The resources in this collection were created by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy.
This lesson introduces students to the Constitution. Students participate in a matching game to learn what the Constitution is and what it does for them. They will recognize key images related to the Constitution and its history.
In this webinar, hosted by the Center for Civic Education, teachers shared their plans for teaching civics, government, and history with a focus on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program during the 2020-21 school year in the uncertain context of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
This lesson introduces the study of authority. Children learn when people are exercising authority and when they are exercising power without authority. Children learn how and why authority is useful in society.
From Tippecanoe and Tyler Too to Yes, We Can, students will trace the development and use of slogans in presidential elections in the United States. The lesson allows students to compare slogans that are issue-related to those that are more generic. Students are then asked to analyze how these types of slogans are used and the effects they are meant to have on voters.
Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
This lesson allows students to explore where the presidential candidates stand on issues that are important to them. It also allows them to scrutinize informational sources in order to obtain accurate and unbiased data.
Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
Debates can be exciting, energizing, information-packed events. Students often think of the types of debates they have done in class, perhaps a Lincoln-Douglas debate or a policy debate. This lesson takes students through the presidential debates used in campaigns. Using information gathered in Lesson 2 about the presidential candidates’ stances on issues, students will view the debates and determine if the candidates have an identifiable and consistent position. Students will determine if the presidential debates are a useful tool in helping them choose a candidate.
Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
These lessons asks students to look not just at the events of 9/11 but at the following days and years. The lessons involve students in exploring the parts of a newspaper, the functions of a news article, and the importance of a free press in a democratic society. Classroom activities prompt students to discuss the need for and role of heroes. Students learn how to identify unifying factors in a diverse society, distinguish between fact and opinion, examine different points of view, analyze legal issues that have arisen as a result of the terrorist attacks, and much more. Lesson four, Todayâ"s Hero, also includes activities for grades K–4.
In this lesson, students learn about responsibility and apply the concept to segments of the U.S. Constitution.
Students take part in a simulated election in which they role-play poll workers at a polling site and vote in a simulated election. Students become familiar with polling site procedures and the mechanics of voting in their state. When the election simulation coincides with a general election or a state election, it provides for a more authentic experience.
This draft guide provides suggestions for engaging high school students in exploration of the content and issues raised in the Strengthening Democracy in America courses.
"Teaching 9/11 and the Constitution: Free Speech and Civil Liberties" featured First Amendment scholar David Hudson of Belmont University, who spoke about the constitutional issues surrounding the federal government's reaction to the 9/11 attacks, including the Patriot Act. Jennifer Lagasse, Assistant Director of Education Programs at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, demonstrated free educational resources that support teachers in both commemorating the milestone 20th anniversary of the attacks and teaching about their enduring repercussions for a generation with no memory of the event. Maria Gallo, Director of Professional Development & Special Programs for the Center for Civic Education, explained a new lesson related to 9/11 and the Constitution for high school teachers.
This webinar from the Center for Civic Education explains in detail how to use the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution high school and middle school ebooks on the Actively Learn platform. The webinar was conducted by Amanda Kropp, a twelfth-grade government teacher at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, who has taught We the People using the Actively Learn ebook since 2017.
How a country responds to a national crisis reveals a lot about its people and their governments. American responses to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 provide just such a window revealing issues of federalism, separation of powers, and civil liberties. This webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" was presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University in June and July 2020. This series was sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
A webinar series presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University. It is provided as a public service of Kansas State University's Center for Social Studies Education, the Center for Civic Education, and the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation.
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
How a country responds to a national crisis reveals a lot about its people and their governments. American responses to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 provide just such a window revealing issues of federalism, separation of powers, and civil liberties. This webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" was presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University in June and July 2020. This series was sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
How a country responds to a national crisis reveals a lot about its people and their governments. American responses to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 provide just such a window revealing issues of federalism, separation of powers, and civil liberties. "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" is a webinar presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College, Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University. This webinar is sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
Duration: 1 hour, 32 minutes
How a country responds to a national crisis reveals a lot about its people and their governments. American responses to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 provide just such a window revealing issues of federalism, separation of powers, and civil liberties. This webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" was presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University in June and July 2020. This series was sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
This is the third class in the four-part webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College, and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University. This webinar is sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
Duration: 1 hour, 41 minutes
How a country responds to a national crisis reveals a lot about its people and their governments. American responses to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 provide just such a window revealing issues of federalism, separation of powers, and civil liberties. This webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" was presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University in June and July 2020. This series was sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
This is the fourth and final class in the webinar series, "Teaching in Realtime: How Well Does the American Federal System Respond to Public Health Crises?" presented by Stephen Schechter, professor emeritus at Russell Sage College, and Thomas Vontz, professor and director of the Center for Social Studies Education at Kansas State University. This webinar is sponsored by Kansas State University, the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, and the Center for Civic Education.
Duration: 1 hour, 33 minutes
This lesson asks students to examine recent proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, analyze them for public policy triggering mechanisms, and compare and contrast them to amendments that have been ratified.
This course will introduce you to the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution and our system of government. It's perfect for teachers and students of civics courses and for anyone who wants to gain an in-depth understanding of American representative democracy.
The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program promotes civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s upper elementary and secondary students. This webpage provides a description of the program.
This free course is for all those who have not had an opportunity to study the American political system in depth. The course is divided into various sections with videos, questions for understanding, and discussion questions. We hope that this course will be of interest to all Americans who wish to learn more about their system of government and how they can best exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.