Embedded Files
May 11, 2022
May 11, 2022
Resource for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're sharing a resource to highlight grassroots activism and leadership by AAPI individuals and communities.
This lesson plan explores the story of Moonlynn Tsai and Yin Chang, two queer Asian American women who started a mutual aid initiative to support Asian elders struggling with food insecurity and fear of being targeted for hate-motivated harassment and violence. They have prepared and delivered thousands of hot meals and care packages to seniors whose pantries were emptying. Attached to each paper bag is a letter saying, "We are thinking of you and we love you," written in Chinese.
In this lesson, students will watch the trailer for To the Plate, a documentary that follows Moonlynn and Yin's grassroots efforts. Afterward, students will research and celebrate local community organizations and Asian and Pacific Islander leaders building a better world in their own backyard.
May 9, 2022
May 9, 2022
Civic Online Reasoning in the news
How to Tell News Fact from Fiction, Even During a War
"If you're asking students to open up their Chromebooks, you need to give them the skills to responsibly use them," Ms. Kellison, a social studies curriculum specialist at Lincoln Public Schools, said.
Fighting Disinformation Can Feel Like a Lost Cause. It Isn't.
"When the [Stanford History Education Group] incorporated these lessons into a 12th-grade civics course, they found almost immediate improvement in the students’ ability to think critically about that information."
Media Literacy Is Desperately Needed in Classrooms Around the Country, Advocates Say
"Researchers from SHEG argued that the volume of content on the internet is unsurmountable and that there simply aren’t enough hours in a day to research every single issue — but people need efficient, time-saving strategies to separate good information from bad."
May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022
Reminder: Registration for the 2022 Virtual Law Day Conference for Students closes THIS Friday, May 6. Speakers are available on a first come, first served basis - book your time today!
On April 25, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 524 into law, and with it, moved forward with a number of measures related to elections. One of the bill's provisions bans ranked-choice voting for all elections conducted in Florida. The legislation states it is "prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting to determine election or nomination to elective office; voiding existing or future local ordinances authorizing the use of ranked choice voting." In light of this law's passage in Florida, we ask the questions: "What is ranked-choice voting?" and "What electoral systems are used in the United States (and else where)?"
This week’s Current Event resources examine electoral voting systems. The resources shared provide context and information about various electoral voting systems and the debates around their possible impact if implemented in the U.S.
Please note: this is the final Current Event of the 2021-22 school year. We will be back in the fall with the relevant, ready-to-use curriculum you need for your classroom! In the meantime, you can always use our searchable Current Event archive, and sign up for our We The Teachers Educator: Resource Community to access all of our classroom-ready materials.
March 30, 2022
March 30, 2022
9 New Cases Added to Our Landmark Library
Use our mini-lessons on U.S. Supreme Court cases to help students learn about their rights and engage in conversation around differing perspectives.
As educators, we all know if a student sees themselves in a lesson they are far more likely to engage and learn. That was one of our goals behind adding nine new mini-lessons to our Landmark Library that can help you bring diverse voices and discussions of equity into your curriculum. The new cases include:
•Elk v. Wilkins (1884) — focus on citizenship
•U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) — focus on interracial marriage
•Loving v. Virginia (1967) — focus on interracial marriage
•Lau v. Nichols (1974) — focus on the rights of multilingual learners
•Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988) — focus on religious discrimination
•U.S. v. Virginia (1996) — focus on gender discrimination
•PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin (2001) — focus on the rights of people with disabilities
•EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch (2015) — focus on religious discrimination
•Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) — focus on gay marriage
February 27, 2022
February 27, 2022
Global tensions are rising in Europe and the COVID-19 pandemic is entering its third year. There is perhaps no more important time for students to build an understanding of our interconnected world and how policy decisions made in the United States affect other countries. To support learning about U.S. foreign policy, we’ve released Convene the Council, developed in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations.
In Convene the Council, students take on the role of President of the United States and respond to world events with the support of their National Security Council. They will learn to:
Address international crises through strategic action
Weigh the pros and cons of various policy options
Delegate action to appropriate government agencies and departments
Work to improve core metrics of U.S. prosperity, values, security, and world health
Play the game and explore:
A game guide and Extension Pack full of resources to facilitate in-depth conversations with students, including a customizable slide deck.
Accessibility for English and Multilingual Learners with a Spanish version of the game, English voice over, and an embedded glossary.
With foreign policy front and center in the news, Convene the Council will support timely, engaging classroom discussions and motivate your students to build their global civics skills.
February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022
February 21 marks Presidents’ Day, the federal holiday during which Americans commemorate the service of their past executives. One of the most important powers that the Constitution grants the President of the United States is the power as commander-in-chief over all armed forces. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech to Congress asking it to declare war on Germany. How did this speech reflect the roles the executive and legislature play in our constitutional system? How did the U.S. entry into war reflect the constitutional principle of separation of powers
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ACTIVITY
For the next two weeks, we're asking students to weigh in on "What is the President's role in our constitutional system?" The top answer for each side will win a $25 gift card and the chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 at the end of the school year. You could also win $25 and BRI swag as a referring teacher so encourage your students to submit their answers by March 3rd!
Check out our Presidents Day playlist that includes more than 20 lessons and activities, videos, and our Presidents and the Constitution resource.
February 17, 2022
February 17, 2022
Western States Civics Coalition Presents:
Western States Civics Coalition Presents:
A REPUBLIC IF WE CAN KEEP IT - CIVIL DISCOURSE IN OUR CLASSROOMS
A REPUBLIC IF WE CAN KEEP IT - CIVIL DISCOURSE IN OUR CLASSROOMS
with Joe Schmidt, Author and Educator
Thursday, February 24, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. PT
Are you (or the educators you support) equipped to engage in discourse around relevant topics of the day, even those that some consider contentious? This presentation combines research based best practices and years of classroom and supervisor experience in laying out a "how to" guide that supports student engagement in the classroom. Educators need to start planning for civil discourse before the first student enters their classroom in the fall and work to align these conversations to a themes (like in the EAD Roadmap), skills (like in the C3 Framework), and standards (like your own state and/or district standards) throughout the year in preparation of the toughest topics that students will face.
Participants will identify their own potential topic and be prompted to spend time putting together a framework to support success in a way that works best for their own situation. The goal is that every participant feels more prepared to support civil discourse in the classroom and leaves with the tools necessary to address contemporary and historical issues that are too important to avoid.
Joe Schmidt has served in a variety of leadership positions with numerous social studies related organizations across the United States including iCivics, Learning for Justice, NCGE, and ThinkerAnalytix and currently serves on the NCSS Board of Directors. Joe is always looking to support organizations that align with his passion for supporting inspiring and impactful educational opportunities for both students and educators. His first book, Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities is available for pre-order and comes out this April. You can follow Joe on Twitter @madisonteacher and learn more about him and his work at www.joeschmidtsocialstudies.com
About the Western States Civics Coalition
Now, more than ever, a strong civic education is vital for students in the United States. Teachers are the key to providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills for sustaining our democracy. This series of workshops provides educators with a strong foundation of Civic Education centering on the EAD Roadmap and the 6 Promising Practices of Civics Education which supports high quality civics education for grades Kindergarten through 12. These workshops are presented by the Western State Civics Coalition consisting of state Social Studies leaders and councils in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
NCSC's Civics Education Essay Contest
NCSC's Civics Education Essay Contest
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) wanted to share some exciting news about an educational, rewarding opportunity for students. NCSC is giving 3rd-12th graders a chance to express their opinion about which U.S. Constitutional Amendment they believe has made the biggest impact in American’s lives.
Our official essay question: Which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has made the biggest difference in people’s lives? Explain how and why.
What’s in it for students? We’re giving away a total of $3,000 in cash to the winners. Essays are due February 25, 2022. Details about contest guidelines, prizes and how to enter
Middle School Civics Contest
Middle School Civics Contest
The 3rd annual O'Connor Civics Challenge, an online civics competition for middle school students has expanded for 2022! The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to express your knowledge of civics by creating the most amazing, exciting, and informative art piece on your selected civics topic!
Current 6th, 7th and 8th graders can choose from one of the following topics:
Legislative Branch | Executive Branch | Judicial Branch | Citizenship: Rights & Responsibilities | Checks & Balances | Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
Once you have selected a topic, now choose an art form to best express your knowledge of civics! Submission categories include:
1. Video (see below for more info)
2. Original Song (written lyrics or audio/video)
3. Storytelling* (via audio or video)
4. Poetry (written or via audio or video)
5. Written Essay (no more than 1,000 words)
6. Mixed Media Artwork (Poster, Painting or Sculpture)
Be sure to check the Official Rules HERE for all category submission requirements. All audio or video files must be three (3) minutes or less to be eligible. Finalists in each grade will be awarded Apple products, including a Macbook Pro for First Place winners in each grade!
NEW FOR 2022 - TEACHER PRIZES!
In addition to student prizes, middle school teachers can earn a $100 gift card! The Institute will award up to $10,000 in $100 gift cards to teachers whose students participate. To be eligible for the gift card, teachers must complete THIS online registration form and have a minimum of 25% of their overall student count register to participate by contest deadline. Teachers whose student(s) earn one of the nine (9) prizes will receive an additional $250 gift card!
WHY TAKE THE CHALLENGE? For so many reasons! You can show off your artistic abilities to the world, learn more about how government works and impacts our lives, and have an opportunity to win fantastic Apple products!
Registration is now open and entries may be submitted through March 26, 2022, the birthday of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
February 11, 2022
February 11, 2022
This week's current event...
This week's current event...
Recently a constitutional and legal battle has reignited over the Equal Rights Amendment, as the two-year anniversary of the 38th state to ratify the amendment just passed.
February 10, 2022
February 10, 2022
Listening to Youth Voices
Every year, tens of thousands of students across the country participate in Project Soapbox, Mikva Challenge’s public speaking program. From New York City to Jefferson County, Kentucky, young people are encouraged to get on their “soapbox” and speak out about the issues deeply affecting them and their community.
Here in Illinois, Mikva held our annual Citywide Project Soapbox Showcase on December 1st – returning to an in person event for the first time in 2 years! Eleven powerful youth advocates shared their passionate calls to action in front of their families, teachers, peers, and key community leaders. Visit our Vimeo page to watch videos of this year’s Soapbox IL speeches!
Soapbox is not only an opportunity to elevate youth voices, but an opportunity for all of us to listen. In January, Newsweek highlighted research demonstrating that Project Soapbox improves student’s empathetic listening skills. Year after year our civic partners – who provide feedback and support to participants – remark how listening to Soapbox speeches changes their perspectives and priorities.
After observing Soapbox, 98.5% of civic partners think we should increase youth voice and participation in neighborhood and city government.
November 4, 2021
November 4, 2021
2021 Elections in Your State and Beyond
2021 Elections in Your State and Beyond
Tuesday, November 2nd was Election Day, and voters across the country went to the polls to cast their selections for state offices. Elections are a fundamental part of a representative government. The elections where there is no presidential election or mid-term congressional election are sometimes called “off-year” elections. Are they deserving of the title?
September 23, 2021
September 23, 2021
Recall Elections: A Brief History
The state of California recently held a recall election for its governor, Gavin Newsom. This recall election was the latest in a long history of such efforts, often called to ensure that elected officials remain beholden to the will of the people once they have taken office. What is the history behind these types of elections? Are they an important part of a democratic system, or do they violate fundamental principles behind representative government?
Lesson Extension:
Think the Vote is a platform where students can express their opinions on current event topics and compete to win prizes! This week, we want to hear their opinions on the question: Should State Governments Have Recall Elections?
How can images help us understand the role of African American women in the abolitionist movement? In this week's episode, Mary explores an image of Sojourner Truth. Born into slavery in New York, she dedicated her life to abolition and equal rights for women and men. How did her famous "Ar'nt I a Woman?" speech convey her life-long commitment to the ideals of liberty and equality?
*The source we reviewed used the phrase "Ar'nt I a Woman?" but Sojourner Truth's speech is often also titled "Ain't I a Woman?"
May 20, 2021
May 20, 2021
The Supreme Court Cases Round Up for 2020-2021 eLesson
The Supreme Court Cases Round Up for 2020-2021 eLesson
Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court has continued its work, hearing and making decisions on a wide variety of cases ranging from the free exercise of religion to Fourth Amendment questions regarding warrants to compensation for collegiate athletes. What cases has the court heard this year? And what precedents will they set?
Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower? While perhaps not discussed as often as other 20th century presidents, Eisenhower led the nation through a period of profound transformation in a deliberate manner that reflected his study of history and experience as a leader. In this new Primary Close Read video, Kirk Higgins and Professor of History at the College of the Sequoias, Dr. Stephen Tootle, discuss the legacy of Eisenhower’s Farewell Address. What does this speech reveal about his understanding of the presidency? What does Eisenhower see as America’s role in the world?
May 4, 2021
May 4, 2021
This week's current event...
This week's current event...
The United States Census Bureau recently released its population figures from the 2020 Census. U.S. population growth has slowed to the lowest rate since the Great Depression, and Americans have continued migrating to the South and West. The U.S. Constitution mandates the census. It reads, “The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of 10 years, in such manner as they shall by Law direct.”
The census results changed Congressional seating. Texas will gain two seats in the House of Representatives, five states will gain one seat each, including Oregon. Seven states will lose one seat each and the remaining states’ number of seats will not change based on the 2020 Census. The governments of the states gaining or losing seats will have to redraw voting districts within the state, which varies according to each state’s constitution.
This week’s current event dives into what the results of the census mean and its impact on local state and federal politics, with many resources you can use to foster meaningful discussion with your students.
Don't forget to visit the Resources tab on our website for our classroom-ready and remote-ready materials, and all of our Current Events.
April 22, 2021
April 22, 2021
Keep Students Focused on Learning with Infographics
It’s that time of year when attention spans are shorter than ever, but there are still weeks of learning left. Infographics to the rescue! Our downloadable infographics provide visually appealing, graphically concise, and substantive overviews of key civic concepts. They’re great to use for a quick stand-alone lesson or easy to integrate with existing content. Be sure to explore the accompanying Teacher's Guide to find ready-made introductory information, guiding questions, and activity ideas.
Rank Your Choice
Ranked-choice voting is being introduced in many states. Use this infographic to explain what ranked-choice voting is, how it works, and the pros and cons of this electoral system.
County Contributions
It takes a lot of people to make a county government run. Introduce students to common county departments and the important jobs each does to make their community strong.
The Spectrum of State
Election Laws
Election laws vary by state. With this infographic, designed to be used in Kami for enhanced interactivity, students can explore the diversity of laws throughout the country and pinpoint where their state's laws fit.
Trial and Appeal
Most cases start and end in trial court, but what if there's an error? Use this infographic to help students understand how a case moves up from state and district courts all the way to the Federal Supreme Court through the appeals process.
Gerrymandering
Help students understand how redistricting turns into gerrymandering, and how gerrymandering can negatively impact people in those districts. The infographic includes actual examples of gerrymandered districts.
Six Roles of the President
From Commander-in-Chief to Chief Executive, the president has many jobs and responsibilities. Use this infographic to help students understand and keep track of the many hats worn by the president.
April 21, 2021
April 21, 2021
The jury in the Derek Chauvin trial has returned a verdict; the former police officer was found guilty of murder in the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s murder and Chauvin’s trial amplified the demands for justice in response to racial bias in policing, the disproportionate use of excessive force against Black Americans, and more broadly, the history of racial injustice in the United States.
Our new Teaching Idea, Accountability, Justice, and Healing After Derek Chauvin's Trial is designed to help educators guide an initial class discussion on the verdict. The activities prompt students to process the news of the verdict and then explore the complicated concepts of justice, accountability, and healing.
Facing History and Ourselves also invites you to a timely conversation Wednesday evening between Roger Brooks, President and CEO of Facing History, and Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of African American Studies at Princeton University. This, our final event in the Facing History Now: Conversations on Equity and Justice series, will be an exploration of the crucial work of becoming a multiracial democracy. I look forward to hearing these two scholars engage in a dialogue at this pivotal moment in our nation's history. I hope you will join us.
Get the Teaching Idea: Accountability, Justice, and Healing After Derek Chauvin's Trial
April 8, 2021
April 8, 2021
A recent Georgia law concerning voting within the state has sparked considerable controversy across the country. The United States, like other democracies, has long debated how best to ensure a free and fair election takes place. How do we ensure the voice of the people is heard and trusted?
April 6, 2021
April 6, 2021
This week's current event...
This week's current event...
The 2020 elections may be over, but in both houses of Congress, the For the People Act (H.R. 1 in the House and S. 1 in the Senate) was designated as the first bill, a top priority this session. This historic piece of legislation brings the issues of voting rights to the forefront as it seeks to abolish hurdles to voting, reform the role of money in politics, and tighten federal ethics rules.
The Supreme Court will soon hear oral argument in a pair of voting-rights cases from one of last year's key battleground states. The eventual outcome may determine how courts will assess allegedly discriminatory voting rules for years to come.
The cases challenge two Arizona voting provisions: a policy that requires an entire ballot to be thrown out if the ballot was cast at the wrong precinct and a state law that bans the collection of ballots by third parties.
Last week, Georgia passed a controversial overhaul of state elections which places restrictions on voting by mail and gives the legislature more control over how elections are run. The new law requires a photo ID when mailing in an absentee ballot and requesting a ballot. It also cuts the time people have to request an absentee ballot. Georgia's new law is one of more than 250 pieces of legislation filed in 43 states to limit ballot access.
Challengers argue these changes discriminate against racial minorities.
In this Current Event, we will explore the future of voting rights in America with many resources you can use to foster meaningful discussion with your students about who gets access to the polls.
Don't forget to visit the Resources tab on our website for our classroom-ready and remote-ready materials, and all of our Current Events.
April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021
Teach Local Government in April
The 3,069 county governments in the U.S. have played a major role in protecting their communities throughout the pandemic. Teach students about the important services and programs that are provided at the local level during National County Government Month (NCGM) this April.
Our Counties Work game and Extension Pack will help students learn how county government is organized, what it does, who's in charge, and how they can get involved.
County Solutions Plan
In this multi-lesson unit, students will select a community issue they’d like to know more about and address. Then, they’ll examine the context of their issues — including the role of county and other levels of government — and develop strategies to bring about local change.
County Government
County governments are a critical bridge between state governments and the people. Students will learn about the diversity in county government structure, investigate the impact of unfunded mandates, work to balance a budget, and research their own county government.
County Basics WebQuest
This interactive WebQuest guides students through an exploration of common characteristics of county governments, what they do, and even the history of counties in their own state.
County Contributions Infographic
It takes a lot of people to make a county government run. Use our printable infographic to introduce students to common county departments and the important jobs they do.
January 21, 2021
January 21, 2021
Zinn Education Project
Zinn Education Project
This role-play illuminates climate refugees' struggles and their uphill battle to receive recognition and protection. It is based on the lives of real people.
January 21, 2021
January 21, 2021
Reflecting on Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb"
Reflecting on Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb"
On January 20, 2021, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman made history as the country’s youngest inaugural poet. Only four previous presidents have invited poets to speak at their inaugurations, lending their voices and visions for the country to these historic moments.
In our latest Teaching Idea, which offers a 15 minute option and a full class option, students reflect on the themes of Gorman's poem and consider how their own unique experiences and voices can help America “forge a union with purpose.”
January 19, 2021
January 19, 2021
At noon tomorrow, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will take the oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States on the steps of the Capitol building, the site where two weeks earlier a mob stormed the building in an attempt to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote. All of this has taken place during a deadly pandemic, and as an unprecedented second impeachment trial looms in the U.S. Senate for the 45th president, Donald J. Trump.
As we approach the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, BRI Staff Kirk Higgins and Joshua Schmid look back at the famous inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy and discuss his timeless messages that still apply today.
BRI Lessons and Resources
Presidential Inaugurations, Past and Present
In our newest eLesson, students will analyze historic texts and visuals to find common themes as well as important differences when comparing different inaugurations.
Impeachment Proceedings
In this lesson, students will analyze the impeachment clause of the Constitution to understand the role Congress plays in impeachment proceedings.
Civic Friendship: “I am rooting hard for you”
In this Lesson, students will explore the importance of character traits like humility and respect in the individuals who hold public office and how commitment to the rule of law has sustained the executive branch throughout the country’s history.
January 18, 2021
January 18, 2021
Bonus links to speeches worthy of student reflection:
Bonus links to speeches worthy of student reflection:
It is difficult to select just one of Dr. King's speeches and students have likely seen at least parts of "I Have A Dream", but it is always worth an additional viewing.
The march from Selma to Montgomery is most recently remembered for the heroism of John Lewis on Bloody Sunday and the decision of Dr. King on Turn-around-Tuesday. When the march eventually reached Montgomery, King's "How Long? Not Long" invoked the arc of the moral universe.
April 3rd, 1968's "Mountaintop" speech contains perhaps the most prescient conclusion of any pubic address. Students will need the context to appreciate its full impact. For a short and dramatic audio recording of an excerpt from the speech, Dr. King's "If I Had Sneezed" provides a review of the highlights of the Civil Rights Movement.
Historically, inaugural speeches are often filled with hope and promises of what the United States can become. These excerpts provide good examples for discussion.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural from Facing History has both the very brief text and an audio recording (Note: This is not the voice of Abraham Lincoln). The Atlantic's "What Lincoln's Second Inaugural Meant" offers historical background.
Lessons and Resources Grade 4-8
Lessons and Resources Grade 4-8
We Are Teachers: Ways to encourage reflection on MLK’s life and legacy.
Teaching Tolerance: Teaching About King’s Radical Approach to Social Justice
Students in grades 6-8 create found poems based on MLK’s 1968 obituary published in The New York Times.
Scholastic: Students in grades 6-8 use an excerpt from MLK’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” as a model to write a persuasive argument.
Edsitement: Students in grades 6-8 investigate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence and the teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi that influenced King's views.
Inauguration Resources Grades 3-HS
Inauguration Resources Grades 3-HS
iCivics: Inauguration and the first 100 days
Presidential Inaugurations: I Do Solemnly Swear Students in grades 3-5 discover how the Presidential Inauguration has changed over time and presents historical figures with archival materials.
The Inauguration of George WashingtonStudents analyze George Washington's diary entry for April 16, 1789, the day he left Mount Vernon for his inauguration in New York City. Grades 6-8
Inaugural QuizTest your knowledge of past presidential inaugurations with this 10-question online quiz. Grades 6-12
7 Ideas for Teaching About the Presidential InaugurationSome teaching ideas for watching, discussing and analyzing the Presidential inauguration. Grades 6-12
“I Do Solemnly Swear…”A special online Library of Congress presentation with more than forty photographs, manuscripts, campaign posters, letters, broadsides, and inaugural speeches representing eighteen presidents. Grades K-12
“I Do Solemnly Swear...” Presidential InaugurationsThis collection of 400 items at the Library of Congress includes diaries and letters of presidents and of those who witnessed inaugurations, handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs, and sheet music. These items are related to inaugurations from George Washington's first in 1789 to Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009. Grades K-12
Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United StatesFind complete text of all 56 presidential addresses from all 44 Presidents. Grades 9-12
Historical Inauguration Speeches – YouTubeWatch videos of 12 speeches from 1933 (FDR) to 2013 (Barack Obama). Grades 9-12
Inaugural Addresses: Comparing and Contrasting Inaugural Addresses Students compare the priorities, goals, and intentions in four inaugural addresses. Grades 9-12
January 13, 2021
January 13, 2021
The Long Struggle for Voting Rights:
Do Not Erase the Victory in Georgia
On January 5th, two new Democratic lawmakers from Georgia were elected to the U.S. Senate, one of whom will be only the 11th African American senator in our history.
This victory was won through the tireless, smart, and creative organizing of voting rights activists, led by Black women like Stacey Abrams, Deborah Scott, Felicia Davis, Helen Butler, Nse Ufot, and countless others in organizations such as the New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter, Fair Fight, Mijente, and more.
Teach students about grassroots anti-racist organizing and the long struggle for voting rights.
Teaching SNCC: The Organization at the Heart of the Civil Rights Revolution is a series of role plays that explore the history and evolution of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, including freedom rides and voter registration.
Who Gets to Vote? Teaching About the Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States is a unit with three lessons on voting rights, including the history of the struggle against voter suppression.
Political Violence to Undermine Democracy in the United States Is Not New: #TeachReconstruction
This week we heard from a teacher whose students, in the midst of a unit on Reconstruction, connected the victory in Georgia and the white supremacists at the Capitol seeking to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election.
Indeed, January 6th was a snapshot of a larger pattern in U.S. history. Again and again, advancements in the freedom of Black people are met with white violence and an upsurge in white supremacist organizing. Reconstruction is a critical example.
Teach students about Reconstruction as a period of multiracial, democratic possibility undone — though not completely — by white supremacist terror.
Through the Teach Reconstruction Campaign, we offer lessons, a student project to make Reconstruction history visible in their communities, recommended teaching guides, student friendly books, primary document collections, and films.
Massacres in U.S. history are often designed to suppress the political power of African Americans. Study the history of the Wilmington, Hamburg, Colfax, and Ocoee Massacres, and many more.
Where Do We Go from Here?
The House of Representatives may impeach President Trump for his role in inciting last week’s Capitol insurrection. A few Republican officials have joined Democrats in decrying the president’s conduct, although many politicians call for “reunifying” the country.
After the Civil War, elites devoted themselves to bringing traitorous Confederates back into the fold rather than delivering reparations for African Americans who had suffered 250 years of unspeakable abuse — and theft.
Teach students about the long movement for reparations, in the United States and elsewhere, to help them reflect on what a path toward justice might look like today.
In Repair: Students Design a Reparations Bill, students take on the role of activist-experts to improve upon a Congressional bill for reparations for Black people.
In How to Make Amends: A Lesson on Reparations, students meet dozens of advocates and recipients of reparations from a variety of historical eras to grapple with the possibility of reparations now and in the future.
January 6, 2021
January 6, 2021
Our new Teaching Idea is designed to help you guide an initial classroom reflection on the insurrection at the United States Capitol. Students need opportunities to separate facts from misinformation, to explore and express their emotions, and to ask big questions about the significance of what took place today.
Get the Teaching Idea: Responding to the Insurrection at the US Capitol
January 5, 2021
January 5, 2021
Electoral Votes Go to Congress
Electoral Votes Go to Congress
The next step in the 2020 Presidential Election takes place January 6, 2021. Congress will meet to open and count electoral votes — an exercise required by the Constitution. Are your students asking questions about this event? Our lesson on The Electoral Process offers a timeline from Election Day to Inauguration Day that helps put the electoral vote count into perspective. For more resources, check out this blog by our partners at the National Constitution Center.
Our Election Headquarters is the place to go to find our full collection of teaching resources about the electoral process and the executive branch.
November 19, 2020
November 19, 2020
Faithless Electors and Electing the Executive
Faithless Electors and Electing the Executive
Now that the election has passed, its time for the College of Electors to meet! The presidential election is never final until the Electoral College casts its votes and the U.S. Congress authenticates its results. In this eLesson, students will learn more about the design and processes of the Electoral College and form their own opinions about so-called “faithless electors.”
November 5, 2020
November 5, 2020
As educators, now is the time to draw our students’ attention to the long struggle for voting rights in the United States — and the equally long struggle to suppress these rights.
Rethinking Schools editor Ursula Wolfe-Rocca has written about Teaching Voting Rights in the Time of Coronavirus and a suite of lessons: “Who Gets to Vote? Teaching About the Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States.” It’s made up of three lessons that can be taught individually or in sequence. As Ursula writes, “Just as the United States has never been a true ‘government by the people, for the people,’ the right to vote has always been incomplete, contested, and compromised by the racism, sexism, classism, and xenophobia of policymakers and the interests they act to protect.”
The first lesson considers the question of who should vote. Students share thoughts on what makes a “qualified” voter, then reconsider their thinking after reading an oral history by Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.
The second lesson asks students to predict how policymakers might restrict the right to vote for certain groups to thwart movements and laws to expand voting rights.
The final lesson is a mixer role play. Students learn about people who had their voting rights granted or denied.
October 21, 2020
October 21, 2020
In a heated political atmosphere it can be challenging for students to engage in meaningful civil conversations about the United States and its political future. One entry point to encouraging civil discourse is for students to begin with an analysis of personally held values.
The latest free Teaching with the News lesson from the Choices Program, Voting in 2020: Values and Policies during a Pandemic, allows students to consider how different people prioritize and even define their personally held values in different ways. In this lesson, students will:
Assess the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the 2020 election.
Identify and prioritize the values that shape their personally held beliefs.
Explore the presidential candidates’ positions on key policy issues.
Gather evidence from news articles and public opinion polls to analyze an issue and its role in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
CURRICULUM RELATED TO ELECTION ISSUES
Immigration and the U.S. Policy Debate
Students probe the history of immigration to the United States and current policy as they consider the complexities of U.S. immigration policy and prepare to articulate their own views about this issue.
Climate Change and Questions of Justice
Explore the causes and effects of global warming, questions of who is most responsible for and vulnerable to the changing climate, and how to respond to climate change in ways that are both effective and fair.
China on the World Stage: Weighing the U.S. Response
Examine the history of U.S. relations with China and consider the implications of China’s economic growth, societal transformation, and increasing international role.
Russia's Transformation: Challenges for U.S. Policy
In this lesson, students survey the economic issues and political developments that have shaped the outlook of policymakers in the Kremlin and Washington, D.C.
Workshops and Webinars
Our workshops are currently being offered online. If you would like to set up a webinar or online workshop for your school or district, please contact us to schedule one!
Curriculum Award Program
U.S. public and public charter school teachers are eligible to receive up to two 5-year Digital Editions licenses for the following units: The Middle East, The Syrian Civil War, or The U.S. Invasion of Iraq. Click 'Request for Proposals' here for more information. Co-sponsored with QFI.
October 18, 2020
October 18, 2020
Explore Classroom
Explore Classroom
Join free, live sessions to connect your learners with scientists, conservationists, and storytellers this fall. Every Monday, your Pre-K through 2nd grade students can join in on the fun at 11 a.m. ET while your 3rd through 8th grade learners can watch at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET on Thursdays. Tune in for special edition sessions featured in ASL and Spanish, and after-school events at 4 p.m. ET in partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Can’t make those times? No worries. Catch up on replays of #ExplorerClassroom events on our YouTube channel!
Explore the Democratic System
Explore the Democratic System
As the upcoming election nears, share the importance of a vote with your middle school students using our Resource Library collection. Review definitions (such as this one about Congress), learn about voting rights throughout history, and even play interactive games to understand the roles within government.
October 7, 2020
October 7, 2020
Zinn Education Project
Zinn Education Project
Who Gets to Vote? Teaching About the Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States
Who Gets to Vote? Teaching About the Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States
Unit with three lessons on voting rights, including the history of the struggle against voter suppression.
Teaching SNCC: The Organization at the Heart of the Civil Rights Revolution
Teaching SNCC: The Organization at the Heart of the Civil Rights Revolution
A series of role plays that explore the history of SNCC, including freedom rides and voter registration.
September 27, 2020
September 27, 2020
Facing History And Ourselves
Facing History And Ourselves
Ahead of the first U.S. Presidential debate on September 29, this new Teaching Idea focuses on the role of political debates in voter decision making, as well as other factors that shape our political judgments. It includes a Political Debate Viewing Guide and can also be used in connection with other elections and debates on the state, local, or national level.
May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020
iCivics
iCivics
Summer will be different this year. With many of the usual summer activities curtailed by social distancing, families will be looking for new ways for their children to have fun and stay busy. That’s where the iCivics Virtual Backpack comes in.
Share this free online resource with students and their families as you close out the school year. It’s full of activities that kids can complete on their own or with friends and family, as well as a special opportunity to turn game play into donations for charities providing essential services during COVID-19.
Here’s a peek inside the backpack.
Coming Soon! Play Games, Give Back
We are re-launching our Impact Points Challenge to allow students to donate points they earn from playing iCivics games to charities working on the front lines of the pandemic. Remind students to save their iCivics username and password to participate and to look for the challenge to go live on icivics.org/games in June.
Just Like Summer, Election Season Will Heat Up
Encourage students to sharpen their election knowledge and learn what it takes to be an informed voter ahead of November by playing iCivics games like Win the White House, Cast Your Vote, and Newsfeed Defenders.
BINGO, Leaderboads, Game Nights, and more!
From BINGO to family game night, we’ve compiled six ways families can use iCivics games and other resources to keep themselves entertained and build civics skills this summer.
The Game Odyssey Continues
Our Game Odyssey turns iCivics games into an exciting quest for civics knowledge during remote learning! If you didn’t share the Odyssey with your students this spring, challenge them to complete it over the summer.
May 8, 2020
May 8, 2020
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute
If a picture is, indeed, worth a thousand words, what can the political cartoons from a certain era tell us about the values, attitudes, and actions of the people of that time?
May 6, 2020 marks 138 years since the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act. This 10-year ban on Chinese immigration was just one part of the debate concerning immigration in the United States during the Gilded Age, a time when millions of immigrants flocked to America.
In this eLesson, adapted from the Bill of Rights Institute’s forthcoming U.S. history textbook Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A History of the American Experiment, students will analyze political cartoons from the Gilded Age in order to better understand the different viewpoints on immigration during that time period.
Oregon Department of Education
Oregon Department of Education
United States Senate Youth Program Opportunity for Qualifying Juniors and Seniors
United States Senate Youth Program Opportunity for Qualifying Juniors and Seniors
The United States Senate Youth Program, funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and endorsed by the U.S. Senate, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service, history or political science. For the 2020-21 school year, two Oregon delegates will receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies and attend a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. on March 6-13, 2021. Two Oregon alternates and up to two additional finalists will also receive a $200 cash award.
All high school juniors and seniors must be nominated by their high school principal or designated school official to apply for the program. Nominated students must be active in elected or appointed leadership positions that relate to government, public affairs, education and/or community service. School officials must publicize the process and opportunity to all qualifying juniors and seniors, develop a process for selection of a nominee(s) from the school, and identify a student(s) to apply.
We encourage high schools to share this information with eligible juniors and seniors, especially those from historically underserved communities.
The state application will be available on Oregon’s U.S. Senate Youth Program webpage by late summer 2020 and will be due to the Oregon Department of Education by Friday, October 16, 2020. Please review Oregon’s process requirements for additional details or contact Jenni Knaus at 503-947-5860.
April 27, 2020
April 27, 2020
iCivics
iCivics
Game Odyssey
Game Odyssey
Teaching and learning looks very different right now. We know you need assignments that are easy-to-use and motivating during this time. That is why we designed the iCivics Game Odyssey.
We encourage you to read a new blog by Scott Marsden, an American Government and Economics teacher from California, who shares his experience and tips for navigating distance learning with the Game Odyssey and other tools.
When you’re ready to dive into the Game Odyssey, Quest 2 in Level 2 is now available! Students will play Newsfeed Defenders and aim to score between 3,000-4,500 points. While playing, they will build critical news literacy skills and learn strategies to verify information as they identify problematic news items.
Next week, we’ll release Quest 3 in Level 2 so keep an eye on your inbox. In the meantime, be sure to explore what we have provided for families in our Remote Learning Toolkit, including weekly planners for middle school and high school students. If your students’ parents are looking for ways to engage their kids with minimal supervision, these planners are a perfect solution to share.
April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute
Civil Liberties and Coronavirus
Civil Liberties and Coronavirus
Balancing liberty and security in our constitutional system of government is challenging at any time but particularly so during times of crisis. As a growing number of states have issued orders to stay home, except for essential work and activities, it is worth exploring the constitutionality of aspects of social distancing policies.
In this eLesson, students will explore various policies enacted to fight the spread of COVID-19 and analyze how they impact civil liberties. In doing so, they will draw their own conclusions about when and how civil liberties can be restricted during times of crisis.
Extension Activity: Think the Vote is a student debate platform designed to foster civil discourse on current event issues. Students with the best answer on both sides of the debate win an Amazon gift card, BRI swag, and are entered to win the grand prize of $1,000. This week, we are asking students to answer the question: Do Public Health Policies Supersede Civil Liberties?
Population Education
Population Education
It's a census year! Discover distance learning lessons for this teachable moment
It's a census year! Discover distance learning lessons for this teachable moment
Join us Thursday, May 7th at 4:30 EDT to discuss and receive innovative remote learning lessons for teaching about the census. We have increased our webinar capacity and hope to see you!
PopEd’s FREE one-hour webinar will cover lessons for grades 6-12 that can be completed 100% online and align with social studies and mathematics content. We’ll showcase lessons that will have your students:
Explore historic census records from as far back as 1800
Conduct their own imaginary census
Electronically organize and display demographic data
Investigate how census data is used in real-world settings
All participants will receive templates, instructions, and more to ensure you can easily implement these activities with students remotely. Register for the webinar now!
The census only happens every 10 years, so don’t let distance learning keep your students from engaging with this memorable event. We’re excited to share these ideas and hope to see you online May 7th!
April 5, 2020
April 5, 2020
iCivics
iCivics
When it comes to learning, students love to be in the driver’s seat. In our newly updated Court Quest, students take the wheel of the Justice Express and help their passengers navigate the American judicial system. On their journey, they’ll learn about the structures and jurisdictions of the nation's state and federal court systems.
In this new release of Court Quest, we’ve improved the player experience in a lot of ways, in partnership with the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Play the game to see:
•A new, more diverse cast of characters that better reflect our nation’s population.
•New cases with increased relevance for students from all demographics and backgrounds.
•Improved accessibility for English Language Learners and struggling native-English readers, including a Spanish version of the game, English voice over, and an embedded glossary.
Explore all the updates in Court Quest and then assign the game to your students. And remember you can assign any of the other games that are available for free from iCivics to keep kids engaged and learning at home.
March 26, 2020
March 26, 2020
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute
Lesson: Civil Society and Federalism in Times of Crisis
Lesson: Civil Society and Federalism in Times of Crisis
How Does Our Federal System Tackle a Crisis like Covid-19?
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected nearly all aspects of American society as we grapple with issues of school closures, quarantines, and more. In this eLesson, students will explore ways in which civil society at various levels in the United States has made changes to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Some of the questions students will examine in this lesson include: How does our federal system tackle a crisis like COVID-19? Why does our system of government split power between local, state, and federal levels? What virtues are essential for this system to function properly in a time of crisis?
February 24, 2020
February 24, 2020
American Bar Association: Division for Public Education
American Bar Association: Division for Public Education
Fantasy Congress Classroom Tool Launch
Fantasy Congress Classroom Tool Launch
Fantasy sports meets U.S. politics in this interactive online platform. Students draft members of Congress for their team and earn points weekly from their legislators’ actions. See how
a little friendly competition can bring out the best in your students. Engage, motivate, and have a blast with Fantasy Congress.
Check out www.fantasycongress.com for more details.
The Federal Trials and Great Debates Summer Institute – designed for social studies, history, government, civics, and law teachers – deepens participants’ knowledge about the federal judiciary and the role that federal courts have played in key public issues that have defined our constitutional and legal rights.
View the cases that will be covered and other details. The application deadline is March 2, 2020.
Resources for all age audiences are available to help plan your Law Day 2020 activities and 19th Amendment centennial commemorations. The lesson plans are geared toward middleand high school students. There is also a list of picture books to inspire discussion with elementary grade levels, and programming ideas for post-secondary and adult participants.
Visit www.lawday.org for additional resources.
February 11, 2020
February 11, 2020
March 2 is going to be a historic day. iCivics’ Youth As Civics Experts Network will lead a Tweet-Out to engage their peers across the country in a conversation about civic education and civic action in their lives, schools, and communities. This will be the start of iCivics’ first ever student-led, student-run social media campaign with the goal of elevating student voice and connecting students with each other.
How your students can participate:
1. Select a question to answer during the Tweet-Out:
How can we improve civic education so that all students can use what they learn in class in real life?
What does an equitable civic education look like?
What do students in your community need to know in order to be informed and engaged citizens?
Why do you need to learn about politics, government, and social justice issues?
2. Encourage students to join the discussion on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok on March 2. BE CREATIVE!
3. Flood the #CivicsForUS hashtag with student voices!
4. Better yet…don’t tell us, SHOW us. Most students can’t vote yet, but it doesn’t mean they don’t care about their communities. Have your students post about how they volunteer, engage civically, or create change in their communities.
Students have great ideas and we’re ready to listen. We hope your students will help lead this important discussion.
January 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
American Bar Association
American Bar Association
Law Day 2020 Planning Resources Available
Law Day 2020 Planning Resources Available
Visit the Law Day 2020 planning guide webpage for resources to help plan your Law Day activities and 19th Amendment centennial celebrations.
Resources include:
Timeline of Women’s Suffrage
19th Amendment Quick Facts
List of State Ratification Anniversaries
Profiles of 20 Suffragists to Know
Program Ideas and Planning Tips
Event Promotion Checklist
Photo Gallery
While on the website, check out the 2020 theme artwork to personalize your Law Day messaging, as well as specialty products to thank your participants and volunteers.
Use code LDTENOFF for 10% off orders now through March 13.
“Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100”
Law Day | May 1, 2020
December 10, 2019
December 10, 2019
BRI Lessons and Resources
BRI Lessons and Resources
Impeachment and the Constitution
The House of Representatives is expected to draft two articles of impeachment today against President Trump. Here are some of the Bill of Rights Institute resources on impeachment, including the history of the Impeachments of Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. For more on the subject, you can explore Unit 4 of Presidents and the Constitution, Volume II.
Carrie Chapman Catt: The Woman of the Hour and Purpose
In this American Portraits narrative and lesson, students will learn how Carrie Chapman Catt worked with purpose to advocate for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote for women. They will use this example to be purposeful in their own lives.
November 19, 2019
November 19, 2019
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT: WEEKLY CURRENT EVENTS
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT: WEEKLY CURRENT EVENTS
The Supreme Court and DACA
The Supreme Court and DACA
On November 12, 2019, the Supreme Court held oral arguments for the case Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, a challenge to the Trump administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA allows immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to register with the government in order to obtain work permits and go to college. This week’s current event reviews the oral arguments before the Court, what may happen to the over 800,000 registered DACA recipients should the program end, and the ongoing disputes in the United States over how to deal with the complicated issue of immigration to the country.
November 6, 2019
November 6, 2019
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT NEWSLETTER
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT NEWSLETTER
Program News
Program News
Only one month until the 2019 Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers! Join educators from around the state on Friday, December 6 in Salem. Register by November 10 to attend the Conference at no cost as a Civic Scholar.
GLOBAL YOUTH JUSTICE, INC.
GLOBAL YOUTH JUSTICE, INC.
USA's 25-Year Youth-Led Youth Justice Diversion Experiment Expands to 48-States.
USA's 25-Year Youth-Led Youth Justice Diversion Experiment Expands to 48-States.
There are now a record 48 States, District of Columbia, and Tribes with operational Youth Court, Teen Court, Student Court, Peer Court, Peer Jury, Youth Panels, and Youth Aide Panels Diversion Programs. A record 1800+ of these Youth-Led and Volunteer-Driven Diversion Programs. Rhode Island and Connecticut are the only USA States without one of these diversion programs. Local Listing of Youth-Led Diversion Programs by State
BILL OF RIGHT'S INSTITUTE
BILL OF RIGHT'S INSTITUTE
Does the 14th Amendment Require Unanimous Jury Verdicts?
Does the 14th Amendment Require Unanimous Jury Verdicts?
Do individuals accused of a crime need to be convicted by a unanimous jury in cases at the state level? The Supreme Court is currently considering this question in the case of Ramos v. Louisiana.
In 2015, Evangelisto Ramos was accused of second-degree murder by the state of Louisiana and convicted by a 10-2 jury vote. Currently, federal law requires that juries be unanimous in order to convict an individual in federal cases. Previously, in the case of Apodaca v. Oregon, the Court determined that the Sixth Amendment requires a jury vote to be unanimous in order to convict an individual in federal cases. Now, the Court is considering if the Sixth Amendment ought to be incorporated, or applied at the state level, as well.
In this eLesson, students will explore the meaning of the Sixth Amendment, understand the meaning and significance of incorporation, and form their own opinion concerning the Ramos v. Louisiana case.
October 15, 2019
October 15, 2019
iCivics SPOTLIGHT ON MEDIA LITERACY
iCivics SPOTLIGHT ON MEDIA LITERACY
Part of preparing our students to be engaged, informed citizens is teaching them to think critically about what they read, see, and hear in the media. National Media Literacy Week is October 21-25, and we have several resources to help you explore the role of media in civic life.
Build Knowledge to Identify Credible News Sources
Social media influences students greatly. Our game Newsfeed Defenders will help them learn to spot a variety of methods used to spread misinformation and promote viral deception.
Evaluate the Benefits and Challenges of Social Media
Extend and deepen the learning from playing Newsfeed Defenders with our game Extension Pack. Through a variety of activities, students will think through the pros and cons of social
Put What They’re Learning into Practice
Provide high school students with real-world, hands-on practice evaluating news, opinion, and misinformation with the 4 lessons and 4 mini-lessons in our News Literacy unit.
BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTION EDUCATORS
BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTION EDUCATORS
Understanding the Judicial Branch
Understanding the Judicial Branch
Article III of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of the United States and also provides for “such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”
We have a variety of free resources on this topic, including our current events page, Supreme Court DBQs, and our Homework Help videos on landmark Supreme Court cases, including our latest on the case of McDonald v. Chicago.
BRI Lessons & Resources
BRI Lessons & Resources
The Structure of the National Government Activity: The Judicial Branch
In this activity, students do a role-play to learn how the Supreme Court works. See the directions on Handout C: Moot Court Procedures for Teachers...Read More.
The Story of Thurgood Marshall
If you want to use a narrative approach in teaching about the Supreme Court, explore this American Portraits lesson with your students to explore the life and work of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice.
BRI News
BRI News
Tenth Period Webinar: Teaching History in Tumultuous Times
Please join Rachel, Kirk, BRI Teacher Council member Tracey Downey, and our special guest, historian and author Craig Bruce Smith, tomorrow, October 16 at 4 p.m. ET for a free 45-minute webinar: Teaching History in Tumultuous Times: The Importance of Studying US History.
Think the Vote Debate: Impeachment Question
Should the impeachment clause of the Constitution stay broadly written and applied? If one of your students makes the strongest case on either side of this question, he or she will win a gift card, swag, and a chance at a $1000 scholarship, and you will receive a gift card and swag as the referring teacher.
October 8, 2019
October 8, 2019
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
On September 24, 2019, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, declared an Impeachment Inquiry open against the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
In this week’s Current Event Resources, we give you links to news about the impeachment and its causes, facts about what impeachment is and how it works, and constitutional, geographic, and timeline connections to the issue.
The CHOICES PROJECT
The CHOICES PROJECT
The Impeachment Process and President Trump
The Impeachment Process and President Trump
With an impeachment inquiry underway over President Trump's communications with Ukraine, this new Teaching with the News lesson will help students understand the Constitutional basis and historical precedents for impeachment; develop media source analysis skills; distinguish between opinion and fact; consider evidence, bias, audience, and author expertise to assess source reliability; and compare and contrast opinions about the potential impeachment of President Trump
May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019
The 2020 Census will help determine many important things for our country. Find out how it might change with this week’s CLP Current Event!
of CLP Current Events News Sources (4)
Information Questions to Consider (6)
about CLP Current Events
Goals and Philosophy Background & More (2)
behind CLP Current Events Lesson Plans (2)
Download Word version Constitutional & Legal Connections (2)
May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019
The school year is ending, but the learning carries on!
The school year is ending, but the learning carries on!
We’re all counting down the days until the end of the school year. While summer brings a well-deserved break for you and your students, it’s also a time when many students lose ground on what they’ve learned this year. To help prevent that summer slide, we’ve put together a letter you can send home to families that introduces them to iCivics games as a way for their children to have fun and keep learning outside of the classroom.
I encourage you to take some time this summer to play iCivics games that you haven’t yet used in your classroom and also explore our many standards-aligned lesson plans.
April 10, 2019
April 10, 2019
April is National County Government month and the perfect time to share with students that a lot happens in their community thanks to the work of local government. iCivics has lessons, a game, an infographic, and even an activity book to teach students how county government is organized, who's in charge, what it does, and how they can get involved.
National County Government month is also a great time to encourage your students to get involved in the community. Whether that’s through volunteering, adopting a pet, or even writing a thank you note to local government employees, students will learn that average citizens like themselves can have a real impact.
Sort It Out! New U.S. Citizenship Game
Sort It Out! New U.S. Citizenship Game
Being a U.S. citizen comes with many rights and responsibilities. So many in fact that it’s hard to keep them straight. That’s why BrainPOP and iCivics have teamed up to create Sortify: U.S. Citizenship, a new game that tests students’ understanding of key citizenship concepts and their critical thinking skills!
Sortify: U.S. Citizenship starts with a game board filled with tiles. Tiles include privileges, protections, responsibilities, and freedoms like voting and trial by jury. Students are challenged to sort tiles from the game board into buckets of their choosing after determining shared relationships. The goal is to group as many tiles as you can in the least number of buckets possible.
This game is a great refresher for students as you head toward exam season. It only takes about 10 minutes to play. Try your hand at Sortify, and be sure to log in to your iCivics account to download the Teacher Resources that go along with the game.
Fifty Years of Tinker: The First Amendment in Schools
Fifty Years of Tinker: The First Amendment in Schools
Tinker Social Media Contest: #HonorTinker50
Tinker Social Media Contest: #HonorTinker50
In honor of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Tinker v. Des Moines on February 24, 2019, we will draw five teachers’ names at 4pm EST on Tuesday, February 26. All you have to do to be eligible is share with us how you are honoring Tinker in your school or classroom and tag us on Twitter and Instagram @BRInstitute and use the hashtag #HonorTinker50. Five of you will win a swag bag with a $50 Amazon gift card, a T-Shirt, coffee mug, and water bottle for you, and a set of pens, pocket constitutions, and stickers for your entire class.
February 19, 2019
February 19, 2019
CLP Current Event: Declaration of Emergency
CLP Current Event: Declaration of Emergency
Is the US experiencing a national emergency? How does this affect rule of law and separation of powers?
Learn more in this week’s CLP Current Event!
Archive of CLP Current Events News Sources (6)
Information about CLP Current Events Questions to Consider (19)
Goals and Philosophy behind CLP Current Events Lesson Plans (3)
Constitutional & Legal Connections (3)
Download Word version Oregon Connections (1)
Questions? Contact office@classroomlaw.org
January 30, 2019
January 30, 2019
iCivics Resources for Black History Month
iCivics Resources for Black History Month
This powerful DBQuest module presents students with three compelling primary source documents, including an interview transcript, a newspaper photo and a video.
In this lesson students learn about life in post-Civil war Jim Crow states and the legislation that helped and hurt African Americans between 1869 and the 1960's.
This lesson features protest posters, fictional diary entries, and a map of the movement's major events that bring the Civil Rights movement to life for students.
January 22, 2019
January 22, 2019
Classroom Law Project Current Events: Divided Government
Classroom Law Project Current Events: Divided Government
Is divided government also limited government? What were the Framers thinking when they counted on the separation of powers? Learn more in this week's CLP Current Event!
Resources, Background Material and Lesson Plans
January 22, 2019
January 22, 2019
NOBIS Project in the Classroom
NOBIS Project in the Classroom
Community Meeting: Service Learning, Unpacking Charity and Social Justice
The focus of this lesson is unpacking the terms and concepts of charity and social justice in an open forum. Each member of the classroom will explore, define, discuss, and reflect on these concepts and discuss how their understandings change as they research and analyze the function of orphanages and volunteer tourism.
December 15, 2018
December 15, 2018
Bill of Rights Institute: Immigration in the 1800’s Through Cartoons
Bill of Rights Institute: Immigration in the 1800’s Through Cartoons
Use this activity for Middle and High School US History students. Distribute Handout C: Cartoons on Immigration in the 1800s. Have students analyze and discuss these images in small groups or individually, using the critical thinking questions as a basis for their discussion. Distribute blank paper and challenge students to create their own editorial cartoon on immigration, as if they were an editorial cartoonist in the 1880s. Read more…
Bill of Rights Institute: Due Process of Law Activity
Bill of Rights Institute: Due Process of Law Activity
This is a great activity for Government classes. Have students read Handout A: Rights of the Accused Essay to activate and expand their background knowledge. When they are finished reading, have students review Handout B: Due Process Amendments. They should use this information to review the majority, dissenting, and/or unanimous opinions from one of the Supreme Court Cases. Read more…
Bill of Rights Institute: How Will You and Your Students Celebrate Bill of Rights Day?
Bill of Rights Institute: How Will You and Your Students Celebrate Bill of Rights Day?
On December 15, 1791, the new United States of America ratified the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens. We want to help you and your students celebrate so we have provided a newly annotated version of The Bill of Rights containing recent news stories and relevant BRI resources.
November 26, 2018
November 26, 2018
NCSS Honors 70 Years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
NCSS Honors 70 Years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt skillfully guided the Committee of the United Nations that developed the UDHR, establishing a baseline of rights necessary to realize the fundamental human dignity of every person in an increasingly interconnected world.
December 10, 2018 is being observed around the world as Human Rights Day and, particularly as the 70th Anniversary of this global commitment to respect the humanity of all. NCSS commends our Human Rights Education Community for their ongoing advocacy for the integration of human rights education into social studies education at every level, and for sharing teaching and learning resources to help educators. Participation in the Human Rights Education Community is open to all NCSS members. More information on our Human Rights Education Community can be found at connected.socialstudies.org/home.
NCSS renews its commitment to promote the principles and practices embodied in the UDHR in all our operations and activities, in order to better foster the ability of our students to become advocates for social justice as citizens within their local and global communities." (NCSS Standards for Preparation of Social Studies Teachers, p.26). NCSS further supports the vital role of social studies educators to
"guide students through inquiry-based learning activities that address questions related to equity, diversity, access, power, human rights, and other forms of injustice related to race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, religion, indigenous status, language, immigrant-status, nationality, and ecological contexts." (NCSS Standards for Preparation of Social Studies Teachers, pp. 25-26).
Check Out These Resources
UDHR 70th Anniversary Webpage of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org/en/index.html
70 Years – UDHR Resource Kit compiled by Human Rights Educators USA: hreusa.org/projects/70th-anniversary-of-the-udhr
Nov. 9, 2018
Nov. 9, 2018
ICivics Media and Influence
ICivics Media and Influence
Can you name the seven types of propaganda designed to influence our decisions? Media and Influence Unit has lessons available for middle and high school students to help them analyze how messages influence each of our individual decisions and ultimately our democracy.
Media Literacy Week Resource Recap:
Monday: Algorithms & You, Privacy Policies & You
Tuesday: Mini Media Literacy Library
Wednesday: Interest Groups Drafting Board topic.
Thursday: NewsFeed Defenders
Friday: Media and Influence Unit
November 7, 2018
November 7, 2018
Interest Groups
Interest Groups
What impact do interest groups have on elections? We hear the debate about interest groups in the media all the time. Challenge your students to take a side in the debate with the Interest Groups Drafting Board topic.
Don’t forget! The 2018 Media Literacy Fair is part of Media Literacy Week.
Education Week Examines the State of Civics Instruction
Education Week Examines the State of Civics Instruction
Students Who Take Civics Class Are More Likely to Vote, EdWeek Survey Shows
A majority of potential first-time voters plan to cast a ballot this election season, according to a survey by the Education Week Research Center. President Trump and the Parkland, Fla., school shootings are spurring some of their political engagement. Read more.
Few States Require Students to Take More Than a Semester of Civics
High school students spend far more time in school learning about America's history than they do learning about its civic values, according to a 50-state survey by Education Week. Read more.
Citizen Activists Push to Revise History Textbooks
History-minded residents of Charlotte County, Fla., are among the first to test a state law that permits citizens to challenge the curriculum taught in their schools. Read more.
Classroom Law Project Election Resources
Classroom Law Project Election Resources
Lesson Plans
Every Vote Counts, The Dirksen Congressional Center
CLP: Grades 8-12
Democracy Class 2018, Teaching Tolerance, September 24, 2018
CLP: Middle, high school
Teach the Vote: A Unit Plan for Teachers, Close Up Foundation
CLP: High school
Constitutional and Legal Connections
Voting and Election Laws, USA.gov
What Does the Constitution Actually Say About Voting Rights?, by Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, August 19, 2013
“But whatever Section Two of the Fourteenth Amendment means, it really can’t mean that everyone must be allowed to vote. It penalizes states that withhold the ballot but does not require them to grant it. The Fifteenth Amendment, however, does speak specifically of ‘the right of citizens of the United States to vote.’”
The Missing Right: A Constitutional Right to Vote, by Jonathan Soros, Mark Schmitt, Democracy Journal, Spring, 2013
“Just as the Constitution once countenanced slavery, it also allowed voting to be restricted to property-holding white men. The Thirteenth Amendment expunged the stain of slavery from our basic law, but the Constitution has never fulfilled the democratic promise we associate with it. Put simply—and this is surprising to many people—there is no constitutional guarantee of the right to vote.”
Oregon State Social Science Standards
8.8 Evaluate information from a variety of sources and perspectives.
8.17 Examine the development activities of political parties and interest groups and their affect on events, issues, and ideas.
8.26 Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective.
HS.28 Evaluate how governments interact at the local, state, tribal, national, and global levels.
HS.29 Examine the structures and functions of Oregon’s state, county, local and regional governments.
HS.30 Analyze the roles and activities of political parties, interest groups and mass media and how they affect the beliefs and behaviors of local, state, and national constituencies.
HS.33 Explain the role of government in various current events.
HS.35 Examine the pluralistic realities of society (e.g., race, poverty, gender and age), recognizing issues of equity, and evaluating need for change.
HS.59 Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.
HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon from varied or opposing perspectives or points of view.
October 29, 2018
October 29, 2018
The nation mourns as another tragic shooting occurred October 27 in Pittsburgh.
Facing History and Ourselves just published a teaching resource you can download to help your students make sense of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting and violence in the U.S.
Click HERE for a classroom ready lesson
For more information and to access the website click here:
Educator Resources / Teaching With Current Events In Your Classroom
October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018
Don't be a "no-show voter"!
The midterm elections in Oregon and Washington and nation-wide are two weeks away and I urge all PSU students who are eligible to vote to let their voice be heard. As educators and future teachers we know the importance of voting. Citizens who choose NOT to vote are the most powerful bloc in US politics. About 22 million new voters who are now juniors and seniors will be 18 by the 2020 elections.
Follow this link to read an OpEd from Facing History and Ourselves that was published by CNN.com.
May 21, 2018
May 21, 2018
Calif. students reflect on year of civic action
The March for our Lives in Los Angeles. (Sarah Morris/Getty Images)
California school district seniors who this year became involved in causes such as March for Our Lives and the National School Walkout recently reflected on their civic participation, saying they plan to continue their activism after high school. Some students also became involved in other ways, such as registering peers to vote, and say they were inspired to pursue their interests in politics and social causes.
May 11, 2018
May 11, 2018
Scaffolding Social Action for Your Students
A framework for guiding middle schoolers to plan and engage in social action that’s relevant in their coursework and their lives.
Students Taking Action Together (STAT) is a pedagogy tailored to help middle school students plan and, when appropriate, engage in feasible, personally meaningful social action within the existing social studies, history, civics, and current events curriculum...Students Taking Action Together is currently in place in seven urban middle schools in New Jersey, and it is making a difference. Social action can be encouraged with regard to current events such as gun violence in schools or issues such as cheating, gang presence, or bullying, but it can also be encouraged in thinking about historical events. Students can explore, for example, such issues from history as the treatment of Native Americans during the westward expansion or the development of the New Deal.
The basic pedagogy is a problem-solving strategy we use that goes by the acronym PLAN.
To help their students consider the most recent school shooting, teachers at one New Jersey middle school used the PLAN strategy with their classes, taking the perspective of the students in the school where the tragedy occurred:
P: Who were the individuals involved? What was the problem from different perspectives? What feelings did they have?
L: What options did they consider to be acceptable ways to address the problem? What did they ultimately decide?
A: How did they carry out that plan? What obstacles did they encounter?
N: How did it work out? What more needs to be done? What can be learned from their experience? What social action can be taken by the class, in the class, in the school, in the community, etc., to address this problem?
The discussions these questions lead to are rich and often motivate students to get more information, check their facts, and listen to classmates who may not see the problem, or the solution, in the same way.
The Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab is piloting the Students Taking Action Together framework with the goal of introducing it and supporting its use in other middle schools in New Jersey.
May 07, 2018
May 07, 2018
iCivics wants teachers, students, parents, and community members to play as many iCivics games as possible and have set a goal of 3 million game plays through May 27. Pick your Favorite iCivics Game; there are 19 from which to choose. Your students can be president, run a constitutional law firm, run their own country, move through the court system or cast the deciding vote in a Supreme Court case. Play your Favorite iCivics Game or Assign the Game to your students. You can also share your experience using #TeachPlayTeach! You can also grab this poster and share why you teach with games:
March 25, 2019
March 25, 2019
Law Day 2019 Planning Resources
Law Day 2019 Planning Resources
Watch the Law Day 2019 video and share it with others.
Watch the Law Day 2019 video and share it with others.
Download free resources, such as:
Use code ABATENOFF for 10% off orders through April 15.
SAVE THE DATE
SAVE THE DATE
May 1, 2019, events in W SAVE THE DATE
May 1, 2019, events in Washington, D.C.
Interview with ABA President Bob Carlson
on the state of free speech
Law Library of Congress at 1:30 PM
Leon Jaworski Public Program
Leon Jaworski Public Program
“Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society:
The Marketplace of Ideas in an Era of Fake News”
Newseum, 7th Floor
Reception at 5:00 PM, Program at 6:00 PM
Candid discussion on free speech and freedom of the press today.
Featuring
Featuring
Moderator: Jeffrey Rosen
President and CEO, National Constitution Center
Panelists
Panelists
Floyd Abrams, Senior Partner, Cahill Gordon & Reindell
Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor, Slate and Contributing Editor, Newsweek
Frederick Schauer, Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
Nicole Wong, Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group and former White House Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer
Both events are free and open to the public.
Visit www.lawday.org for updates and information.
Law Day | May 1, 2019
Law Day | May 1, 2019
“Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society”
This message was sent to thiemag@pdx.edu.Your e-mail address will only be used within the ABA.We do not sell or rent e-mail addresses.American Bar Association321 N Clark, Chicago, IL 60654-7598800-285-2221 | 312-988-5522
February 26, 2019
February 26, 2019
CLP Current Event: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas
CLP Current Event: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO and EL PASO, TEXAS
“Paso a paso se llega lejos. Step by step you can go a long way!”
Learn about the relationship between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez in this week’s CLP Current Event.Archive of CLP Current Events Information about CLP Current Events
Goals and Philosophy behind CLP Current Events Lesson Plans (3)
Download Word version Constitutional & Legal Connections (3)
Clink the LINK for lesson plan.
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
Help us Celebrate 60 Years
Help us Celebrate 60 Years
Dear MESC Friends,
Dear MESC Friends,
Fifty years ago today, Portland State University officially became a university. Ten years before that in 1959, back when PSU was still Portland State College, the Middle East Studies Center was founded and put the northwest on the map for Middle East Studies.
The stories that have built this center and its programs are endless. In the photo above from 1965 are Arabic students, including Susan Cox, the daughter of Fred Cox, the founder of MESC and first Director.
This year, as we celebrate 60 years since the founding of MESC, we are excited to tell more stories with students, faculty and staff, and the community but we need your help. We would like to celebrate by bringing in top scholars and holding student events throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
Two ways to help!
Two ways to help!
Give to the MESC 60th Anniversary Fund to support next year's porgrams. Every dollar helps! Show your love for MESC by going to:
If you cannot give but would like to help, please sign up as an official supporter of the Middle East Studies Center 60th Anniversary at the link below. Follow us on social media, share, engage, and help us earn money through points for social media challenges!
February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019
May 24,2019
May 24,2019
Here are updates that makes iCivics an even more valuable teaching resource:
Here are updates that makes iCivics an even more valuable teaching resource:
Director’s Corner: 80th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066
A History Spotlight from OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk
Saturday, February 19, is the 80th anniversary of the day President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 (EO 9066). This order authorized the secretary of war to prescribe certain areas as military zones, clearing the way for the incarceration of nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. Two-thirds of those incarcerated were U.S. citizens, born and raised in the United States. The order stayed in place until June 1946, when President Harry Truman signed an executive order that allowed Japanese Americans to return to their homes. Many returned home to find their belongings stolen and their property sold, while discrimination and prejudice remained rampant.
As we reflect on the anniversary of EO 9066, I recommend reading several fascinating entries on The Oregon Encyclopedia, including:
Japanese Americans in Oregon
Day of Remembrance
Japanese American Historical Plaza (Portland)
There are also compelling profiles of Japanese American Oregonians who persevered through discrimination — including some who served in the military, risking their lives for the nation that was incarcerating their family members. Read about:
Frank Hachiya (1920–1945)
Benjamin Tanaka (1887–1975)
Augustus M. Tanaka (1923–2015)
OHS is honored to be the custodian of a number of items connected to the Yasui family. Masuo Yasui arrived in Hood River at nineteen years old in 1905 and became a successful and respected merchant and orchardist. In the days and weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was arrested and charged with being a “potentially dangerous enemy alien.” The U.S. government then closed his store, seized his lands, and sent his family to one of the incarceration camps. His son Minoru Yasui, who had attended law school and was the first Japanese American to enter the Oregon Bar, was arrested and imprisoned after intentionally challenging a curfew that confined all Japanese Americans to a prescribed area and banned them from being outside after 8pm or before 8am. Minoru would devote his life and career to public service, civil rights, and working to redress the injustices against Japanese Americans during the war. He passed away in 1986, and in 2015, he posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barak Obama.
The cell where Minoru Yasui was imprisoned in Portland is now on display at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon and is very much worth a visit. You can access OHS’s Yasui Bros. museum collection on OHS’s new Museum Collection Portal.
Image Credits: (Top) Broadside of Western Defense Command, May 6, 1942. This broadside, directed at both Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans, ordered residents in Clackamas and east Multnomah counties to surrender to detention before incarceration at one of several camps in the West.
OHS Research Library, Coll 619; (Bottom) Minoru Yasui, March 30, 1942, OHS Research Library, Org. Lot 1284, box 15, 500-1.
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