Month: September 2022

In Leadup to 2022 Midterm Elections, iCivics and CalMatters Provide News-Based Lesson Plans and Resources for California’s Teachers

Posted on by icivics

Partnership combines CalMatters award-winning nonpartisan nonprofit state news with iCivics lesson plans, games and content to help educators engage students in activities and discussion around the 2022 midterm election.

California’s educators now have a powerful new tool to help teach the 2022 midterm elections through a partnership between the country’s leading civic education nonprofit, iCivics, and California’s premier nonprofit news outlet, CalMatters.

California Election Headquarters, which is available for free for all California teachers and students, is a new portal that combines nonpartisan local journalism and election information with interactive lessons and games to help students improve media literacy skills and increase civic knowledge and skills.

The portal will be updated weekly with relevant news stories from around California that relate to the election as the state determines who will be its next Governor and new U.S. Senator, and weighs a number of important propositions. iCivics will provide games, exercises and lessons to aid discussion in the classroom by helping students understand the news and key civic terms and concepts underlying the news.

Geared toward high school students, the portal includes curated elections resources, organized by week and topic; curricular suggestions and teacher tips for pairing CalMatters news articles with iCivics lessons; and a listing of free professional learning opportunities in teachers’ areas.

“We’re thrilled to be able to share our nonpartisan journalism with California’s social science teachers,” said CalMatters CEO Neil Chase, “supporting them as they educate California’s newest and next voters about the important issues facing our state. We’re especially pleased to partner with iCivics, relying on their expertise in curriculum development and their strong relationships with teachers and students.”

This new and unique resource brings teachers what they need most:

  • Extensive iCivics resources about elections and democracy combined with CalMatters’ midterm-focused reporting and Voter Guide in a California-specific “Election Headquarters” site.
  • Teacher resources including 10-minute discussions, 45-minute lesson plans, interactive games and more.
  • Materials available in a variety of reading levels, in both English and Spanish.
  • Ways to combine important news stories with engaging concept-based lessons.
  • News stories and curriculum updated throughout the fall election period.
  • Live, virtual professional development with free resources, strategies and routines for engaging students on election information.

“Most elections-related teaching resources are either too heavily focused on national elections or simply cover generic information midterms,” iCivics Director of State Professional Programs Tammy Waller said. “This collaboration is different because it provides the California-specific resources focusing on state and local elections that teachers want and students will find most relevant. This makes it easier for teachers to focus on the state and local issues and races that matter to students and their communities.”

The partnership with CalMatters is part of a move toward greater state-based engagement for iCivics in California. As part of these larger efforts, iCivics is implementing a Teacher Facilitator Fellow program to cultivate through a train-the-trainer model a strong network of California educators with the knowledge, skills, and demonstrated abilities to provide each and every student with the kind of high-quality civic education needed to become engaged and informed members of our self-governing society. The first year will focus on Northern California, and expand statewide in coming years. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For media inquires, please contact jacob@oneallen.com

About iCivics

iCivics was founded in 2009 by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to transform civic education and rebuild civic strength through digital games and lesson plans. iCivics is the country’s largest provider of civic education content and is currently used by up to 145,000 educators and 9 million students annually. All of its games are free, nonpartisan and available online at icivics.org. 

About CalMatters

CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality-of-life issues while holding leaders accountable. CalMatters is the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering America’s biggest state, 39 million Californians and the world’s fifth largest economy.

Apply to become an iCivics Teacher Facilitator Fellow (TFF)

Posted on by Luke O'Connor
  • Do you teach 7–12th grade social studies or civics in Northern California?
  • Are you interested in being a teacher-leader and facilitating social studies and civics professional development for teachers in your district, county, and state?
  • Are you interested in being part of a community of practice learning together to transform social studies and civics teaching and learning across the state of California?
  • Do you want to earn $2,100?

If you answered yes to these questions, consider becoming an iCivics Teacher Facilitator Fellow!

What is the iCivics Teacher Facilitator Fellow Program?

iCivics is building a train-the-trainer model to cultivate a strong network of California educators with the knowledge, skills, and demonstrated abilities to provide the kind of high-quality civic education to each and every student in their state, that is essential to sustaining and strengthening our constitutional democracy. We know that we can only reach this goal with the leadership and support of skilled teachers! This fellowship program creates a cohort of Teacher Facilitator Fellows who will work collaboratively with iCivics, other content and pedagogical experts, and each other to strengthen civic education content, pedagogy, and facilitation skills. 

After completion of this fellowship, Teacher Facilitator Fellows will receive a stipend to provide professional development opportunities to other educators in their district, county, and state.

The fellowship will be limited to 20 educators from Northern California for its inaugural year (School Year 2022–23). We are excited to expand the program statewide during the 2023 and 2024 school years!

As part of the fellowship, you will:

  • Attend an in-person kick-off event in late fall where you will meet, connect, and collaborate with other TFFs in your cohort, examine best practices for civics teaching and learning, and hear from guest presenters;
  • Participate in monthly professional development through webinars and coursework from iCivics staff and guest presenters;
  • Be part of a statewide community of practice learning together and supporting high-quality civic instruction;
  • Attend a statewide convening during the summer;
  • Become a certified iCivics Teacher Facilitator and be awarded a digital badge; and
  • Be compensated $2,100, upon fulfillment of fellowship obligations, with potential opportunities to participate in other stipend work. 

How to apply: 

Complete the application.

CHCI R2L NextGen Program Creates Full-Circle Moment for iCivics Team Member

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

Earlier this summer, iCivics’ Director of Curriculum and Content Taylor Davis and I held a workshop for R2L NextGen students from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) to help them learn more about their constitutional rights.

These high school students discussed the importance of our Constitution and the rights it protects for the people of the United States. They then proceeded to play our game, Do I Have A Right? While playing, students reflected on their experience of stepping into the role of a lawyer and learning to navigate their constitutional rights.

Here is what they had to say:

“I learned how critical our lawyers are in our government and how we depend on our amendments.”

– Linsi Perez, Florida

“I relearned which rights went with which amendments. I learned more in depth details about many amendments. I realized the applications of these amendments and how they help to solve issues that people have.”

– Nicolas R., Florida

“I am wondering whether or not most people are actually aware of these rights and I wonder how these games can continue to impact those who don’t.”

– Alexandra C., Florida

This session was a full-circle moment for me because I was part of the inaugural cohort of CHCI’s R2L NextGen program in the summer of 2011. This civic youth experience was pivotal to my life-long civic journey. R2L NextGen prepared me to get more involved in my hometown of Miami, Florida, and seek more civic opportunities. It taught me that civic participation was vital to your community and it empowered me to become part of my high school’s Student Government Association and later be involved in campus elections at the University of Florida.

Without the experience with CHCI’s R2L NextGen as a sophomore in high school, I would not have the motivation I have today to be civically engaged and connected to my community. I was very impressed with how engaged this group of students was during the game and all the wonderful questions they had! I hope they continue playing our games and making the most of their life-long civic journey.

Written by Michael Reyes

Born in Miami, Florida, Michael has nearly three years of teaching experience in his hometown. At iCivics, Michael manages the Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship and the Youth As Civics Experts Network. He supports our Youth Fellows in finding and using their voices towards their civic passion, a similar experience he went through in high school.

Series of 35 Short-Form Videos Exploring Every Article and Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Launches for Constitution Day

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

With the support of Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, “The Constitution EXPLAINED” gives middle and high school teachers a new, no-cost tool to educate students about the U.S. Constitution with modern context and relevance.

 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – Sept. 9, 2022 – Leading civic education providers iCivics and the Center for Civic Education today announced the release of a new short-form video series to educate middle and high school students about the U.S. Constitution using a medium that teachers are finding incredibly effective and engaging in the post-pandemic classroom.

Funded by Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, “The Constitution EXPLAINED” will be available for free in the lead-up to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, when public schools commemorate the Sept. 17 signing of the U.S. Constitution and reflect on the rights and responsibilities enshrined in this seminal document. 

The video series was created in collaboration with noted constitutional scholar Linda R. Monk, author of The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution, and produced by Makematic. The 35 short videos dig deep into the U.S. Constitution by exploring every article and amendment in straightforward and easily digestible 2- to 4-minute segments that provide both context and modern relevance. 

The information-packed animated videos provide a new approach to teaching the U.S. Constitution with maximum flexibility for multiple audiences, differentiating them from existing long-form explainer videos and publications. The videos are geared toward middle and high school students and can also be used by the general population as an engaging refresher on one of the country’s foundational documents.

A preview of the videos can be found on the iCivics website and the Center for Civic Education website.

“iCivics and the Center for Civic Education have created these videos to meet teachers where they are right now,” said Julie Silverbrook, Senior Director of Partnerships and Constitutional Scholar in Residence at iCivics. “Research shows that short videos are an incredibly effective tool, as they hold student attention from start to finish and can be a compelling entryway into teaching even complicated subjects. We know this will be an invaluable tool for educators across the country, as well as for adults and families who are looking for a fun and engaging way to learn more about the text and history of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.”

“I’m incredibly excited about the launch of ‘The Constitution EXPLAINED,’” said Christopher R. Riano, President of the Center for Civic Education. “This collaborative effort shows what is possible when organizations work together, and has produced a rich collection of resources that can be used by students of all ages. We’ve made a special effort to tell the story of American constitutional democracy in an intellectually and visually engaging way and are very proud of the result.”

The video series is already generating anticipation among teachers, who are looking for new tools to educate students about the U.S. Constitution.

“I’m really excited about this collaboration between iCivics and the Center for Civic Education,” said Katie Boland, an AP Government and We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution teacher in Trumbull, Connecticut. “These quick videos will enable teachers to bring experts in the field into our classroom and allow us to explore different topics related to the Constitution in a nonpartisan manner. It’ll be an invaluable resource to all civics teachers and also citizens to watch and learn about our government.” Katie is also a member of the iCivics Educator Network. 

For media inquiries, contact jacob@oneallen.com or gage@civiced.org.

About iCivics

iCivics was founded in 2009 by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to transform civic education and rebuild civic strength through digital games and lesson plans. iCivics is the country’s largest provider of civic education content and is currently used by up to 145,000 educators and 9 million students annually. All of its games are free, nonpartisan and available online at icivics.org. 

About Center for Civic Education

The Center for Civic Education has long been recognized as a leader in providing civic education to K–12 students and adults, with its research-based curricula reaching more than 42 million students and 440,000 educators in the United States and in more than 80 countries since 1965.

iCivics and All Vote No Play Engaged Athletes: Learning from Civic Greats and GOATs

Posted on by Yuki Huang

On September 13, iCivics will host a special event with All Vote No Play featuring athletic leaders who will discuss the motivation and choices behind their work and collective impact.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen and learn from great leaders like four time NBA Champion and “Team Democracy” superstar, Stephen Curry; former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice; the most winning NCAA coach of all time, Tara VanDerveer; and, NFL champion for social change, Demario Davis. These individuals will be interviewed by student athletes, giving attendees chance to understand and explore their individual and collective civic dispositions, skills, and leadership postures.

Register for the Event

To make civics experiential, relevant, and meaningful to all learners and students, we invite your classrooms to participate and learn about creating and nourishing civic values, civic cultures, and civic communities. Consider assigning this event as homework to your civics, government, or social studies classes and inviting further reflection, inquiry, and conversation.

Some learning questions you might offer to your students, include:

  • What does civic engagement mean to you? How does it show up in these leaders’ lives and intentional choices? 
  • How do you think about civic power and what’s required to create positive change? What kinds of power did you hear about in the conversations? How did these leaders use their personal platforms and power in community building and value-amplifying ways?
  • As an athlete, and as a citizen, what is your responsibility to serve the communities around you? How do you do that in your life – in big or small ways?
  • What are other instances in your community where athletic or cultural leaders are making a difference?

In addition to your class discussion, we have other readings and resources that explore the intersection between civic power and possibility available on our websites.

We’re excited to hear how this experience goes for you and your class! Be sure to let us know by emailing us at info@allvotenoplay.org, and tag us in any social media posts, @AllVoteNoPlay and @iCivics.

30 Students Take Civic Education into Their Own Hands Through iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship

Posted on by icivics

Now in its fourth year, the fellowship works with students from across the country to build civic leadership skills and explore how civic education can become more relevant to all youth in the United States

 

iCivics has selected 30 talented high school students from across the country to take part in the iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship (ECYF). The students were selected after a competitive process that saw nearly 650 applicants—more applicants than it has in the previous three years combined—from 43 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

The yearlong fellowship helps students develop leadership and communications skills in collaboration with peers and experts in the field of civic education. Throughout the year, students research and explore how civic education can become more equitable for students across the United States, utilizing their own lived experiences to become ambassadors and shed light on how civic education can include student voices from every background. 

“It’s important for the field of civic education to have a student perspective on what we as a field are trying to do to improve civics and create a high-quality education and experience for all students,“ said iCivics Youth Engagement Coordinator Michael Reyes. “Based on the number of applicants we had for this year’s fellowship, and what each of them wrote in their applications, there is a huge appetite for students to be involved. I’m excited for this year’s fellows to come together and learn from each other and hear the perspectives of students from different backgrounds who they may never have met otherwise. That’s a key part of this.”

The fellowship kicked off in late August, moving into full-gear with an in-person symposium in Washington D.C. in early fall. It then continues through the 2022–2023 school year as fellows engage virtually in group discussions with their peers, workshops and lectures with experts in the field, and projects designed to strengthen listening and collaborative skills. All of the fellows’ work will be centered around ensuring that civic education is available and relevant to all students in the United States. 

Over the past four years, students from across the country representing rural, urban and suburban districts have taken part in the fellowship. They have become an integral part of informing the broader civic education movement, sharing their experiences and thoughts at convenings for the Educating for American Democracy initiative, the Ronald Reagan Institute, and the Commonwealth Club. They have been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and WBUR in Boston. 

“We are incredibly excited to welcome this year’s group of ECYF fellows,” iCivics Executive Director Louise Dubè said. “They are a fantastically talented and diverse group of students, whose voices we value more than our own words can capture, and hope to help empower them as they take the monumental task of improving civic learning into their own hands. We look forward to learning from them.”

iCivics is proud to announce this year’s Equity in Civics Youth Fellows:

  • Camila Alfaro – Egg Harbor Township High School, New Jersey
  • Anaum Allimulla –Newark Charter School, Delaware
  • Denzel Augustin – Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, Florida
  • Grace Clemente – Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Massachusetts
  • Samantha Corpuz-Giron – Salesian High School, California
  • David Culver – Ozark Jr High School, Arkansas
  • Amanda Donley –Fishers High School, Indiana
  • Raymond Fraser – St. Andrews Episcopal School, Mississippi
  • Anika Gamburg – Canyon Crest Academy, California
  • Sophia Gish – Heritage Hall High School, Oklahoma
  • Aine Griffin – Spark Academy of Advanced Technology, New Hampshire
  • Athena Holloway – Classical High School, Rhode Island
  • Milton Hernandez – Gramajo Aiken High School, Ohio
  • Mark Hu – Hamden High School, Connecticut
  • Jatayvia James – King College Prep, Illinois
  • Rose Kelly – Clinton High school, Iowa
  • Jeramie Kim – Crescent Valley High School, Oregon
  • Kate Larsen – Weber High School, Utah
  • Shivi Manchanda – Spring-Ford Senior High School, Pennsylvania
  • Angeles Mejia – College Academy @ BC, Florida
  • Jacob Montney – Alma High School, Michigan
  • William Olmstead – Washington Community High School, Illinois
  • Saturnino Pajkos – Tanque Verde High School, Arizona
  • Autumn Parsons – Walter Wellborn High School, Alabama
  • Mia Quirino – Lubbock High School, Texas
  • Luis Garcia Rivera – East High School, Missouri
  • Kriti Tatia – Johns Creek High School, Georgia
  • Ilelta Tezera – C.D Hylton High School, Virginia
  • Anjali Walsh – Lakeside School, Washington
  • Julia Wolfe – Bosque School, New Mexico

For more information about the iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and how to participate, visit civicsforus.org.