From the history of LGBTQ+ activism, to the contributions of key people, to the significance of notable events, join the C-SPAN Classroom team for this week's episode as we celebrate Pride Month. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: House Passes the Equality Act

Website: About Pride Month (Library of Congress)

Bell Ringer: The Lavender Scare

Video Clip: Walt Whitman Poetry

Bell Ringer: The Impact of the Stonewall Riots (Clip #1)

Article: Stonewall Riots: The Beginning of the LGBT Movement (The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights)

Bell Ringer: Activist Lilli Vincenz 

On This Day: The Assassination of Harvey Milk (Clip #1)

Article: 40 Years of AIDS: A Timeline of the Epidemic (University of California San Francisco)

Article: LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America's AIDS crisis (NBC News)

Bell Ringer: 1988 AIDS Protest at the FDA

Website: Our Story (Matthew Shepard Foundation)

Video Clip: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.

Video Clip: United States v. Windsor

On This Day: Obergefell v Hodges Decided (Clip #2)

Additional Resources

Collection: LGBTQ+ History Featured Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Video Clip: The Second Largest Minority Film

Video Clip: Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges)

Video Clip: Legacy of Matthew Shepard

Lesson Plan: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

On This Day: The Stonewall Riots

Article: The Mattachine Society (The Library of Congress)

Observed on the last Monday in the month of May, Memorial Day is a time of reflection in which we honor all of those who have served and died in the U.S. military. For this week's episode, the team is joined by Dr. Steve Carney, Command Historian with Arlington National Cemetery, to discuss the history of this national site, highlight the significance of Memorial Day, and discover the educational resources available at the Cemetery. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Article: Military Appreciation Month 2023 (Military.com)

Bell Ringer: History and Significance of Memorial Day

Article: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Gravesite (Arlington National Cemetery)

Video Clip: John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame

Resource: Education Program (Arlington National Cemetery)

Lesson Plan: Honoring America's Dead - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Clip #1)

Article: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington National Cemetery)

Additional Resources

On This Day: Arlington National Cemetery

Bell Ringer: The Purpose of Memorial Day

Bell Ringer: History of the Medal of Honor

Lesson Plan: History of Arlington House

Lesson Plan: The Congressional Medal of Honor

Innovation has been a hallmark of the United States since the founding of our nation. Through their vision, trial and error, tenacity and commitment, creators and their inventions have helped shape the way we approach every aspect of our lives. For this week's episode, the team speaks with experts from the National Inventors Hall of Fame as we honor the innovators who seek to improve our world. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: U.S. Patent and Trademarks

Bell Ringer: Hidden Figures of Mobile, Alabama

On This Day: Creation of the World Wide Web (Clip #1)

Additional Resources

STEM Curricula and Programs (National Inventors Hall of Fame)

National Inventors Hall of Fame (YouTube)

Biographical Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher Sunshine Cavalluzzi (El Dorado High School; Placentia, CA) hosted a study session ahead of the U.S. Government and Politics Exam on Monday, May 1st for this week's episode. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Related Study Resources

Resources: AP U.S. Government & Politics Featured Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Collection: Required Documents & Supreme Court Cases (C-SPAN Classroom)

Collection: Practice Essay Prompts (C-SPAN Classroom)

Collection: Key Vocabulary Terms (C-SPAN Classroom)

Lesson: AP Government Key Founding Documents Review (10 Clips)

Lesson: AP Government Landmark Supreme Court Cases Review (15 Clips)

Lesson: AP Government Key Terms Review (Unit by Unit) (1 Clip)

Lesson: AP Government: Quantitative Analysis Question Practice (1 Clip)

Lesson: AP Government: Argumentative Essay Practice (4 Clips)

Lesson: AP Government: Concept Application Question Practice (6 Clips)

Clip: 2022 Cram for the Exam AP Government and Politics Exam Review (52:53)

Clip: 2021 Cram for the Exam AP Government and Politics Exam Review (55:06)

Clip: 2020 Cram for the Exam AP Government and Politics Exam Review (56:23)

Jason Stacy and Matthew Ellington, co-authors of “Fabric of a Nation: A Brief History with Skills and Sources, for the AP® US History Course,” host a study session for the Advanced Placement U.S. History Exam for this week's episode. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Related Study Resources

Resources: AP U.S. History Featured Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Bell Ringer: Interpreting Documents during the AP U.S. History Exam (7:10)

Clip: 2022 Cram for the Exam AP US History Exam Review (52:23)

Clip: 2021 Cram for the Exam AP US History Review (1:00:46)

Clip: 2020 Cram for the Exam AP US History Review (59:33)

As we move toward May and the AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics Exams, the team is joined by former C-SPAN Classroom Teacher Fellow Patricia Cunningham for this week's episode, as we recognize April as National Financial Literacy Month and learn about economic concepts. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Government Response to Bank Failures

Resource Collection: Economics and Financial Literacy Featured Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Bell Ringer: Macroeconomics vs. Microeconomics

Bell Ringer: Impact of a Soda Tax on Supply and Demand

Bell Ringer: Cost, Profits, and Revenue in the EPI Pen Market

Bell Ringer: Fight of the Century: Keynes and Hayek Background and Contemporary Application (Clips #3, #4, & #5)

Additional Resources

Resource: AP Macroeconomics (College Board)

Resource: AP Microeconomics (College Board)

Resource: AP Classroom (College Board)

Resource Collection: Mr. Clifford Economics (YouTube)

Resource: Economics (Khan Academy)

Resource: Planet Money (NPR)

Resource: Freakonomics Radio (Freakonomics)

C-SPAN recently announced the winners of the 19th annual StudentCam competition. StudentCam is the network's yearly documentary competition for middle and high school students. The network awards $100,000 in cash prizes to winning students and advisers. For this week's episode, the team highlights this year's Grand Prize and 1st Prize winners, each of whom masterfully addressed this year's prompt: "If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?" As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Grand Prize: Where's My Data? Data Privacy and its Real World Impact

1st Prize - HS West - A Perilous Purchase: CCP Ownership of U.S. Land

1st Prize - HS East - MONEY TALKS: Inside the Inflation Surge

1st Prize - HS Central - Unearthing the Options

1st Prize - MS - Losing a Generation

Additional Resources

Website: StudentCam 2023 Winners (C-SPAN)

Video Clip: 2023 C-SPAN StudentCam Winners Announcement

Ohio: Cuyahoga River Fire. Pennsylvania: Three Mile Island. Alaska: Exxon Valdez. What do they have in common? For this week's episode, the team explores the significance of a few U.S. environmental disasters and highlights the impacts and lasting effects of each. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: Burning Rivers and Environmental Squalor (Clip #1)

Article: The Cuyahoga River Caught Fire at Least a Dozen Times, but No One Cared Until 1969 (Smithsonian Magazine)

On This Day: The Creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Clip #1)

Article: Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Bell Ringer: Three Mile Island

Bell Ringer: Lessons Learned from Three Mile Island (Clip #2)

Video Clip: Oil Industry in Alaska

Article: Exxon Valdez (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

On This Day: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Clip #2 & Clip 4)

On This Day: East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment (Clip #1 & Clip #2)

On This Day: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (Clip #5)

Additional Resources

Video Clip: Events of 1969

Bell Ringer: The Cuyahoga River and Environmental Restoration

Video Clip: National Environmental Policy Act

Bell Ringer: US Nuclear Power and the 1979 Three Mile Island Accident

Lesson Plan: The 1970s and the Environment

On This Day: Three Mile Island Accident

On This Day: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

Bell Ringer: The Role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Video Clip: Ohio Train Derailment and Toxic Chemicals

For this week's episode, the team explores the history of whistleblowing in the United States, discussing the roots of whistleblowing, the people who have engaged in the action, and the effect their efforts have had on the United States. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden

Article: Edward Snowden (Britannica)

Article: 10 Most Famous Whistleblowers (St. Francis School of Law)

Article: NWC Urges Federal Agencies to Recognize National Whistleblower Day in 2023 (National Whistleblower Center)

Video Clip: Edward Snowden

Resource: Journals of the Continental Congress - 1774-1789 (National Whistleblower Center)

Article: 51st Anniversary of the Release of the Pentagon Papers (Richard Nixon Library)

Bell Ringer: Pentagon Papers

Resource: New York Times Company v. United States (Oyez)

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case - New York Times v United States (1971) (Clip #9)

Resource: United States v. Progressive Inc. (W.D. Wis.) (1979) (The First Amendment Encyclopedia)

Article: Whistleblower Protection (U.S. Department of the Interior)

Video Clip: 1989 Whistleblower Protection Bill Signing

Article: Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (WPEA) (National Archives)

Video Clip: Profit versus Child Safety at Facebook

Additional Resources

Video Clip: Whistleblower Rules and the Intelligence Community

Video Clip: Twitter Whistleblower Testifies on Security Issues 

Lesson Plan: 1st Amendment and Classified Leaks

Article: Why Today’s Landmark Court Victory Against Mass Surveillance Matters (ACLU)

On This Day: WikiLeaks Release

With the celebration of Presidents' Day later this month, the team welcomes AP Government teacher Jane Highley (Devon (PA) Preparatory School) for this week's episode to discuss executive power and influence in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Russia, Nigeria, and Iran. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

Lesson Plan: The Powers of the President (Clip #1)

Article: Presidential Power Surges (Harvard Law)

Bell Ringer: Removal of Executives in the United Kingdom

Bell Ringer: Boris Johnson Announces Resignation

Bell Ringer: China's Decision to Eliminate Presidential Term Limits

Bell Ringer: Elections in Mexico

Bell Ringer: Elections in Russia

Additional Resources

Lesson Plan: Introduction to Iran's Structure of Government (Clip #4)

Collection: The Presidents Featured Resources (C-SPAN)

Collection: AP Comparative Government and Politics Featured Resources (C-SPAN)

With the 2022 midterm elections behind us, for this week's episode the C-SPAN Classroom Education team sits down with Ben O'Connell, C-SPAN's Director of Editorial Operations, to look at the beginning of the 118th Congress, new leadership in the House and Senate, and the legislative agenda this year. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.

Episode Resources

C-SPAN Classroom: Constitution Clips (20th Amendment)

Video Clip: First Day of the 118th Congress

Constitution Clips: "The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker ..." (Clip #2)

Video Clip: Patty Murray Becomes First Female Senate President Pro Tempore

Letter: C-SPAN Request for Ongoing Access to House Chamber (C-SPAN)

Article: GOP lawmaker open to letting C-SPAN cameras run free (POLITICO)

Bell Ringer: History of Divided Government (Clip #1)

Additional Resources

Video Clip: Mitch McConnell Becomes Longest-Serving Party Leader

Featured Resources: 118th Congress (C-SPAN Classroom)

With the recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. this weekend, the team shares C-SPAN Classroom resources that reflect the life and legacy of this historic figure in this episode. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. Note: this episode originally aired on 1/2/22.

Episode Resources

On This Day: The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (in order in the episode: Clip #1 & Clip #7)

On This Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Life, Death, Legacy (Clip #2, Clip #4, & Clip #1)

Bell Ringer: Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King

Article: Browder v. Gayle (1956) (The King Institute at Stanford University)

Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail (Clip #2)

Article: Letter from Birmingham Jail (The King Institute at Stanford University)

Website: Full text of Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.] (African Studies Center at University of Pennsylvania) 

Website: Full text of Speech at the Great March on Detroit, given 6/23/63 (Mesa Arts Center)

Website: Full text of I Have a Dream Speech, given 8/28/63 in Washington, D.C. (NPR)

Website: The Penn Center (Penn Center)

Bell Ringer: The Murders of Jimmie Lee Jackson and James Reeb

On This Day: Selma, AL and "Bloody Sunday" (Clip #2)

Lesson Plan: Voting Rights Marches in Selma (Clip #3)

Lesson Plan: Last Days of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Clip #2)

Extra Resource: Bell Ringer: 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike

Article: The Riots That Followed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (The Atlantic) 

Article: After MLK's Death, Coretta Scott King Went To Memphis To Finish His Work (NPR)

Video Clip: Touring Monuments and Memorials in Washington, DC

It's another new year! In the New Year spirit of reflection, join the team this week as we look back on 2022 and ask ourselves, "which C-SPAN clip from the past year was most interesting or meaningful to you, and why?" As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Lesson Plan: The Clotilda (Clip #1)

Lesson Plan: Formation of State Constitutions (Clip #9)

Additional Resources

Bell Ringer: Last Living Survivor of the Clotilda - Redoshi

Deliberation: How Should Homelessness Be Addressed?

For the College Board’s Advanced Placement (or AP) U.S. Government and Politics exam, students must know 15 required Supreme Court cases…stretching from the 1803 ruling in Marbury v. Madison to McDonald v. Chicago and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010. Tune in this week as the team talks with former C-SPAN Classroom Teacher Fellow Ryan Werenka about the review resources that he developed this past summer that you can use in your classroom to learn the cases and ace the test! As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Loving v. Virginia (1967); related to Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Cooper v. Aaron (1958); related to McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Podcast Episode: Little Rock Nine (C-SPAN Classroom)

Resource: C-SPAN's StudentCam Documentary Competition (C-SPAN)

Additional Resources

AP U.S. Government Politics Featured Resources Site (C-SPAN Classroom)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022); related to McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Evenwel v. Abbott (2016); related to Baker v. Carr (1962)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022); related to Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021); related to Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018); related to Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Pennsylvania v. Nelson (1956); related to McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Practice SCOTUS FRQ - Printz v. United States (1997); related to United States v. Lopez (1995) 

To infinity and beyond! That phrase has been used throughout history to reflect the concept of no boundaries, no limits, that can apply to many areas in our lives. Tune in this week as the team talks with NASA Planetary Scientist Dr. Jennifer Stern about the exploration of Mars, its impact, and the future of space exploration. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: NASA Launches Artemis 1

On This Day: Mars Mission Science Results (Clip #1)

Website: NASA Mars Exploration Program (NASA)

Website: Latest NASA News (NASA)

Lesson Plan: Sagittarius A* and NASA's Perseverance Rover (Clip #8)

On This Day: Blue Origin Space Launch (Clip #4)

Bell Ringer: Women in STEM (Clip #1)

Additional Resources

Video Clip: The Future of Space Exploration

Bell Ringer: Space Exploration - Viking

Bell Ringer: Space-Based Threats to Earth

Bell Ringer: Future of U.S. Space Policy

Lesson Plan: The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Lesson Plan: The James Webb Space Telescope

Deliberation: What is the Future of Space Travel?

Politics & food, economy & food, culture & food, education & food. What is the relationship? Join the team this week as we serve up a variety of ways food has been a staple in many areas of our lives. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Speaks at New Hampshire "Politics and Eggs" Breakfast

Resource Collection: Historical "Politics and Eggs" Videos (C-SPAN)

Video Clip: Politics and Food

Bell Ringer: The Oyster Industry in Annapolis

Video Clip: National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon

Lesson Plan: Presidential Roles

Video Clip: Educating Students about Food

Additional Resources

Video Clip: School Lunches and the Dairy Industry

Bell Ringer: The Spread of Mexican Food Around the World

Bell Ringer: Victory Gardens during World War II

Bell Ringer: The Cherry Industry in Salem, Oregon

Bell Ringer: Wisconsin Cheesemaking

Lesson Plan: Immigrant Women and American Cuisine

Video Clip: Nutrition and Food Insecurity in Rural America

Bell Ringer: The Impact of Factory Farms

Bell Ringer: California's Agricultural History

Bell Ringer: Farming and Agriculture in Fresno County, California

Bell Ringer: The Chile Pepper and New Mexico

Bell Ringer: The Heinz Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Video Clip: Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon

Video Clip: Chef Julia Child on the Role of Food

1962 was a heated time during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. On this 60th Anniversary of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, we sat down with U.S. Naval Academy History Professor Brian VanDeMark to learn more. Join us this week as we explore the causes, events, and effects of this time in history. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Lesson Plan: Cuban Missile Crisis (Clip #2)

Bell Ringer: President John F. Kennedy Oval Office Address - Cuban Missile Crisis (Clip #1)

On This Day: Cuban Missile Crisis (Clip #7)

Special Resource: Presidential Recordings Podcast (C-SPAN)

Additional Resources

Bell Ringer: Sergei Kruschev on the Cuban Missile Crisis

Bell Ringer: Operation Mongoose 

Bell Ringer: A Brief History of the Cold War

Bell Ringer: The Cuban Missile Crisis

On This Day: Cuban Revolution

Bell Ringer: Cold War: Cuba, Fidel Castro, and The Bay of Pigs Invasion

Lesson Plan: Bay of Pigs Invasion

Let’s talk about C-SPAN’s 2023 StudentCam documentary competition! Special guests A.J. Chambers (CavPlex-Convergence Media Director @ Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, SC) and former winning student from Jenks High School in Oklahoma Jolie Abdo join the conversation this week to offer insight into producing a winning film. Tune in to learn how to bring this project-based learning experience into your middle or high school classroom. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: StudentCam 2023 Documentary Competition - Promotional Video

Website: 2023 StudentCam Competition (C-SPAN)

Lesson Plan: StudentCam Documentary Competition Step-by-Step Guide

Resources: Tips, Tricks, and Encouragement (YouTube)

Additional Resources

Website: Competition Rules (C-SPAN)

Website: Get Started with StudentCam (C-SPAN)

Website: Resources for Teachers (C-SPAN)

Website: Past StudentCam Winners (C-SPAN)

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Director Jorge Zamanillo of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino this week! Tune in to discover C-SPAN educational resources for your students. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Rep. Tony Cardenas on Hispanic Heritage Month

Video Clip: U.S. Capitol Historical Society Presents Freedom Award to Lin-Manuel Miranda

Video Clip: Isabel Allende 2018 National Book Awards

Podcast Episode: Season #2 - Episode #2 on the 65th Anniversary of the Little Rock Nine

Bell Ringer: Sylvia Mendez 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom (Clip #1)

Lesson Plan: Oral Histories - A How-To

Video Clip: Interview with Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor

Video Clip: Hamilton Cast Members Sing "Dear Theodosia" on the January 6th Anniversary

Additional Resources

Collection: Hispanic American History Featured Resources

On This Day: National Hispanic Heritage Month

On This Day: Cesar Chavez Day

Video Clip: Jaime Escalante on Education

Video Clip: Ellen Ochoa: First Hispanic Woman in Space

Video Clip: U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera

Video Clip: Performances from the Broadway Musical "Hamilton"

Video Clip: "Hamilton: One Last Time"

Bell Ringer: Roberto Clemente

Bell Ringer: United Farm Workers Co-Founder Dolores Huerta

Bell Ringer: Chicano Movement

Bell Ringer: Mendez v. Westminster School District

Bell Ringer: Isabel Allende Receives the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Lesson Plan: History of Hispanic Americans in Congress (Choice Board Activity)

Lesson Plan: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: How Books Have Impacted Her Life

Lesson Plan: Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Lesson Plan: Who Tells Your (Imperfect) Story?

With the 65th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School, join the C-SPAN Classroom team and special guest Brian Schweiger (Chief of Interpretation, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site) for this week's episode as we share C-SPAN resources that will help you teach about this landmark event. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

On This Day: Little Rock Nine (Clip #1)

Bell Ringer: Integration of Little Rock Central High School (Clip #2)

Bell Ringer: Legacy of Little Rock Nine (Clip #2)

Additional Resources

Video Clip: Little Rock Nine Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

Bell Ringer: North Little Rock High School Integration

Bell Ringer: Carlotta Walls, Melba Patillo, and Claudette Colvin

Bell Ringer: Who Was Daisy Bates?

Bell Ringer: Brown vs Board of Education

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case: Plessy v Ferguson (1896)

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case: Brown v. Board of Education

We’re celebrating Constitution Day! Join the C-SPAN Classroom team for this week's episode as we share C-SPAN resources that teach about the U.S. Constitution, its relevance today, and the public’s knowledge of this founding document. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on Constitution Day

Website: Kathleen Hall Jamieson (Annenberg Public Policy Center)

Video Clip: Constitution Day 2021 Civics Survey

Website: Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey (Annenberg Public Policy Center)

Resource: Constitution Clips (C-SPAN Classroom)

Constitution Clips: "We the People" (Clip #2)

Resource: Bill of Rights BINGO Board (Slides)

Lesson Plan: Constitution Clips Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Lesson Plan: The Bill of Rights Choice Board

Lesson Plan: Choice Board: Our Founding Documents

Additional Resources

On This Day: Constitution Day

Bell Ringer: Philadelphia's Congress Hall

Bell Ringer: First Continental Congress

Lesson Plan: The Constitutional Convention

Lesson Plan: Constitutional Debate Choice Board- George Mason vs James Madison

From the history of LGBTQ+ activism, to the contributions of key people, to the significance of notable events, join the C-SPAN Classroom team for this week's episode as we celebrate Pride Month. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: House Passes the Equality Act

Website: About Pride Month (Library of Congress)

Bell Ringer: The Lavender Scare

Video Clip: Walt Whitman Poetry

Bell Ringer: The Impact of the Stonewall Riots (Clip #1)

Article: Stonewall Riots: The Beginning of the LGBT Movement (The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights)

Bell Ringer: Activist Lilli Vincenz 

On This Day: The Assassination of Harvey Milk (Clip #1)

Article: 40 Years of AIDS: A Timeline of the Epidemic (University of California San Francisco)

Article: LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America's AIDS crisis (NBC News)

Bell Ringer: 1988 AIDS Protest at the FDA

Website: Our Story (Matthew Shepard Foundation)

Video Clip: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.

Video Clip: United States v. Windsor

On This Day: Obergefell v Hodges Decided (Clip #2)

Additional Resources

Video Clip: The Second Largest Minority Film

Video Clip: Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges)

Video Clip: Legacy of Matthew Shepard

Lesson Plan: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

On This Day: The Stonewall Riots

Article: The Mattachine Society (The Library of Congress)

Join the C-SPAN Education Team for this week's episode as we talk about the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial this month and share C-SPAN resources featuring the history, events and legacy of this location. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Lincoln Memorial Dedication

Resource: 100 Years of the Lincoln Memorial (National Park Service)

Video Clip: Touring Monuments and Memorials in Washington, DC

Bell Ringer: President Abraham Lincoln - Biography

Video Clip: 2001 Lincoln Memorial Olympic Torch Event

Video Clip: Marian Anderson Sings at the Lincoln Memorial

Resource: Eleanor Roosevelt Letter to the DAR (National Archives)

Special Event (May 21st, 2022): Lincoln Memorial Centennial (C-SPAN)

Resource: "The Negro and the Constitution" Essay by Martin Luther King, Jr. (Stanford University)

Additional Resources

Website: Abraham Lincoln - American Presidents (C-SPAN)

Tune in to this week's episode as the Classroom team shares C-SPAN resources that can be used with students throughout  May to observe Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Resource: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (Library of Congress)

Video Clip: Bill H.R. 3802 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

Video Clip: Japanese Arrival to the U.S.

Bell Ringer: Chinese Immigration in the U.S. in the 19th Century

Bell Ringer: The Geary Act

Bell Ringer: World War II: Executive Order 9066 and Japanese Americans

Bell Ringer: The Legacy of Rep. Patsy Mink

Website: Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)

Lesson Plan: Immigrant Women and American Cuisine (Clip #4)

Video Clip: Cathy Park Hong

Lesson Plan: The Presidential Medal of Freedom

Interview: Founder & Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Institute, Dr. Karen Korematsu (YouTube)

Additional Resources

On This Day: Transcontinental Railroad

On This Day: Chinese Exclusion Act

Bell Ringer: Landmark Cases Series: Korematsu v. United States - Prejudice Against Asian Immigrants Prior to 1940

Bell Ringer: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming

Bell Ringer: Life in Japanese Internment Camps

Bell Ringer: Asian American Activism in the 1960s

Video Clip: Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Resource Collection: Asian American Pacific Islander History

Tune in to this week's episode to listen to C-SPAN's American History TV program for Advanced Placement teachers and students. Educators Jason Stacy and Matthew Ellington, co-authors of “Fabric of a Nation: A Brief History with Skills and Sources, for the AP® US History Course,” host a study session for the Advanced Placement U.S. History Exam. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Additional Resource

Video Clip: 2022 Cram for the Exam AP US History Exam Review 

Tune in to this week's episode to listen to C-SPAN's Washington Journal "Cram for the Exam" program for Advanced Placement teachers and students. Teachers Sunshine Cavalluzzi of El Dorado High School and Shoshana Adams of Vahalla High School both took calls, emails, and tweets answering questions about the 2022 AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. Please note that there were connection issues interrupting parts of the first 15 minutes of the LIVE program. 

Additional Resource

Video Clip: 2022 Cram for the Exam AP Government and Politics Exam Review

Preparing your students for the Advanced Placement exams? Tune in to this week's episode to discover resources and learn about C-SPAN’s Cram for the Exam review program for the upcoming Advanced Placement US Government exam. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Lesson Plan: AP Government: Argumentative Essay Practice

Lesson Plan: AP Government: Concept Application Question Practice

Lesson Plan: AP Government: SCOTUS Comparison Question Practice

Lesson Plan: AP Government: Quantitative Analysis Question Practice

Application: C-SPAN Classroom Teacher Fellowship Program

Bell Ringer: Poll Taxes

Bell Ringer: Dual Federalism

Lesson Plan: AP Government Key Terms Review

Lesson Plan: AP Government Key Terms Review (Unit by Unit)

Lesson Plan: AP Government Key Founding Documents Review

Lesson Plan: AP Government Landmark Supreme Court Cases Review

Resource Collection: Government and Politics Key Vocabulary Terms

Lesson Plan: Federalist 78

• Lesson Plan: Federalist 10

• Lesson Plan: Federalist 51

• Lesson Plan: Federalist No. 70 Publius (Alexander Hamilton) The Executive Department

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case Tinker v Des Moines (1969) (Clip #8)

• Lesson Plan: Student Free Speech Since 1969

• Bell Ringer: Morse v. Frederick: The "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Supreme Court Case

• Lesson Plan: Students' Rights

• Bell Ringer: West Virginia v. Barnette and Religious Liberties

Lesson Plan: Voting Rights Marches in Selma (Clip #1)

• Lesson Plan: The Voting Rights Act - Civil Rights and the Bully Pulpit

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case: Engel v. Vitale (1962) (Clip #1)

• Bell Ringer: Government and Religion- Engel v Vitale and Abington v Schempp

Web Resource: Blooket

Additional Resources

Resource Collection: AP U.S. Government and Politics Resources

Video Clip: 2021 High School U.S. Government Exam

Video Clip: 2020 High School U.S. Government Exam 

Video Clip: 2019 High School U.S. Government Exam 

Lesson Plan: Letter from a Birmingham Jail for AP U.S. Government

Deliberation: To What Extent Should Your Activity on Social Media Be Protected as Free Speech under the First Amendment?

Looking for resources to celebrate Earth Day? Searching for content for students to explore environmental policy? Tune in to this week's episode to join the C-SPAN Education team and discover C-SPAN programs to use in your classroom. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: Earth Day and Sustainable Development

Article: Earth Day: A Simple Idea, A World of Change (NelsonEarthDay.net)

Article: The History of Earth Day (EarthDay.org)

Resource: Summary of the Clean Air Act (EPA)

Resource: Summary of the Clean Water Act (EPA)

Resource: Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Resource: Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act (EPA)

Resource: Laws & Policies: Marine Mammal Protection Act (NOAA)

Lesson Plan: Deliberation - What should the US policy be towards the use of fossil fuels?

Article: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson (RachelCarson.org)

Bell Ringer: Significance of Silent Spring

Video Clip: Impact of Rachel Carson and Silent Spring

Bell Ringer: Burning Rivers and Environmental Squalor

Video Clip: REEL AMERICA - Environmental Protection Agency History, 1970-1985

Bell Ringer: Air Quality Act of 1967

Deliberation: What Role Should the Federal Government Play in Conservation?

Bell Ringer: The Role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Clip #1)

StudentCam Entry: Dream of Clean Water (Nathan Kuczmarski)

StudentCam Entry: Code Red: The Clean Air Act's Battle Against Climate Change (Shannon Germaine)

StudentCam Entry: Something in the Water (Evelyn Shue & Ida Chen)

Special Resource: Dr. Matthew Aruch, EARTHDAY Director of Global Education (YouTube)

Additional Resources

On This Day: Earth Day

Deliberation: Should the federal government implement the Green New Deal?

Lesson Plan: Deliberation - What strategies should the US adopt to address climate change?

Bell Ringer: Cap and Trade Policies to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Lesson Plan: The Paris Climate Agreement and Future Global Climate Policies

In this week's episode, join the C-SPAN Education team as we highlight and celebrate the winners of C-SPAN's annual student documentary competition for middle and high school students: StudentCam! As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: 2022 C-SPAN StudentCam Winners Announcement

Grand Prize - What Happened to Gibson Grove?

1st Prize - High School Central - FEMA's Impact on Our Lives in Southwest Louisiana

1st Prize - High School East - Something in the Water

1st Prize - High School West - American Rescue Plan: Economic Boost or Bust?

1st Prize - Middle School - Stigma-Free Nation: Pathway to Parity

Additional Resource

Website: StudentCam2022 Prize Winners (C-SPAN StudentCam)

This year, Sunshine Week is celebrated from March 13th-19th! In this week's episode, join the C-SPAN Education team as we highlight the significance of Sunshine Week and its role in our democracy using C-SPAN Classroom content. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Sunshine Week

Resource: Proclamation 5447—Freedom of Information Day, 1986 (The American Presidency Project)

Bell Ringer: First Congress and the Bill of Rights

Lesson Plan: Landmark Supreme Court Case - New York Times v United States (1971) (Clip #8)

Article: Disappearance and alleged killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi could complicate U.S.-Saudi relations (The Washington Post)

Bell Ringer: Freedom of the Press (Clip #1)

Bell Ringer: Freedom of Information Act

Resource: What is the FOIA? (U.S. Department of Justice)

Bell Ringer: Freedom of Information Act (Clip #1)

Video Clip: Sunshine Week - The Press and the Supreme Court

Resource: March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey (C-SPAN)

Resource: Sunshine Week Awards (U.S. Department of Justice)

Resource: Sunshine Week 2022 (National Archives) 

Additional Resources

Lesson Plan: 1st Amendment Freedoms Choice Board

Bell Ringer: The Power of Public Knowledge

Lesson Plan: Transparency in Government

Lesson Plan: Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court

In this week's episode, join the C-SPAN Education team as we recognize Women’s History Month. Learn about the origin, contributions of historical figures, and C-SPAN Classroom resources to use with students. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Video Clip: Origin of Women's History Month

Article: First Presidential Message, 1980 (National Women's History Alliance)

Lesson Plan: Women's Suffragist Tactics (Clip #1)

Bell Ringer: Wyoming Women's Suffrage

Deliberation: Should the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment Be Ratified?

Article: 2022 Theme (National Women's History Alliance)

Bell Ringer: The Role of Women in Late-1800s American Medicine

Lesson Plan: The James Webb Space Telescope

Bell Ringer: Women in STEM (Clip #2)

Lesson Plan: Jacqueline Woodson Author Study (Choice Board) (Clip #3)

Additional Resources

Resource: Women's History Month (Library of Congress)

Article: Women's History Month (U.S. Government Publishing Office)

Video Clip: Speaker Pelosi Hosts Virtual Women's History Month Event

Lesson Plan: Choice Board - Conversations with Suffragists

Lesson Plan: The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Lesson Plan: Title IX

Lesson Plan: Upton Sinclair and his feminist network: beyond "The Jungle"

In this week's episode, join the C-SPAN Education team as they talk about the history of Presidents' Day and share C-SPAN resources that can be used to teach about the holiday in the classroom. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Article: By George, IT IS Washington’s Birthday! (National Archives)

Website: C-SPAN Virtual Presidents Exhibit (C-SPAN)

Resource Collection: The Presidents (C-SPAN Classroom)

Video Clip: The Presidency as an Institution

Lesson Plan: President George Washington Farewell Address (Clip #1)

Website: Washington's Farewell Address (United States Senate)

Video Clip: President George Washington 1796 Farewell Address

Website: FREE C-SPAN's American Presidents Timeline Poster Request (Google Form)

Lesson Plan: 2021 Tournament of Presidents [Bracketology]

Video Clip: Changes in the Role of the President and Evaluating Past Presidents

Lesson Plan: Presidential Leadership (Clip #12)

Lesson Plan: Presidential Roles (Clip #17)

Additional Resources

Lesson Plan: Choice Board Activity - Reflections from Presidents

Lesson Plan: Choice Board - US Presidents and the Press

In this week's episode, the C-SPAN Education team shares C-SPAN resources that can be used with students throughout February as they recognize Black History month. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: Carter G. Woodson: Publications and African American History Month

Bell Ringer: Carter G. Woodson

Special Resource: Video Clip of Dr. Ka'mal McClarin of the National Park Service (YouTube)

Bell Ringer: Life and Legacy of Frederick Douglass

Website: Online Collection (National Museum of African American History & Culture)

Bell Ringer: Jackie Robinson's Impact on the Civil Rights Movement

Bell Ringer: Shirley Chisholm and Black Women in Politics

Video Clip: 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Maya Angelou

Lesson Plan: The Presidential Medal of Freedom

Video Clip: Maya Angelou Poem "On the Pulse of Morning"

Video Clip: Amanda Gorman Poem "The Hill We Climb"

Website: Writing to Learn: Using Poetry in Two Voices (Association for Middle Level Education)

Resource Collection: Black History and Civil Rights Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

In this week's episode we discuss C-SPAN’s Teacher Fellowship. You’ll discover the parameters of the program and hear from former fellows who share resources they created and used in their classrooms. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Website: Teacher Opportunities and Fellowship Application (C-SPAN Classroom)

Video Clip: Interview with C-SPAN Teacher Fellow Eleanor Green

Resource Collection: AP US Government Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Resource Collection: AP US History Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Resource Collection: AP Comparative Government Resources (C-SPAN Classroom)

Website: Constitution Clips (C-SPAN Classroom)

Website: Bell Ringers (C-SPAN Classroom)

Bell Ringer: Music and Civil Rights

Lesson Plan: Presidential Roles 

Bell Ringer: Historical Foundation of the Roles and Powers of the President

Video Clip: Teaching Current Events 

Deliberation: What is “Fake News” and How Does It Impact Our Lives?

Lesson Plan: Political Polarization

Lesson Plan: New York City Tenement Museum

With the recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, the team shares C-SPAN Classroom resources that reflect the life and legacy of this historic figure in this episode. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

On This Day: The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (in order in the episode: Clip #1 & Clip #7)

On This Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Life, Death, Legacy (Clip #2, Clip #4, & Clip #1)

Bell Ringer: Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King

Article: Browder v. Gayle (1956) (The King Institute at Stanford University)

Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail (Clip #2)

Article: Letter from Birmingham Jail (The King Institute at Stanford University)

Website: Full text of Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.] (African Studies Center at University of Pennsylvania) 

Website: Full text of Speech at the Great March on Detroit, given 6/23/63 (Mesa Arts Center)

Website: Full text of I Have a Dream Speech, given 8/28/63 in Washington, D.C. (NPR)

Website: The Penn Center (Penn Center)

Bell Ringer: The Murders of Jimmie Lee Jackson and James Reeb

On This Day: Selma, AL and "Bloody Sunday" (Clip #2)

Lesson Plan: Voting Rights Marches in Selma (Clip #3)

Lesson Plan: Last Days of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Clip #2)

Extra Resource: Bell Ringer: 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike

Article: The Riots That Followed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (The Atlantic) 

Article: After MLK's Death, Coretta Scott King Went To Memphis To Finish His Work (NPR)

Video Clip: Touring Monuments and Memorials in Washington, DC

In this episode, the C-SPAN Education Team shares C-SPAN Classroom’s most popular lessons from 2021 including Civil Rights and the Emmett Till story (featuring Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch), the census and redistricting, and personal freedoms. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org. 

Episode Resources

Lesson Plan: The Emmett Till Story (in order in the episode: Clip #3, Clip #2, & Clip #8)

Special Resource: Video Clip of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch (YouTube)

Brief Biography: Lonnie G. Bunch III Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution  

Lesson Plan: How States Redistrict - The Case of 2022 (Clip #1)

Article: Kill the Snake By the Lake (Toledo Blade)

Website: Redistricting Criteria (National Conference of State Legislatures)

Article: Battle Lines Being Drawn Over Redistricting in MD Ahead of Special Session in Annapolis (Fox5 Baltimore)

Deliberation: Should the Federal Government Regulate States’ Election Procedures? 

Lesson Plan: Student Free Speech Since 1969 

Clip: Personal Freedoms and Societal Conventions

Constitution Clips: "Establishment of Religion"

Constitution Clips: "Free Exercise" 

Constitution Clips: "Freedom of Speech"

Constitution Clips: "Freedom of Press"

Constitution Clips: "The Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble" 

Constitution Clips: "Petition the Government" 

Clip: Freedom of Speech and Private Companies

Bell Ringer: Child Safety on Social Media

Join us for this episode as we recognize the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Discover C-SPAN resources featuring archival video, eyewitness accounts and authors’ views to use in your classroom. As a reminder, if you would like to connect with our team, please email us anytime at educate@c-span.org.  

Episode Resources

On This Day: Attack on Pearl Harbor (Clip #3)

Bell Ringer: Japan in 1941

Bell Ringer: The Stimson Doctrine and Territorial Conquest

Clip: The Attack on Pearl Harbor

Clip: Pearl Harbor: Perspective from a Japanese Bomber

Website: Oral History Resources (National WWII Museum)

Bell Ringer: President Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" Address to Congress

Lesson Plan: Presidential Communication during Times of Crisis

Lesson Plan: Eras of Presidential Speeches

Clip: Pearl Harbor's Enduring Legacy

Clip: Pearl Harbor Oral Histories (3 clips)

Clip: Senator Inouye on the Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack

In this episode, the education team introduces StudentCam, C-SPAN’s annual video documentary competition for middle and high school students. Listen to learn about the competition basics, the benefits of participating, and tips for teachers and students on how to get started for the chance to win 1 of 150 cash prizes, totaling $100,000. As a reminder, StudentCam submissions are due Thursday, January 20th, 2022. Email us at Educate@C-SPAN.org with any questions or if you need any assistance!

Helpful Resources

StudentCam Rules

Tips for Getting Started

Resources for Teachers 

FREE C-SPAN Video Clips

Prizes

Past Winners

Frequently Asked Questions

Entry Form

Printable Poster and Promo Video

This episode discusses the origin of voting day, the Constitutional foundation for elections and voter turnout. Using C-SPAN programs, teachers will discover resources and activities to use with their students.

Episode Resources

Bell Ringer: Why Do We Vote on the First Tuesday in November?

Bell Ringer: National Voter Registration Act or The Motor Voter Act

Clip: The Louise Slaughter Weekend Voting Act

Deliberation: Should your state modify its voter registration laws and methods for submitting a ballot?

Bell Ringer: Ranked Choice Voting

Clip: The Right to Vote and the Constitution

Deliberation: Do state laws requiring photo ID for voters unfairly affect voter participation?

Constitution Clips: "We the People"

Clip: Youth Voter Turnout

Deliberation: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

This trailer introduces the brand new C-SPAN in the Classroom podcast. Discover instructional ideas for using C-SPAN Classroom’s free video-based digital resources, featuring C-SPAN staff and guests from the education community.

Websites of Interest

C-SPAN Main Page

C-SPAN Classroom Home Page

StudentCam Home Page

Classroom Deliberations Home Page

Constitution Clips

On This Day in History Collection

Teacher Opportunities