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Create a Goal and Discover Your "Why" - Facing History & Ourselves
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): identity (49), social and emotional learning (235)
In the Classroom
Ask students to use the "Create a Goal and Find Your Why" handout to choose a personal goal for the school year and revise it until it is specific, realistic, and personally meaningful. Ask students to revisit their goals periodically throughout the semester or school year using a paper reflection log to record progress, setbacks, small wins, and a new short-term goal. Invite students to create a digital version of their "Why" poster with Canva for Education, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Overcoming Obstacles - Community for Education Foundation
Grades
K to 12tag(s): communication (128), empathy (81), financial literacy (91), problem solving (286), social and emotional learning (235)
In the Classroom
Students can explore a life skill, such as empathy, perseverance, responsibility, or conflict resolution, through a ready-to-use lesson, then write an individual reflection connecting the skill to a situation they have experienced. Assign students to examine advertising techniques using the high school Managing Your Life materials, then have teams analyze sample advertisements for persuasive techniques and present evidence about how those techniques may influence consumer decisions. Ask students to synthesize a completed unit by creating their own review questions, then use Wordwall, reviewed here, to turn selected questions into a class review game or formative assessment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bell Ringer: Claudette Colvin and the Civil Rights Movement - C-SPAN Classroom
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1950s (36), civil rights (232), women (198), womenchangemaker (95)
In the Classroom
Use the additional resource links to support this bell-ringer activity as part of a larger lesson or unit. Extend learning by using this site as the foundation for creating a presentation using Visme Presentation Maker, reviewed here. Include the link to this bell-ringer in your prompt, and ask Visme to create a slide presentation about Claudette Colvin that includes additional information and context about her role as a change maker and civil rights proponent. Consider asking students to create short podcasts that feature women changemakers, including Claudette Colvin, using a free tool such as Adobe Podcast, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth Day Timeline - HISTORY.com
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): climate (100), conservation (110), earth day (68), environment (248)
In the Classroom
Ask students to create a cause-and-effect chart connecting events such as Silent Spring, the Cuyahoga River fire, the first Earth Day, the establishment of the EPA, and subsequent environmental legislation. Have students work in pairs to investigate one event from the timeline more deeply, then create a visual timeline using Timeline Infographic Templates by Canva, reviewed here, that adds historical context to the events before and after it. Ask students to write an evidence-based response to the question, "How much difference can one public movement make?" using at least three events from the Earth Day timeline to support their argument.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits - PBS Learning Media
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): primary sources (183)
In the Classroom
Students can create timelines using Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here while learning about the Growth of Civilizations. Have students use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes. Assign students to summarize their primary source by making a magazine cover using Magazine Cover Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Ultimate Guide to Teaching with Primary Sources - The Clever Teacher
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): primary sources (183)
In the Classroom
Students can use Vmaker, reviewed here to answer the discussion questions that are posted under the primary sources. Ask students to use graphic organizers from Canva for Education, reviewed here to help summarize the primary source. Have students use AhaSlides, reviewed here to create a word cloud of important facts related to the primary source.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources - Thinkport
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (194), evaluating sources (61), inquiry (42), primary sources (183)
In the Classroom
Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to take notes as they are doing their research. Have students create their own podcast using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here showcasing their learning. Assign students to compare and contrast primary sources in a Venn diagram using Google Drawing, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Government Anchor Charts - Teachers Pay Teachers
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): bill of rights (48), branches of government (69), civics (142), constitution (111), presidents (155)
In the Classroom
Students can compare the legislative, executive, and judicial branches using one of the free anchor charts, then organize similarities and differences with 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here. Ask pairs to annotate a printed anchor chart by highlighting key responsibilities, circling unfamiliar vocabulary, and adding examples from current or historical events, then have them explain one connection to the class. Assign students to compare federal, state, and local responsibilities, then plot examples of government services or civic institutions on Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create an annotated government-in-the-community map.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civic Engagement for Students - Greater Good in Education
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Most activities and ideas on the site work for middle and high school; however, you can adapt them for upper elementary students. Have students identify a school or community issue they care about, research who it affects and why, and create a realistic action plan that includes at least one way young people can contribute. Invite pairs to investigate a community problem and organize possible causes, stakeholders, and solutions on Padlet, reviewed here, before combining ideas into a class civic-action board. Have students research a person who improved a community or advocated for change and create a biography or concept card with Trading Card Creator, reviewed here, emphasizing the person's actions, goals, and impact.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civics and Our Government - Reading Rockets
Grades
K to 8tag(s): book lists (168), civics (142), civil rights (232), constitution (111), democracy (29), elections (92), womens suffrage (65)
In the Classroom
Have students choose two books about voting or elections from the list and compare what each teaches about citizens' roles, then organize the similarities and differences with the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by Read Write Think, reviewed here. After reading one of the election-focused titles, have students role-play a classroom election or community meeting, then write a reflection on how rules, representation, and participation affected the outcome. Ask students to select one book from the collection and write a recommendation explaining which civics topic it teaches best, what age group would benefit most, and what evidence from the book supports their judgment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigration and Citizenship - Bill of Rights Institute
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): immigration (87), primary sources (183)
In the Classroom
Ask students to analyze excerpts from immigration laws and related primary sources in small groups, then create a chronological overview with the Timeline Tool by Read Write Think, reviewed here, showing major changes in U.S. immigration policy. Have students synthesize their research into a presentation explaining a proposed immigration policy and its historical context with Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, then respond to peer questions using evidence. Ask students to complete a final reflection comparing their views before and after the unit and identifying which historical evidence most influenced or complicated their thinking.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Vote Counts Lesson Plan - PBS Learning Media
Grades
K to 2In the Classroom
Students can display their campaign posters in a virtual bulletin board using Padlet, reviewed here. Students can record their speeches using ScreenPal, reviewed here. Students can use Kidrex, reviewed here to learn more about the local elections in their area.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Election Day - PBS
Grades
K to 5tag(s): elections (92)
In the Classroom
Students can use Kiddle, reviewed here, to learn more about Election Day by learning about the candidates running for office in their area. Students can use Venn Diagram Creator by Canva, reviewed here to compare and contrast the principles/core beliefs of the Democrats and Republicans. Students can create a public service announcement using Online Voice Recorder, reviewed here to share why it is important to vote.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning: Interactive Explorations for Students and Teachers - Maloy, R. W., Trust, T., Butler, A., & Xu, C.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (368), civics (142), ebooks (47), media literacy (140), professional development (317)
In the Classroom
Add this to your professional book list to help you understand and teach media literacy. Consider creating a collection on Wakelet, reviewed here to curate and save professional materials for easy access. Use the teacher and student media literacy guides as part of your lessons on media literacy. Each guide includes several questions for students to discuss; add each of the questions to a column on Padlet, reviewed here to create a living document containing students' responses and links to their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Mock Elections That Offer Real Lessons on Democracy - Education Week
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): civics (142), elections (92), electoral college (24)
In the Classroom
Ask students to work in pairs to compare the popular vote and Electoral College using the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here, then write a short explanation of how the two systems differ. Have students examine sample ballots and voter guides, sort unfamiliar election vocabulary into categories, and create a class review activity with Wordwall, reviewed here. Invite younger students to develop an age-appropriate ballot on a familiar issue such as a classroom choice, recess activity, or school policy, then conduct the election using registration lists, private voting, ballot collection, and vote counting so students practice the process described in the resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bill of Rights Institute - Bill of Rights Institute
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bill of rights (48), civics (142), constitution (111), declaration of independence (27), primary sources (183), supreme court (37)
In the Classroom
Have students examine several primary sources from the same historical controversy, annotate evidence for competing viewpoints, and then use Google Drawings reviewed here, to organize quotations and conclusions into a visual evidence map. Invite students to investigate how a constitutional issue developed in different locations and create an annotated map with StoryMap JS, reviewed here. Ask students to prepare evidence from Bill of Rights Institute readings for a structured whole-class debate, then use AhaSlides, reviewed here, to collect a before-and-after poll, quiz responses, or a word cloud showing how class thinking changed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Class2Class- Discover Projects - Class2Class ApS
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (146), problem solving (286), Project Based Learning (32)
In the Classroom
Have students synthesize what they learned from an international exchange by creating a short podcast with Adobe Podcast, reviewed here, explaining how another culture's perspective changed or expanded their thinking. Invite students to exchange interviews or personal stories with a partner classroom, then turn their findings into a digital story with Book Creator, reviewed here, combining text, images, and reflections. Assign small groups a global issue represented in one of the Class2Class projects and have them prepare evidence-based positions for a live or recorded debate, using the exchange with international classmates to challenge assumptions and strengthen arguments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Critical Thinking - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): bias (38), critical thinking (194), evaluating sources (61), logic (174), media literacy (140)
In the Classroom
Assign small groups a political or commercial advertisement to analyze for emotional language, omitted information, source credibility, and logical fallacies, then have each group create an annotated image using Phrase.it, reviewed here, which allows students to add speech bubbles to uploaded images. Ask students to rewrite a weak or fallacious argument as a logically sound persuasive paragraph, then exchange drafts for peer feedback focused on evidence, reasoning, and counterclaims. Have students create a collaborative review game in Wayground, formerly Quizizz, reviewed here, to practice identifying misleading language, faulty reasoning, source bias, and argument structure.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mock Election - iCivics Education
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Invite candidates or campaign teams to create brief campaign presentations with Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here. Ask pairs to examine campaign claims and sort them into categories such as evidence-based arguments, opinions, promises, and persuasive techniques, then discuss which approaches are most convincing to voters. Have students conduct a pre-election and post-election opinion poll with Google Forms, reviewed here, then compare the results to determine whether campaigning changed voters' preferences.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Annenberg Classroom Lesson Plans - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): bill of rights (48), branches of government (69), civics (142), constitution (111), critical thinking (194), Juneteenth (33), media literacy (140), presidents (155), primary sources (183), supreme court (37), womens suffrage (65), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Assign small groups different Supreme Court cases and have them create a case comparison presentation with AhaSlides, reviewed here, identifying the constitutional question, ruling, reasoning, and lasting impact. Have students arrange amendments, court decisions, laws, and historical events on Padlet, reviewed here, using its easy and age-friendly Timeline board to show how a constitutional principle developed over time. Invite students to conduct a mock congressional hearing or Supreme Court argument in which they question witnesses, cite constitutional evidence, and defend a final position.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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