K-14 Educator Programs and Resources

A primary mission of the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (CSEEES) is to work with Ohio K-14 educational institutions to promote the knowledge and understanding of Eastern Europe and Eurasia by bringing the cultures, histories, and languages of these regions into the classroom. CSEEES does this by offering lectures and presentations, loaning classroom materials, developing lesson plans and curriculum guides, organizing teacher training workshops, and providing funding for professional development opportunities. Topics and formats are designed to align with Ohio education content standards. Through these activities, CSEEES fosters the 21st century learning and increased global competencies of Ohio K-14 students. All services and trainings are provided free-of-charge.

Teacher Trainings Programs

Currently, CSEEES supports four primary teacher training programs. All programs are free and open to any pre- or in-service teacher in Ohio.

CSEEES Annual Teacher Training Workshop

Each year CSEEES organizes a one-day workshop on a timely topic affecting Eastern Europe and/or Eurasia. The workshop is typically held on a Saturday morning during the autumn semester and features a guest expert, selected readings, and a curriculum resource for attendees.

The Area Studies Centers K-14 Global Fellowship Program

Organized in partnership with the Area Studies Centers at The Ohio State University, this academic-year-long program connects teachers from across the United States in a series of discussion group sessions that focus on contemporary issues from a global perspective. Sessions are led by regional experts and will engage K-14 educators in a series of guided readings, lectures, and group discussions to increase their knowledge of the global dimension of salient issues affecting the world in order to prepare them to lead discussions about these complex topics back in the classroom.

The Area Studies Centers Global Teacher Seminar

The Global Teacher Seminar is an annual, week-long seminars that aim to inform K-14 educators about global issues and provide pedagogical training to help them incorporate new content into their curricula. Seminars take place during the summer and themes are selected to align with Ohio education content standards. These themes help to deepen teachers’ understanding of an issue by going through detailed case studies from around the world, specifically Africa, East Asia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The Engaging Eurasia Teacher Fellowship Program

In partnership with the REEE NRCs at Harvard University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, CSEEES co-sponsors the Engaging Eurasia Teacher Fellowship program. This year-long, national professional development program provides select high school and community college educators with the opportunity to spend one academic year undertaking an in-depth study of the people, histories, cultures, and current events of Eurasia. Fellows participate in monthly webinars with experts in the field as well as an in-person workshop at one of the partnering universities, develop curricula for classroom application, and benefit from being a part of a diverse learning community.

Other CSEEES Resources

In addition to the programs we have listed above, we are happy to work with any educational organization to develop presentations and materials around their needs or different grade levels and can discuss different resources available. Below are some commonly used and requested materials.  

Available CSEEES Resources

To provide free, widely accessible content about Eastern Europe and Eurasia, CSEEES has worked with Ohio State faculty and graduate student experts to create online modules that are self-contained units of instruction for K-14 students and teachers, as well as community college educators and students. Modules are in a variety of formats, are fully accessible, and are made to provide users with additional resources and information to further their study of a topic and/or country.

Please check the online resources page for a list of modules available, as well as information on grade levels and content standards for each.

CSEEES can develop and deliver presentations for schools throughout Ohio upon request. Presentations can be in-person, virtual, or pre-recorded in order to suit each educator's needs. To request a presentation, please contact Alicia Baca, the CSEEES outreach coordinator, at baca.31@osu.edu or call (614)292-8770.

CSEEES Annual Workshop Resource Guides

LGBTQ+ Histories and Issues of Eastern Europe and Eurasia Padlet

This resource guide was created as a component of our 2022 LGBTQ+ Histories and Issues of Eastern Europe and Eurasia teacher training workshop. This Padlet contains links to articles, books, music, films, inclusive language resources, and educational resources for K-12 and community college educators who are wanting to learn more about the subject or want to find resources that are appropriate and interesting for their students. This resource will be updated periodically. If you have resources that you would like to see included or need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

Ukrainian Culture and History Resources Padlet

This resource guide was created as a component of our 2022 Ukrainian culture and history teacher training workshop. This Padlet contains links to articles, videos, interactive maps, audio, and teaching strategies for K-12 and community college educators who are wanting to learn more about the subject or want to find resources that are appropriate and interesting for their students. This resource will be updated periodically. If you have resources that you would like to see included or need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

Feminism and Women’s Rights in Eastern Europe and Eurasia Resource Padlet

This resource guide was created as a component of our 2023-24 Global Fellowship Program that focused on women's rights and issues across the globe. This Padlet contains links to articles, books, music, films, inclusive language resources, and educational resources for K-12 and community college educators who are wanting to learn more about the subject or want to find resources that are appropriate and interesting for their students. This resource will be updated periodically. If you have resources that you would like to see included or need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

Slavic Science Fantasy Literature and Film as Political and Social Commentary Resource Guide

This resource guide was created as a component of our 2023 K-14 teacher training workshop “Happiness Without Freedom or Freedom Without Happiness”: Slavic Science Fantasy Literature and Film as Political and Social Commentary. The workshop focused on how works within the genres of science fantasy, sci-fi, speculative fiction, etc. have functioned as an outlet for criticizing social and political in Eastern Europe as well as how these works have influenced the creative output of their Anglophone counterparts. This resource guide contains links to articles, books, music, films, and educational resources for K-12 and community college educators who want to learn more about the subject or want to find resources that are appropriate and interesting for their students. If you have resources that you would like to see included or need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

Global Teacher Seminar Resource Guides

2023 Global Teacher Seminar: The Effects of Political and Social Changes on Romani and African Diasporic Communities in Central and Southeast Europe since 2004 

Curated by Dr. Sunnie Rucker-Chang (Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures) and Alicia Baca, this Padlet was created for the OSU Area Studies Centers' 2023 Global Teacher Seminar which focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Rucker-Chang's lecture addressed SDG #10, reduced inequalities. She discussed the social, educational, and political challenges that marginalized populations (specifically Romani and African diasporic communities) in Central and Southeast Europe face. If you need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

2022 Global Teacher Seminar: Good Health and Well-Being in Estonia and Moldova

Curated by Dr. Lorraine Wallace (OSU College of Medicine) and Alicia Baca, this Padlet was created for the OSU Area Studies Centers' 2022 Global Teacher Seminar which focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Wallace's lecture addressed SDG #3, good health and well-being. She explored the ways in which the Estonian and Moldovan governments approached health care and public health after the fall of the Soviet Union. If you need to report a broken link, please email CSEEES' outreach coordinator, Alicia Baca (baca.31@osu.edu).

Knowledge Bank is an open access, free public digital repository hosted by The Ohio State University Libraries. Past presentations developed by CSEEES and unit plans and activities created by past teacher training participants have been uploaded to Knowledge Bank and are free to download, use, and modify. Items include PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, Russian language activities, and document based questions.

Culture boxes are a way to bring foreign cultures and history directly into the classroom. CSEEES has collected realia (objects and material from everyday life that can be used as teaching aids) from Eastern Europe including foreign currencies, toys, games, maps, posters, clothing items, and books. Teachers can borrow culture boxes or items from CSEEES to incorporate artifacts into lessons. To request items, please contact Alicia Baca, the CSEEES outreach coordinator, at baca.31@osu.edu or call (614)292-8770.

CSEEES has recorded and posted on YouTube numerous videos from its past lectures. Additionally, CSEEES staff and interns have made videos and presentations on a variety of topics.

Other Resources

Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

Origins is a publication of Ohio State's and Miami University's Departments of History. They regularly publish articles, book reviews, videos, and podcasts on timely historical subjects. Additionally, they also provide lesson plan resources for teachers.

The History Teaching Institute (HTI)

HTI serves as the primary outreach unit of The Ohio State University History Department. They work with teachers to develop curriculum and to incorporate the best practices of using technology in the classroom, all in an effort to improve both teaching and learning at Ohio State and in schools around the state.

National Endowment for the Humanities: Central Asia in World History

Participants of the 2016 Central Asia in World History developed a final unit plan based on their research during the Summer Institute. These unit plans were developed based on the subjects and interests of the teachers, and in consultation with the Director, Dr. Scott Levi, and master teacher, Bobbie Mucha. Below they are available for viewing and download to assist other teachers who wish to teach more about Central Asia.

2016 NEH Summer Institute "Central Asia in World History" Unit Plans

Caspiana 

Caspiana is a digital toolbox to find resources and sources of information about Central Asia and the Caucasus. Created by the Davis Center at Harvard University

EDSITEment

EDSITEment contains lesson plans and educator resources from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI)

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative strives to raise the visibility of world literature for adults and children at the local, national and international levels. They do so by facilitating close and direct collaboration between translators, librarians, publishers, editors, and educators, because they believe that these groups in collaboration are uniquely positioned to help libraries provide support and events to engage readers of all ages in a library framework that explores and celebrates literature from around the world. A database for GLLI can also be found on their website. 

OER Commons

Similar to Ohio State's Knowledge Bank, OER Commons is a public digital library of open educational resources. Explore, create, and collaborate with educators around the world to improve curriculum.

Retro Report

Retro Report has produced more than 250 short documentaries and video series in partnership with The New York Times, PBS, the New Yorker, VICE, Scientific American, NBC News, Politico, Time, The Guardian, Univision and others. They combine reliable and compelling journalism with history, civics, and media literacy education in order to make today's hot-button topics easier to understand for younger students. 

Teaching the World

Teaching the World is a comprehensive calendar that lists upcoming professional development programs for K-14 educators and administrators. The calendar is updated monthly and features programs from a wide range of NRCs that cover world regions including, but not limited to; Africa, East Asia, East Europe/Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East, and more. 

Words Without Borders

Words Without Borders is a digital magazine that offers access to the world’s literary voices. These include writers like Elena Ferrante, Olga Tokarczuk, and Han Kang and they are committed to centering writers in indigenous, endangered, and other world languages that are too often marginalized. Their educational program, WWB Campus, brings global literature into hundreds of classrooms, offering free access to stories from around the world; multimedia curricular resources that bring literature to life; and professional support for educators.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound. They believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials we seek to strengthen people's engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Smithsonian Folkways is part of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Email Alicia Baca, the CSEEES outreach coordinator, at baca.31@osu.edu or call (614)292-8770 for more information.