TeachersFirst Civics Resources
Civics education is more important than ever, and we've curated an incredible collection of resources to help K–12 educators bring this vital subject to life in the classroom! Whether you're teaching the foundations of government, constitutional rights, voting and elections, civic participation, current events, public policy, law and justice, or the role of media in democracy, this collection has something for every learner. Inside, you'll find interactive simulations, lesson plans, videos, primary source documents, discussion guides, games, virtual field trips, assessments, and digital tools — all designed to help students become informed, engaged, and active citizens. Explore, share, and empower the next generation of civic leaders!
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Civics of Technology Curriculum - Civics of Technology
Grades
6 to 12
tag(s): artificial intelligence (300), critical thinking (179), inquiry (34), media literacy (122)
In the Classroom
Utilize these free curriculum materials to incorporate media literacy lessons into commonly taught subjects or to develop critical thinking skills. For example, use the "Unfolding a Smartphone" lesson to explore the development of communication methods from the invention of the alphabet to the emergence of smartphones. Use Project Zero Thinking Routines, reviewed here to enhance learning and understanding. Choose from a variety of thinking routines that provide focused activities to guide students in critical thinking and encourage them to consider different viewpoints.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Rock the Vote Incorporating Local, State, and National Elections into the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Use the many ideas in this article to find engaging resources for teaching about elections in any classroom. Modify ideas to suit your classroom needs using an AI resource such as Claude, reviewed hereAdd your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: Government - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): atomic bomb (7), bill of rights (37), branches of government (68), civics (128), coal (6), cold war (39), courts (25), presidents (152), stock market (13), vietnam (41), world war 1 (87), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
In small groups, have students role-play founding delegates and "reimagine" part of the Constitution for today's world, using background knowledge from the videos. After exploring a short video clip on a U.S. government topic (ex., branches of government or the Bill of Rights), students can summarize what they learned in a one-minute oral presentation or written response. Students can choose a civic issue (voting rights, checks and balances, due process) and create a short video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here or Clipchamp, reviewed here explaining its importance, using inspiration and facts from the collection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Let's Learn Social Studies - Let's Learn
Grades
K to 3tag(s): civics (128), communities (40), family (53)
In the Classroom
Students can use Book Creator reviewed here to create a book about their family and/or family history (or other Social Studies topics). Students can complete activities posted in Seesaw reviewed here. Students can use Google My Maps reviewed here to learn about different communities and locations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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From Election Results to Inauguration: Teaching the 2024 Transition of Power - Share My Lesson
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): inauguration (9), presidents (152)
In the Classroom
Teachers can follow the step-by-step lessons that are on the site. Students can create a timeline of significant events using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here between Election Day and Inauguration Day. Finally, students can debate who was the most influential performer/author during Inauguration Day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Constitution Explained: Video Series - iCivics
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): bill of rights (37), constitution (103), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Create a crossword puzzle or word search featuring key terms from the Constitution. Use a tool such as My Crossword Maker reviewed here. Students can work individually or in pairs to solve these puzzles, helping reinforce their vocabulary and understanding of the Constitution in a fun, interactive way. Have students simulate court cases based on actual or hypothetical situations where the Bill of Rights is relevant. Divide them into groups and assign each group a particular amendment (ex., First Amendment, Fourth Amendment). Create a scavenger hunt where students search for key terms and concepts related to the Constitution, such as "separation of powers," "checks and balances," and "Bill of Rights." Try GooseChase to create your scavenger hunt reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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US Government and Politics - Crash Course
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): branches of government (68), civics (128), politics (124), presidents (152)
In the Classroom
After watching the video series, students can flip the classroom by teaching others about the content in the video. Students can research specific people who were influential from the video's time period. Finally, students can create a government with students having elections for Congress and President and set up a judicial branch of government that hears cases for review of laws.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Retro Report Education - Retro Report
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): 20th century (168), advanced placement (24), bill of rights (37), black history (130), civil rights (217), cross cultural understanding (178), cultures (292), difficult conversations (52), drugs and alcohol (29), environment (254), freedom of speech (13), media literacy (122), native americans (130), news (223), politics (124), primary sources (134), psychology (60), sept11 (18), supreme court (31), terrorism (41), world war 1 (87), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
High school social studies teachers will want to bookmark and save this site as an excellent resource for lessons and videos to accompany current lessons. Use the lessons to differentiate activities based on student interests. For example, when teaching about the Bill of Rights, offer groups of students different topics to explore from the provided lessons, including the Pentagon Papers, evolution in science class, conspiracy theories, and Waco as a 2nd amendment battleground. Use Padlet, reviewed here, or Wakelet, reviewed here as a curation tool for you and students to gather resources related to their topic. Ask students to share their findings using a presentation tool like the ones found at Canva Edu, reviewed here, which includes options for adding links to resources shared.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civics Renewal Network - The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the Univ of Pennsylvania
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): branches of government (68), civics (128), constitution (103), democracy (29), elections (87), electoral college (22), media literacy (122), politics (124), supreme court (31)
In the Classroom
Include the Civics Renewal Network with your other resources for teaching civics content. Include activities on this site as part of self-guided lessons created using Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, or add to classroom lessons created with NearPod, reviewed here. Extend student learning by asking them to become creators using a digital storytelling tool such as Elementari, reviewed here. Elementari includes features that bring students' stories to life, such as animations, font choices, and drag-and-drop text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interdisciplinary Civics Education Lessons - United4SC
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): branches of government (68), civics (128), civil rights (217), constitution (103), democracy (29), diseases (59), elections (87), environment (254), ethics (21), media literacy (122), pilgrims (12), psychology (60), racism (80), slavery (79), supreme court (31)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this excellent resource for use throughout the year to engage students as they learn about various social studies topics. Luckily, this site includes a link to each of the videos that are shared on edpuzzle, reviewed here. Use these links to create and share video lessons with your students, including notes, quizzes, and comments extending learning. Use the included lesson plans as a starting point for your lessons, then ask students to extend learning by sharing information through various choices. For example, offer students options for creating a podcast teaching about one of the topics using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Buzzsprout includes options to personalize podcasts, such as the ability to add links to show notes and the option to schedule episodes for release at specific times and dates; in addition offer Genially, reviewed here, where students can choose to create interactive presentations, images, infographics, charts, and anything else you can think of.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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60-Second Civics - Center for Civic Education
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (68), civics (128), constitution (103), democracy (29), elections (87), electoral college (22), house of representatives (7), politics (124), senate (11), supreme court (31)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this podcast to use as a quick class-starter to review and discuss civics topics. If you don't have time to listen daily, consider setting aside 15-20 minutes a week to listen to podcasts from the week and to discuss the daily questions. Engage students in any topic by creating a IdeaBoardz, reviewed here that contains any of the daily questions. Ask students to share their thoughts and response using the sticky note tool. Extend learning by asking students to choose a topic of interest to research. Ask them to share their findings using one of the multimedia tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Options found at Adobe Express include creating graphics, webpages, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civics in Real Life - Florida Joint Center for Citizenship
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civics (128), constitution (103), courts (25), elections (87), electoral college (22), holidays (285), politics (124), presidents (152), supreme court (31)
In the Classroom
Because this site offers weekly downloads, it is a great addition to use in any social studies classroom for civics lessons or providing ongoing civics discussions throughout the school year. Engage students by creating groups to explore concepts even further throughout the year. For example, divide your class into four or five groups, then have each group rotate throughout the month to take the information from a weekly update and conduct further research. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to curate and share each of the activities for students to revisit and review the content. Take advantage of tools such as Google Slides, reviewed here, to focus student groups on learning activities. Create a slide template that includes students' areas to answer questions, reflect upon finding, and share resources used. Extend learning using podcasts as a final project for students to discuss and share their researched topic. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is an excellent option for podcasting in the classroom because of the free features that include adding links and lists to podcasts and the ability to schedule podcasts release for your chosen date and time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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US Presidential Elections and Activities - GrowingVoters. org
Grades
K to 12tag(s): civics (128), elections (87), electoral college (22), journalism (74), politics (124)
In the Classroom
Be sure to see the many free lessons and activities shared on this site for use as a complete civics and election unit or as a supplement to your current curriculum. For polling activities, consider the use of online polling tools such as Dotstorming, reviewed here, or Poll Everywhere, reviewed here, as quick polling options. Select activities from the site to use with other learning tools such as videos, online articles, and documents to create a blended learning activity using ActivelyLearn, reviewed here. Have students create campaign posters and flyers using PhotoCollage, reviewed here, or Canva Edu, reviewed here, using the templates provided or created from scratch. Engage students in the electoral experience by providing options for them to promote a personal platform or a fictionalized candidate using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Adobe Express allows inclusion of student-created videos and artwork along with student persuasive writing examples.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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We the Civics Kids - Constitution Center
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): bill of rights (37), civics (128), communities (40), constitution (103), courts (25), diversity (55), states (128), supreme court (31)
In the Classroom
Use the lessons from this site as an entire civics unit or integrate the materials into your current civics program. Although created for fourth grade, the materials are easily adaptable for students in other grades. As students learn about civics through problem-solving activities, incorporate online tools found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning. For example, have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a fake Fakebook profile of a historical character. Extend learning further by asking students to create and produce podcasts using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Include topics found on the We the Civics Kids website, such as diversity, school uniform discussions, and kid power.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Virtual Field Trip Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): virtual field trips (139)
In the Classroom
This collection includes virtual field trips for all grades. Each review includes several classroom use ideas. Get out your projector (or interactive whiteboard) and take your students on an adventure. Have students go on a "field trip" with a partner or independently on laptops or other devices. Explore the activities suggested.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Digital Civics Toolkit - MacArthur Research Network
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): civics (128), communities (40), cross cultural understanding (178), digital citizenship (108), journalism (74)
In the Classroom
Save yourself some time and use these excellent free modules on this site during online safety lessons. Share this site with your school's counselor for use during digital awareness activities. Instead of using paper and pencil to record ideas during brainstorming sessions, use an online bulletin board like Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and record student responses. Padlet offers tools for participants to share links and add comments to posts. As students develop responses to prompts, replace paper and pencil and ask them to create simple web pages to share their ideas and include support for their position using a simple webpage creation tool like Jimdo, reviewed here. Add a link to each student or group's web pages to your class website to share the variety of ideas and resources shared by the class. Enhance learning and use Acast, reviewed here, to create podcasts featuring students sharing tips for being digitally aware and share with your school community.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Eagle Eye Citizen - Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (68), civics (128), civil rights (217), congress (40), elections (87), immigrants (51), inquiry (34), presidents (152), primary sources (134), Research (87), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Share activities from this site to introduce civics and government lessons; be sure to point out links with additional resources included after problem-solving activities. Share a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Replace written notes and help students organize information using a mind mapping tool like Coggle, reviewed here. Use Coggle to create and share colorful diagrams with included text and images. As students continue through the unit, have them enhance their learning by including their diagram on a website sharing their knowledge of civics concepts or discussing the historical event studied. Webnode, reviewed here, is a free website creator offering premade templates and easy to use tools. Transform student learning at the next level and ask them to create a book for younger students to teach them about the event studied using Book Creator, reviewed here. For example, when learning about the three branches of government ask students to create a digital book explaining the functions of the three branches. Book Creator allows you to include videos, images, audio recordings, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interactive Constitution - National Constitution Center
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colonial america (97), constitution (103), philadelphia (10)
In the Classroom
Include this site with any lessons on the Constitution. Share on your interactive whiteboard to help students understand the meaning behind each article and amendment. Take your research into the Constitution a step further and have students compile bookmarks containing videos and online articles to use for research. Wakelet, reviewed here, is a bookmarking tool that allows students to collaborate through annotations and highlighting of text. Extend student learning by having students or student groups create explainer videos to tell the history of the Constitution or explain articles or amendments. Modify classroom technology use by using a tool like Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, to create animated short videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Constitute - Comparative Constitutions Project - Univ of Texas at Austin
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): civics (128), civil rights (217), constitution (103), cross cultural understanding (178), cultures (292)
In the Classroom
Share Constitute on an interactive whiteboard or projector as part of any lessons studying nations around the world. Compare constitutions when discussing current events and cultural differences. Use an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to demonstrate differences and similarities. Flip learning by sharing a comparison you create, then have students study comparisons before class discussions of materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NewseumED - NewseumED.org
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civics (128), civil rights (217), elections (87), evaluating sources (45), freedom of speech (13), media literacy (122), politics (124), primary sources (134), sept11 (18), terrorism (41), terrorist (12)
In the Classroom
If you teach or even discuss civil rights, the First Amendment and its freedoms and ideals, current events, or the presidential elections be sure to look at the lessons provided here. The lessons will also help you show students how to tell facts from opinions in current events. Use ideas from the lesson plans to supplement your current teaching materials. Enhance learning and challenge small groups of students to create an infographic sharing their learning from the notes they took during a lesson. Use Infogram, reviewed here, to construct the infographic. If you plan on using one of the EdCollections ask students to enhance and extend their learning and develop a multimedia presention using Presentious, reviewed here, or an interactive poster with a tool like Genially, reviewed here, for one of the suggested Extension Activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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