Teacher Professional Development

Northern Lights Third Edition Preview Webinars

Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Audience: Teachers using the Northern Lights curriculum

Date/Time: Thursday, June 18 2:00-3:00 pm

Are you anxious to see the Northern Lights Third Edition? Are you looking ahead to the 2026-27 school year and wondering what will be in your toolkit? Join Northern Lights staff for an overview of what’s coming in the Northern Lights Third Edition, including a preview of unit plans, pacing guides, learning activities, and teacher supports for the changing student textbook. While curriculum materials will not yet be available for delivery, attendees will leave with a clear idea of how the revision will impact their current curriculum plan and what tools they’ll have access to when the curriculum drops by the end of July. The two webinar presentations will be the same content.

Contact Kara Knight with content questions.

Northern Lights Third Edition Orientation

Cost: $50
Audience: Teachers using the Northern Lights curriculum

Dates and Locations:

Monday, July 27: Forest History Center, Grand Rapids
Tuesday, July 28: Northwest Service Cooperative, Thief River Falls
Wednesday, July 29: Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud
Thursday, July 30: Southwest Service Cooperative, Marshall
Friday, July 31: History Center of Olmsted County, Rochester
Thursday, August 6: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
Tuesday, August 25: Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul

Join the Northern Lights revision team to explore the new third edition curriculum elements. We’ll review changes made to the student text, orient to scope and sequence tools in the Annotated Teachers Edition, and identify benchmark alignment and assessment in the provided Learning Activities. Connections to local history will be included, as well as pathways for support during curriculum implementation

Your registration includes:

✔ Resources for classroom application ✔ Coffee & refreshments ✔ Lunch ✔ Parking ✔ Mileage subsidies for those travelling over 50 miles roundtrip

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

Northern Lights 101

Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Audience: Teachers new to using the Northern Lights curriculum

The same session will be offered multiple times:

Wednesday, August 26, 2:00-4:00
Friday, August 28, 1:00-3:00
Tuesday, September 22, 3:30-5:30

First time teaching with the Northern Lights Interactive eBook? Need a refresher before the 2025-26 school year? Join Northern Lights teacher educators from the Minnesota Historical Society for an introductory webinar about Northern Lights—from the content it covers, to the different curriculum components, and hallmarks of the curriculum. Get a walk-through of the Northern Lights Interactive eBook and have practice time to navigate the new eBook platform and ask questions.

The webinar will be repeated synchronously multiple times to accommodate your schedule. Zoom video conferencing will be used. Connecting via a device with a larger-screen video feed (laptop, desktop, or tablet) will be essential to benefit from this session.

Sessions are free for Northern Lights subscribers, but registration is required. Contact Kara Knight with questions.

Northern Lights Academy

Date: Monday, November 9, 2026 8:30 am-2:30 pm (in-person)
Cost: $70 by 9/4/26, $100 after 9/4/26 Apply for Travel Subsidies
Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN)
Audience: Teachers using the Northern Lights curriculum

Join us for the annual Northern Lights Academy conference for teachers using the Northern Lights Minnesota Studies curriculum. Learn more about the newly-released Northern Lights Third Edition 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 a dedicated strand orienting teachers to the new Northern Lights Third Edition.

Your in-person registration includes:

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

Sessions will align with the Third Edition of Northern Lights. Teachers using the Revised 2nd, 2nd, or 1st editions will also find these sessions useful. Teachers must use 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 Sept. 30, 2026. 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 (button?)

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 and session proposal questions. Contact Mariajose Cardenas for subsidy questions. Contact Jessica McMahon with registration questions.

Teacher Education Workshops

Northern Lights Third Edition Preview Webinars

Northern Lights Third Edition Orientation

Northern Lights 101

Northern Lights Academy

History Day Teacher Workshops

Cancellation policy