Teacher Professional Development

Northern Lights Third Edition Orientation

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

Dates and Locations:

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 questions. 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

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 questions. Contact Mariajose Cardenas for subsidy questions.

History Day in a Nutshell

Dates:

Thursday, October 1 (4:30-6:30 pm)
Saturday, October 10 (9-11 am)

Cost: FREE, and 50% off coupon for HD101 Workshop registration

Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN)

Audience: Teachers brand-new to History Day looking for a brief program overview

Registration coming soon!

Are you a new teacher considering implementing History Day for the first time in your classroom? This workshop will go over the basic structure of the program, give you ideas for scaffolding, and answer your questions. Attend this workshop for free and get a 50% discount on another History Day workshop this year!

Your in-person registration includes:

✔ Light meal ✔ Exhibits Access ✔ CEUs ✔ Parking

Contact Cathy Richter (Cathy.Richter@mnhs.org) with questions.

Theme Exploration & Curriculum Collaboration

Dates:

Tuesday, October 6 (8:30 am - 3 pm)
Tuesday, October 27 (8:30 am - 3 pm)

Cost: $70. For each registration, get a second registration free!

Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN)

Audience: New and experienced History Day teachers

Registration coming soon!

Learn about Innovation in History with History Day staff and share your own ideas through collaborative activities in the morning. In the afternoon, we will have open discussion time for curriculum planning. Bring your calendars, rubrics, and other History Day lessons.

Your in-person registration includes:

✔ Light breakfast and lunch ✔ CEUs ✔ Parking

Contact Cathy Richter (Cathy.Richter@mnhs.org) with questions.

History Day 101

Date: Tuesday, October 20 (8:30 am - 3 pm)

Cost: $70.

Location: Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN)

Audience: New History Day teachers or those looking for a refresher on the basics

Registration coming soon!

History Day 101 addresses the fundamentals of the program. Staff, along with former students and a master teacher, will discuss the program framework and implementation strategies. Participants will leave with a variety of classroom-ready tools to begin implementing History Day in their own schools.

Your in-person registration includes:

✔ Light breakfast and lunch ✔ CEUs ✔ Parking

Contact Cathy Richter (Cathy.Richter@mnhs.org) with questions.

Teacher Education Workshops

Northern Lights Third Edition Orientation

Northern Lights 101

Northern Lights Academy

History Day Teacher Workshops

History Day in a Nutshell

Theme Exploration & Curriculum Collaboration

History Day 101

History Day Webinars

Cancellation policy