UCLA History-Geography Project

Bring local narratives to your classroom with our new IE Stories lesson by Dr. Irene Sanchez on reimagining citrus crate labels! 🔎 Students will critically analyze vintage labels to uncover hidden histories of labor, and then design their own counter-narratives centering community pride.Check the link in our bio for this culturally sustaining resource.

https://centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/history-geography/ie-stories-using-local-narratives-in-k-12-instruction/

This Black History Month, we are excited to announce a new professional learning opportunity for K–12 teachers:

Local Landmarks, Hidden Stories: Paul R. Williams and the Architecture of Belonging.

This new Curriculum Cohort Initiative invites educators to explore local Black history through the built environment, centering the life and legacy of architect Paul R. Williams and the questions of race, place, and belonging embedded in Los Angeles’s landscape.

Developed in partnership with the UCLA History–Geography Project and the Getty Research Institute, this two-day summer institute will take place June 29–30, 2026 at the Getty Center. Teachers will work directly with primary sources from the Getty’s collections, including architectural drawings, archival documents, and photographs. Together, participants will examine themes such as redlining, housing access, and the creation of Black community spaces rooted in joy and resilience.

As part of the cohort, educators will collaborate to develop classroom-ready lessons that activate resources from the African American Art History Initiative. Participants who complete all program requirements will receive a stipend, and completed lessons will be published through Getty.edu and UCLA HGP, extending this work to classrooms across the region.
We invite you to apply and join a cohort of K–12 educators committed to teaching Black history through local stories and meaningful place-based inquiry.

Application deadline: March 1, 2026. Apply here: bit.ly/3LA5BxR

How do you help students understand history when history is happening all around them? Join fellow educators from across Los Angeles for this collaborative workshop designed to help you plan curriculum that bridges the classroom and the world.

What We'll Do Together:

Connect the moment to the curriculum. Work with UCLAHGP's facilitators and fellow educators to develop lessons that weave contemporary issues, from immigration and labor movements to global conflicts, into your existing units and courses.

Reimagine your teaching approach. Walk away with practical frameworks and protocols for remixing your instruction, whether you're teaching U.S. History, World History, or Ethnic Studies.

Build community and share resources. Collaborate in small groups, exchange ideas with colleagues, and contribute to a shared resource bank that benefits everyone.

You'll Leave With:

Frameworks for connecting historical concepts to contemporary issues

Ready-to-use resources and lesson plans from the UCLA History-Geography Project's collection

A network of fellow educators committed to relevant, engaged teaching

Protocols for ongoing curriculum development throughout the school year

Workshop Details:
When: August 7, 2025 | 1:00-3:00 PM PST
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE (optional donations of $5-$25 welcome)

This workshop is completely free because we believe every educator deserves access to high-quality professional development. If you're able to contribute $5-$25 (before, during, or after the workshop), your donation helps us continue offering these resources to teachers across LA.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj_AeTFKBgTh91rIVCrmDw2IJu0Rv6esXNwnZN_NO70BPuCw/viewform