The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched Know Your Rights University (KYR-U), an animated series teaching children about free expression and other constitutional rights, as well as civic engagement.
Civic Literacy/Government
Participating effectively in civic life, staying informed and understanding government processes, and exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship.
Free expression means the right to reveal important truths. A documentary is an invaluable tool that can empower anyone with as little as a cellphone to do just that. The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the New York Film Academy (NYFA) have announced the 22nd annual Youth Free Expression Film Contest.
Looking for a new way to engage students in civics education? MyCivicsLife is a free educational tool from the nonprofit The Source for Learning that uses social media elements to prepare middle school students to be responsible citizens in the digital age—in a safe and engaging practice space.
At a time when civic literacy and ethical leadership are more important than ever, the Museum of Political Corruption has launched its 1st Annual “Making Corruption History” High School Essay Contest, inviting students across the United States to explore the importance of integrity, accountability, and civic responsibility.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, questions about democracy, belonging, and civic responsibility are taking on renewed urgency. What role should schools play in preparing young people to engage thoughtfully with our nation’s history, its pluralism, and its democratic ideals, especially amid polarization and deep disagreement?
The Three Branches Institute (3BI) is an immersive in-person professional development program for educators that examines the people, events, and processes that shape the three branches of government in the United States. The Institute is hosted jointly by the White House Historical Association, United States Capitol Historical Society, and the Supreme Court Historical Society.
As the nation approaches the US Semiquincentennial (America’s 250th anniversary), teachers are invited to join National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) for a hands-on introduction to the National Mall Gateway (NMG), a free digital platform that brings the monuments, memorials, and stories of the National Mall into social studies classrooms everywhere.
At a time when civics education is more vital than ever, the US Supreme Court Summer Institute, a nationally recognized program from the Supreme Court Historical Society and Street Law Inc., brings 60 outstanding secondary (grades 7–12) social studies educators to Washington, DC, for an immersive, weeklong exploration of the Supreme Court and its role in our democracy.
What if students didn’t just learn about civic engagement but also practiced it by solving real-world social problems? Democracy thrives when individuals are empowered to become change agents by offering entrepreneurial solutions for unmet community needs and social issues. Social entrepreneurship is an engaging, real-world context for teaching social studies while cultivating civic engagement.
Led by William & Mary and the National Council for History Education, We the Teachers is a national fellowship that prepares K–12 educators to lead the next chapter in American history/civic education.