What is the long-term harm and wider impact of mass incarceration on people and communities of color? The racial caste system established and perpetuated by mass incarceration continues beyond a prison sentence and extends into families, communities and society at large. The criminalization and demonization of black men creates a “prison label” of stigma and shame that damages the black community as a whole.
Material Type: Lesson
Students examine what deepfakes are and consider the deeper civic and ethical implications of deepfake technology. In an age of easy image manipulation, this lesson fosters critical thinking skills that empower students to question how we can mitigate the impact of doctored media content. This lesson plan includes a slide deck and brainstorm sheet for classroom use.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan
This lesson encourages students to study a variety of documents to understand the impact of a particular piece of legislation and relates to the powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 , of the Constitution, related to making laws. It correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences. It also has cross-curricular connections with with history, government, global studies, and music.
Material Type: Case Study, Lesson Plan
John Dickerson discusses how the position of Speaker of the House has changed over time. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.
Material Type: Lesson
Media as a linkage institution. Incentives for media to cater to ideologies of target audience.
Material Type: Lesson
Learn more about the stories and legacy of over 13,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II at Minidoka Relocation Center, an American concentration camp in Idaho.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Reading, Student Guide
“Change the World via The Literary Research Paper” is a course framework for composition. This course framework incorporates a semester-long group project that empowers students to make connections and choices to leverage Literature research to make changes in their community. It also provides learners with the opportunity to explore their interests and apply research from literature, social issues, non-profit organizations, or civic groups.
Material Type: Full Course
This is an ADA compliant downloadable version of the American Government online textbook at U.S. History.org by The Independence Hall Association.
Material Type: Reading
Local governments are the smallest and closest governments to us. They are usually the first place we turn when we need help. This is the teacher guide companion to The State We're In: Washington (Grade 3-5 Edition) Chapter 6. The resource is designed to engage students with a launch activity, focused notes, and a focused inquiry.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
John Dickerson tells us about how congressional elections have changed, becoming more closely associated with the incumbent president's performance in office. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.
Material Type: Lesson
These are course materials for a new course at the intersection of civil discourse and public policy. The course was developed and taught at the Biden School at the University of Delaware. Support for this course was provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Ithaca Initiative.
Material Type: Assessment, Syllabus
How the evolution from newspapers to radio to television to the Internet and social media have affected political discourse.
Material Type: Lesson
Introduce students to the function of news reporting and editorialzing, and what changes in the information landscape has blurred the lines between the two. Students have the opportunity to identify facts and opinions in the news, with the goal of understanding how to distinguis between objective reporting and opinion pieces. Students are invited to discuss the role news plays in civic engagement, and how, as news consumers, the sources we choose matter.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
** This resource is published by The Right Question Institute.The Question Formulation Technique builds students’ ability to ask and learn from their own questions — an essential life skill. The ability to ask questions allows young people to assess with a critical eye what they see in the news, online, and on social media. It helps them become more confident and ready to participate in civic life.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive
The unit focuses on the struggles for self-identity and self-determination that continue to be problematic even a century after Puerto Rico’s inclusion in the United States’ territory. As a teacher of Spanish and Latin American culture, I find it very appealing that my Puerto Rican heritage students are aware of their roots and I have tried to bring that perception into the unit using a variety of lesson plans to help students understand the political status of Puerto Rico and their rights as citizens of the U.S. In this unit students will be exposed to various topics in the history of the Caribbean islands but with a focus on Puerto Rico. Students will be able to contrast the different historical epochs and their political implications. Finally, using the research as a guide, students will able to evaluate how the outcome of the Spanish-American War changed Puerto Rico’s political status from Spain’s colony to a U.S. territory. After exploring what being a Commonwealth meant for the people of Puerto Rico, they will be able to explain Puerto Rico’s “dual” citizenship and how it affects the Island’s national identity and culture.
Material Type: Lesson Plan, Unit of Study
How conservatives, liberals and libertarians think about government intervention for social issues.
Material Type: Lesson
The Thanksgiving unit is divided into three separate lessons, Thanksgiving 1Pilgrims and American Indians, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, and Thanksgiving 3Traditions. In planning this first lesson, consider whether you wish to cover this material in one or two class sessions. It introduces the Pilgrims arrival and first year in North America as well as the life of the American Indians who helped them. On the handouts, you will find Reading Paragraphs and Word Banks with visuals to help illustrate the teaching points and to engage the students in discussion. There is new vocabulary that your students will not need to know for the Civics Test. For example, the readings cover historical background to the Thanksgiving story but these details are not on the test. The story of the Pilgrims experience presented here will be explored further in, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, when the students have an opportunity to share their own stories. Covers civics test items 58, 59, and 87.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
The Thanksgiving unit is divided into three separate lessons, Thanksgiving 1Pilgrims and American Indians, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, and Thanksgiving 3Traditions. In planning this first lesson, consider whether you wish to cover this material in one or two class sessions. It introduces the Pilgrims arrival and first year in North America as well as the life of the American Indians who helped them. On the handouts, you will find Reading Paragraphs and Word Banks with visuals to help illustrate the teaching points and to engage the students in discussion. There is new vocabulary that your students will not need to know for the Civics Test. For example, the readings cover historical background to the Thanksgiving story but these details are not on the test. The story of the Pilgrims experience presented here will be explored further in, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, when the students have an opportunity to share their own stories. Covers civics test items 58, 59, 64, 96, and 100.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
The Thanksgiving unit is divided into three separate lessons, Thanksgiving 1Pilgrims and American Indians, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, and Thanksgiving 3Traditions. In planning this first lesson, consider whether you wish to cover this material in one or two class sessions. It introduces the Pilgrims arrival and first year in North America as well as the life of the American Indians who helped them. On the handouts, you will find Reading Paragraphs and Word Banks with visuals to help illustrate the teaching points and to engage the students in discussion. There is new vocabulary that your students will not need to know for the Civics Test. For example, the readings cover historical background to the Thanksgiving story but these details are not on the test. The story of the Pilgrims experience presented here will be explored further in, Thanksgiving 2The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story, when the students have an opportunity to share their own stories. Covers civics test item 100.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
This inquiry unit leads students through the different perspectives behind a decision to have a dam removed. This unit looks at similar Washington state dam removal decisions as well as the complex issue of having the Election dam removed near Puyallup, WA. Students will be introduced to the stories and traditional ways of knowing about salmon that the Puyallup Tribe has built their culture upon. Then they will explore the science behind hydroelectricity and build models to discover how carbon neutral energy is gathered through hydro dams. This inquiry unit ends with students researching different perspectives surrounding the current (2021) decision to remove the Electron dam including: the Tribe’s Fishery department, the ecosystem, the city council, the fishermen and the hydro-electrical company who currently owns the dam. With their research, students will do a socratic seminar to mimic the court case lawsuit that is ongoing against the Electron Dam.
Material Type: Unit of Study
