburse mileage and hotel costs. Learn more about subsidies and apply for this first-come, first-served resource.

This workshop helps address the 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Anchor Standards 19 (Historical Perspectives), 20 (Historical Sources and Evidence), and 22 (Connecting Past and Present).

Attendees will receive:  
 ✔ Light breakfast    ✔ Lunch      ✔ Free parking      ✔ Book/takeaway

Contact Heidi Kloempken (heidi.kloempken@mnhs.org)with program questions. Contact Jessica McMahon (jessica.mcmahon@mnhs.org) with registration questions.

Image from Minnesota Historical Society

Historical Sources and Evidence: Refugees from the Vietnam War Era

Cost: $70
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 9:00-3:30
Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN) 
Audience: K-12 Teachers

Register

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Hmong and Southeast Asian migration to Minnesota, join us to learn about historical sources you can use in the classroom to engage students with this topic. We will hear from speakers, explore primary sources, and learn about digital resources to support your classroom. See the agenda here. We recognize that the contexts of the Vietnam War and Secret War, along with their impact on Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian people, cannot be covered in one workshop so we encourage you to also attend the Historical Sources and Evidence: Vietnam War workshop on June 17. Get 50% off the second workshop when you register now! Reimbursement subsidies are available to support in-person workshop participation. We want to ensure that teachers have the resources to attend professional development regardless of how far they live from the History Center. Apply for funding to reimburse mileage and hotel costs. Learn more about subsidies and apply for this first-come, first-served resource.

This workshop helps address the 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Anchor Standards 19 (Historical Perspectives), 20 (Historical Sources and Evidence), and 22 (Connecting Past and Present).

Participants will receive:  
✔ Light breakfast     ✔ Lunch     ✔ Free parking     ✔ Book/takeaway

Contact Meghan Davisson (meghan.davisson@mnhs.org)with program questions. Contact Jessica McMahon (jessica.mcmahon@mnhs.org) with registration questions.

Image from Minnesota Historical Society 

Northern Lights Academy

Cost: $70 before 9/2/25, $100 after
Date: Monday, November 10, 2025, 8:00am-2:30pm
Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN) 
Audience: Teachers using the Northern Lights curriculum

Register

Join us for the annual Northern Lights Academy conference for teachers using the Northern Lights Minnesota Studies curriculum. Get a comprehensive update about the forthcoming Northern Lights 3rd Edition (including standards alignment and cover reveal) and attend sessions featuring Minnesota Studies experts and master Northern Lights teachers from across Minnesota. This year, we’ll pack the agenda with activities, strategies, and resources to help you implement the 2021 Academic Standards for Social Studies, as well as sneak peeks of the Northern Lights 3rd Edition (available summer 2026). 

Your in-person registration includes:

✔ Light breakfast   ✔ Lunch   ✔ Exhibits Access     ✔ Capitol Tour     ✔ History Center Store Voucher   ✔ CEUs   ✔ Parking

Sessions will align with the Revised 2nd Edition of Northern Lights, or preview the 3rd Edition. Teachers using the 2nd or 1st editions will also find these sessions useful. Teachers must have the Northern Lights curriculum to register.
 
Present at Northern Lights Academy

Apply to share your valuable learnings, resources, and strategies at Northern Lights Academy! Sessions presented by practicing Northern Lights teachers, aligning with the 2021 Academic Standards for Social Studies, and centering student engagement will be prioritized. Submit your session proposal before May 31, 2025. Presenters receive free registration for the Northern Lights Academy, as well as any applicable travel subsidies and a stipend.  Learn more and propose your session 

Apply for Travel Subsidies

A top priority is ensuring that Northern Lights teachers have the resources to attend in-person regardless of how far they live from the History Center. Reimbursement subsidies are available to support in-person workshop participation. Apply for funding to reimburse substitute, mileage, and hotel costs. Learn more and apply for subsidies

Contact Kara Knight with program questions. Contact Mariajose Cardenas for subsidy questions. Contact Jessica McMahon with registration questions.

Image from Minnesota Historical Society 

History Day in a Nutshell - Moorhead/North Dakota

Cost: Free             
Location: Livingston Lord Library at Minnesota State University Moorhead         
Date: Friday, May 2: 9 am - 2 pm (registration closes April 25)

Register

National History Day puts the power of history into the hands of almost half a million students across the country each year. Students investigate a historical topic they’re interested in related to an annual theme, conduct in-depth research, and present the information in a variety of formats. Students have the opportunity to participate in a progressive contest cycle, culminating in a national competition at the University of Maryland College Park.

Participants will learn about the overall framework for the program and benefits for their students. The workshop will deep dive into sample projects, research resources, the annual theme, and next steps to bring NHD to your students. Leave with a variety of classroom-ready tools to begin NHD in your own school. 

This workshop is open to both new and currently participating educators in Minnesota and North Dakota.   

Contact Cathy Richter with questions.