Northern Lights: Revised Second Edition
The Northern Lights revision is underway! The Revised Second Edition (R2E) will be released in phases, the first of which is slated to be available for fall of 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a revision needed?
Like any curriculum that has been in place nearly 10 years, portions of Northern Lights could be enhanced through new and revised content. The passage of time calls for deeper exploration of Minnesota's late 20th-century history, and changes in technology have opened the door to supplementing the text with interactive digital resources. Content experts and educators have had time to work with the Second Edition and provide valuable feedback about what works and what doesn’t.
In what phases with the Revised Second Edition be released?
Phase 1: Mostly Print (2013)
Components include printed Student Edition, printed Annotated Teacher’s Edition, worksheets delivered in digital form. Anticipated Release is in time for the fall of 2013.
Phase 2: Digital Student Edition and Annotated Teacher’s Edition (within 1-3 years)
Components include fully interactive digital Student Edition and Annotated Teacher Editions. Anticipated release is likely in 1-3 years, but exact timing and format(s) are to be determined based on statewide patterns of mobile device deployment. We have already created prototypes, of which classroom testing is underway.
Phase 3: Enhanced Customizable Supplements (within 2-5 years)
Components will be determined based on emerging trends in school technology adoptions, but *may* include interactive mapping journeys, digital chapters sold separately, short video clips, and more.’
Future supplements will be released a rolling basis, as trends occur in the next 2-5 years.
Why Revise Northern Lights Now?
The State of Minnesota Department of Education recently proposed a revised set of social studies standards for Minnesota schools. The new standards will take effect in the 2013-4 school year and Northern Lights is being revised to meet them. They mandate the following:
- Interdisciplinary Minnesota Studies benchmarks must be taught in all sixth grade classrooms in the state.
- Minnesota history is the lead discipline, to be covered in conjunction with citizenship and government, economics, and geography.
- Students are to learn about the unique role Minnesota played, and continues to play, in regional, national and global politics.
In what ways will the Revised Second Edition differ from the Second Edition?
Changes to the 2003 edition are based on the new standards, as well as feedback from teachers and content experts. Revisions include:
- A brand-new version of Ch.2, “The First Minnesotans”
- A sidebar in each chapter highlighting a modern connection to content
- A chapter on World War I (brand new)
- Enriched American Indian content
- Deeper exploration of late 20th-century history
- Enhanced coverage of Minnesota’s connection to the nation and world
- Activities guiding students to explore related social studies disciplines—civics/government, economics, and geography
- Delivery of chapter worksheets in a digital format
In what ways will it stay the same?
- Approximately three-quarters of the content will remain the same.
- An Investigation activity will accompany each chapter.
- Curriculum components will encourage an active process of inquiry.
- Hundreds of colorful primary sources, many from the Society’s collections, will be featured.
- Dave Kenney, author of the Student Edition chapters, will provide an engaging narrative style.
How will the R2E adapt to a rapidly changing digital environment?
We are actively pursuing ways to deliver Northern Lights content in an interactive digital format. Our digital production team, operating since 2011, has created a prototype version of Ch. 8, “The Civil War,” in two different formats. One is designed for a specific mobile device and the other can be downloaded on multiple devices. We began testing both formats in the spring of 2012. Research is ongoing.
The prototypes demonstrate exciting possibilities digital tools can offer for student engagement. However, we will not be able to determine the optimal way(s) to deliver Northern Lights digitally until patterns emerge in districts and schools. Our research indicates Minnesota schools are at the early stages of transitioning to a digital environment, particularly at the sixth grade level. However, we know this landscape is changing quickly. We will continue to monitor emerging patterns in digital implementation strategies. Exact timing for release of the digital R2E is undetermined, but likely to occur in the next 1-3 years.
A Brief History of Northern Lights
The Minnesota Historical Society publishes the state's history curriculum, Northern Lights: The Stories of Minnesota’s Past.
The first edition, published in 1989, included two hard-cover student books (a text and an activity book) and Teacher’s Edition. While tremendously successful, teacher feedback led to significant revision for the Second Edition, which was published in 2003. That new curriculum included three books: a Student Edition, an Annotated Teacher’s Edition, and a Classroom Resources Workbook.
Between the First and Second Editions, Northern Lights is being used in every county in the state.
