Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What standards does Teaching California’s content align with?

Teaching California instructional materials are designed to align with California’s History Social-Science Framework, adopted in 2016. The Framework integrates both statewide standards for History-Social Science, and English Language Development Standards.

How can I use this website?

Teaching California is a dynamic website where K-12 teachers and other educators can discover, share, and adapt resources aligned with California’s new History-Social Science Framework.

Users will be able to:

  • Browse and download inquiry sets: collections of relevant primary sources, excerpted by grade-level, along with teaching resources and at least one strategy designed to improve student reading, writing, and / or oral discourse ability.
  • Search for inquiry sets and digitized primary sources, by grade and topic.
  • Review the new History-Social Science Framework and current History-Social Science Content Standards for the state of California by grade level.
  • Share inquiry sets and individual sources with fellow educators and learners.
  • Participate in online and in-person learning experiences around Teaching California content by following and subscribing to our News.
  • Read about new Teaching California project developments and other education news.

Do I have to be a teacher to use the Teaching California website?

No. Teaching California is an educational website for learners of all ages, for school or personal use. Although we have designed the content and features in Teaching California with K-12 teachers in mind (and by extension, their students), it is open to anyone.

Can we expect to see new materials added to the website anytime soon?

Yes! For those visiting the website upon launch in August 2019, they will find two inquiry sets per grade for K-12. Throughout the remainder of 2019 and into 2020, we will continue to add additional grade-level inquiry sets, including primary sources, to the website.

Stay up to date with our News for more information on when these rollouts will be happening.

How long will you continue to add new content to the website?

The Teaching California project is slated for completion in June of 2020, so teachers and other visitors to the site can expect new content between project launch in August 2019 up through to this time. The website itself will continue to be maintained by the California Historical Society.

I am interested in finding related primary sources to the ones found on this site. Can you recommend the best place to start?

We are glad you are enjoying the sources! If you find an image you like in Teaching California, check the accompanying metadata connected to that image and click on the link to go to the digital collections of the institution or repository that provided it.

You may also review the Participating Institutions section of the About page and scroll through the repositories that supported Teaching California. The links will take you to directly to their collections pages. CHS’s collection is accessible online through its Digital Library.

CONCERNING TERMS OF SERVICE AND/OR PRIVACY POLICY

May I put CHS content on my personal website, blog or other social networking page?

Yes, so long as you:

  • Identify the author and source of the Materials you share;
  • Do not remove any copyright, trademark, or other notices that are placed in or near the Materials you use;
  • Do not use the Content to promote, advertise, or sell your own products or services or for any other commercial or unauthorized purpose; and
  • Comply with any other terms or restrictions that may be applicable to the Materials on the Web site.

I love the Teaching California logo! May I use it on my website?

No. You may not use the Teaching California logo or other trademarks without CHS’s prior written permission.

But what if I want use the Teaching California logo as a link to the Teaching California website?

Even so, you need CHS’s prior written permission to use its logo or other trademarks for any purpose (other than fair use as defined by trademark law). For linking, please use a text link, not the logo.

May I use Teaching California content on t-shirts that I plan to sell?

No, this would be a commercial use. If you wish to make a commercial use, you must obtain prior written permission. Contact: rights@calhist.org.

How may I use Teaching California content in my research paper or other class work?

You may quote, describe, or include a copy of Teaching California Materials so long as you:

  • Identify the author and source of the Materials as you would material from any printed work;
  • Identify www.teachingcalifornia.org as the source of the Materials;
  • Do not remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices including attribution information, credits, or notices that are placed in or near the text, images, or data that you use; and
  • Comply with any other terms or restrictions that may be applicable to the Materials.

How may I use Teaching California content in my lectures/lesson plans?

We want teachers to be able to use the site in a way that makes sense for you and your classes, whether that is using all or parts of what we have created depending on your classrooms, using our Materials as a guide to create new lessons, etc. Please visit this site’s About page for more information. In addition, CHS invites you to make educational or fair use of its Materials so long as you:

  • Identify the author and source of the Materials as you would material from any printed work;
  • Identify www.teachingcalifornia.org as the source of the Materials;
  • Do not remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices including attribution information, credits, or notices that are placed in or near the text, images, or data;
  • Do not use the Materials to promote, advertise, or sell your own products or services or for any other commercial or unauthorized purpose; and
  • Comply with any other terms or restrictions that may be applicable to the Materials.