Carolina K-12 | Carolina Public Humanities

Carolina K-12 (formerly the NC Civic Education Consortium) is a program of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Carolina Public Humanities and works to extend the resources of the University System to North Carolina’s K-12 educators. We offer quality professional development programs which include access to scholars on key topics, innovative lesson plans, and interactive pedagogical training.

Free, High-Quality Professional Development for K-12 Teachers

Our programs support educators by:

Deepening teacher content knowledge through exchanges with university scholars, authors, artists, performers, and other humanities professionals
Exploring innovative teaching strategies through pedagogical training
Offering ready-to-implement, effective and engaging curriculum materials
Affirming Carolina’s strong appreciation for the difficult work of teachers and the challenges they face

Learn about our upcoming events for teachers here.

Program Spotlights

Our “Teaching Hard History” initiative, launched in 2018, promotes the critical belief that K-12 teachers must learn about, openly discuss, and responsibly teach our nation’s shared “hard history” in order to ensure students understand the implications of our past and the direct connections to our present, and are thus empowered to address the challenges of the future. Carolina K-12, with partners across the state and nation, is dedicated to supporting teachers in this challenging but imperative work. Read more about this critical initiative and access recorded programs and teacher resources here.
Carolina K-12 is proud to partner with the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources on their implementation of the A250 initiative, helping to ensure educators from all around the state are aware of and served by the tremendous educational possibilities this monumental milestone offers. This includes the creation and management of the A250 Freedom Fellows program, the development of diverse teaching resources, and the production of “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans,” a one-man show by Dr. Sonny Kelly.
The William Friday Teacher Education Initiative, a partnership with the North Caroliniana Society, elevates aspects of North Carolina’s rich history, diverse people, events, culture, and more. Events feature prominent scholars, artists, authors, educators, and other humanities professionals. To learn more, view recordings of past offerings, and access accompanying resources, click here.

Ready-to-Implement Curriculum

Carolina K-12 offers hundreds of engaging and ready-to-implement lesson plans and activities for use in K-12 classrooms, all of which are available for free download in our Database of K-12 Resources. All lessons are based on North Carolina teaching standards and are created using interactive and higher-order thinking strategies to maximize student engagement.

Check Us Out Around the State

Connecting Carolina to Students & Educators Across the State | Campaign for Carolina
Helping Teachers Drink It All In | Carolina Alumni Review
Slow down, baby, and notice creative teachers |The Fayetteville Observer
A History Lesson for Teachers | Endeavors Magazine
Teachers Need Oral History and Oral History Needs Teachers | The Oral History Review
Local teachers trace history of mill | Rocky Mount Telegram
What happens when kids who can’t vote finally get the chance | EdNC
K-12 Teachers Explore the Many Facets of Islam through the Performing Arts | UNC Global
Granville Elementary Instructor Delves Deep Into NC History| The Daily Dispatch

Invest in K-12 Education

Your support is invaluable in ensuring we can continue to provide our state’s educators with access to quality professional development, curriculum, and classroom resources. Click here to donate and show your appreciation for North Carolina teachers! (Select “Carolina K-12 Fund” in the dropdown box. And remember, any amount helps us serve our state’s incredible teachers!)