Category: Educator Blog

Embracing National Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

Growing up in Miami, Florida, I was surrounded by Hispanic culture, Hispanic leaders, and the Spanish language. Thanks to my parents, I grew up speaking both Spanish and English. I was exposed to my Guatemalan heritage and explored how that intertwined with growing up in the United States. Unfortunately, this did not include a lot of civic knowledge or skills. My parents had not been a part of the electoral process in their country of origin or in the United States. They also never attended school due to the violence and poverty that had struck their country throughout the 20th century. Thankfully, I was able to develop my passion and knowledge for civics from my school and was able to take a dedicated civics course—something solidified for all Florida middle schoolers with the passage of the Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Education Act in 2010.

It was not until I left Miami that I understood the importance of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month of celebration and recognition allowed me to come together with other students at my university and recognize the importance of Hispanic contributions to the American story. As an educator, I had the opportunity to teach a World Cultures course every year, in which students got to explore different cultures through projects and research. It was always a special time when we got to the unit in Latin America, which I ensured landed during Hispanic Heritage Month. The majority of my students identified with this region because it was where their families were from. That is when I noticed how powerful Hispanic Heritage Month could be in the classroom. Acknowledging these stories and celebrations was one way of creating and celebrating community in the classroom.

These steps in my journey led me to iCivics. At a personal level, I understand how essential civic education is to those of the youngest generation who may not have a family that is civically engaged. Civic education serves as a way to overcome generational barriers to civic engagement. Luckily, my mom will have an opportunity to vote for the first time in her life on November 8.

I challenge educators and students to use this month’s significance and incorporate it into their school community however possible. One way is by studying leaders like U.S. Supreme Court Justice (and iCivics board member) Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina and first woman of color to serve on the land’s highest court. Another way is by using iCivics’ ELL resources to make civics accessible to your English and multilingual learners. As a Latino, I feel proud to be able to continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

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.

Head Back to School in an Election Year with iCivics

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Kickstart the school year with iCivics! As you prepare to welcome students back into the classroom, we have your back with engaging civics and election-related resources for all ages.

Join us for one of three free webinars that explore engaging election resources, civic lessons, and other exciting updates to help you inspire the next generation. Additionally, participants will get a tour of the new iCivics Education website, designed to provide a more user-friendly experience and launch just days before the webinar.

Natacha Scott, iCivics Director of Educator Engagement, will share previews of yet-to-be-released resources for your classroom and an overview of our elections-related resources and support. 


For High School and Middle School Educators

Back-to-School (in an Election Year)

August 21, 2024, from 7–8 p.m. ET


For Elementary Educators

Back to School Elementary Webinar

August 22, 2024, from 7–8 p.m. ET


For Administrators

Bringing iCivics to Your District in an Election Year

August 22, 2024, from 1–2 p.m. ET


Whether you are new to iCivics or just need a refresher on our resources, this webinar is a great place to start planning your school year.

Multilingual Mindset at the WIDA Conference

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

“My aunt always said that knowing more than one language was a superpower.” Shareen Marisol Meraji, keynote speaker kicked off the WIDA 2023 Conference by talking about the importance of “Giving children a strong foundation in their heritage language so that children could be proud of where they come from.”

Being multilingual is a superpower indeed. Knowing another language boosts your memory, gives you a greater ability to multitask, and improves social skills since you draw experiences from different cultures and look at issues from multiple perspectives. One of the important aspects of teaching multilingual learners is to focus on the assets they bring into the classroom.

I attended this year’s WIDA conference because, as part of our mission, iCivics aims to empower and equip ELs and MLs by making our games and resources accessible to all. We are continuously working to improve our ELL materials. In the field of civics and social studies, it’s particularly important to make sure that students see themselves reflected in the stories we tell and we want to make sure that the content has the support and scaffolding that ELs and MLs need in order to be successful. I was able to connect with several leaders in the field and get their thoughts.

One of these leaders was Dr. Luciana de Oliviera, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies and Professor of the Department of Teaching and Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University. She said, “The WIDA 2023 conference was my first and I absolutely loved everything!! The fact that this conference is for K-12 teachers by teachers was prevalent throughout the program. What I loved the most was to see the value and interest in a functional approach to language development. For those of us doing research and practicing this for over 20 years, it is incredible to notice the changes in the field impacted by the inclusion of this approach in WIDA 2020.!”

Many of the sessions focused on the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework which is centered on equity and fosters the assets, contributions, and potential of multilingual learners. It focuses on a functional approach to language development and one of the big ideas is the integration of content and language. WIDA’s Key Language Uses—narrate, argue, inform, and explain—are core to communicating ideas and content in social studies and civics.

Another leader (former WIDA researcher and one of the authors of the WIDA ELD Standards), I spoke to was Dr. Ruslana Westerlund, an educational consultant at the Cooperative Educational Service Agency 2 serving Wisconsin school districts and Associate Adjunct Faculty in the Graduate School of Education at Bethel University. She was one of the authors of the WIDA ELD Standards who worked hard to represent disciplinary genres such as explanations and arguments through the Key Language Uses. To illustrate the synergy between C3 and WIDA, she wrote Scaffolding ML Access to Social Studies Inquiry Through the WIDA ELD Standards. When asked about this year’s conference, she said, “This year’s WIDA Conference exemplified the strength of what happens when we do transdisciplinary work. We are seeing math (such as Dr. Karen Terrel) and science (like Dr. David Crowther) and social studies (like iCivics)… CONTENT people come to language conferences! Now we, language people have work to do and go to science and math and social studies conferences. We have so much to learn from each other. We are stronger together. Our students will only benefit when adults start working together, walk across the hallway and humbly ask for help.”

Our students are learning content and language at the same time. We are integrating content and language instruction in our materials in many different ways through instructional strategies, language objectives, scaffolding, vocabulary integration, visuals, video viewing, and more. This is the very approach iCivics is using to develop its core curriculum for U.S. History, which will be published in summer of 2024. ELs/MLs can soar higher when their skills and superpowers are supported by high-quality instructional materials and celebrated.

Explore our ELL Resources

Written by Kristen Chapron

Kristen Chapron is Senior Editor of Digital Learning and ELL at iCivics. She has worked on all of the EL and bilingual resources and looks forward to creating even more materials for English and multilingual learners.

New Game Teaches Students the Skills Needed for Local Involvement

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to release a new online game that introduces students to the skills needed to engage responsibly in their local communities.

Neighborhood Good is a classroom game that invites players to learn about the issues impacting a fictional community and engage with community members in order to address those challenges.

While playing Neighborhood Good, students select a challenge facing their fictional community, such as access to fresh food deserts, resourcing of schools, limited access to healthcare providers, or food waste removal. The game directs players through the process of talking with other community members to understand the problems, identify possible solutions, and figure out what resources are available. Through these conversations, students develop a plan to address the issue and see if and how it works. Neighborhood Good allows students to build the muscle and capacity for civic engagement through making choices, receiving immediate feedback, and revising their community plans.

Designed primarily for middle and upper elementary school students, the game and accompanying educator resources are available for free at iCivics.org. Neighborhood Good has support for English and multilingual learners, as well as a full Spanish-language version.

“Neighborhood Good helps students build the skills and muscles needed to work together with their neighbors and fellow residents to fix everyday problems in a safe, nonpolitical environment,” said iCivics Chief Education Officer Emma Humphries. “We are grateful to our partners at the Department of Defense for their insight into the power of local involvement.”

iCivics developed the game in partnership with DoD STEM, the Department of Defense’s education and employment initiative to inspire, cultivate, and develop talent for the modern workforce. The game was funded as part of a through grant from the DoD to the iCivics’ Civics, Service, and Leadership (iCSL) program for students exploring careers in the military and public service.

Through iCSL, iCivics is developing new resources, such as Neighborhood Good, and is working with teachers and students to approach civic education as an opportunity for building leadership skills and a service mindset. iCSL’s goal is to teach how the U.S. government works, and how to use that knowledge for the betterment of individuals and communities. The program also offers access to curriculum, a network of peers and master teachers, and professional development for educators.

The Department of Defense, through its National Defense Education Program (NDEP), has invested in civic education because it sees the lack of civic knowledge evident in the most recent NAEP Civics as a matter of national security, both internally and externally. It sees community involvement and volunteerism as key tools to combat these challenges.

New Supreme Court Simulations Engage Students Through Media-Rich, Whole-Class Experiences

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics launched Supreme Decision, a new simulation tool that equips teachers to guide their classrooms through a collaborative experience in which students explore different perspectives and work together to navigate landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases in U.S. history.

Supreme Decision simulations—iCivics’ first multiplayer offering—help educators turn their classroom into the Supreme Court as students are assigned the role of Petitioner, Respondent, or Supreme Court Justice. Students are guided through a web-based in-person experience where they learn about judicial lenses, are introduced to facts of the case, prepare for and present arguments, deliberate and rule, and finally discuss the results and reflect on the experience. The simulation is designed to bring the workings of the Supreme Court to life while giving students a first-person, active role in debating and deciding cases about topics that are relevant to their own lives: Student free speech and due process. 

The two cases are based on real-life cases that were central to the legacy of iCivics’ Founder, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Tinker v. Des Moines and Goss v. Lopez.

Each module includes videos that provide context and primary sources to help students understand their assigned roles as they work through these two cases. 

  • In Supreme Decision: Student Free Speech, students debate the fictional case of Ben Brewer, a high school student who was suspended for violating the school dress code. Students examine the First Amendment right to free speech and apply the precedent of Tinker v. Des Moines to answer the question: Does the U.S. Constitution protect Ben’s right to wear a band T-shirt to school?
  • In Supreme Decision: Due Process, students examine thefictionalcase of Jamie Johnson, a high school student who was suspended after a student protest. By applying the precedent of Goss v. Lopez and the right to due process, students will answer the question: Does the U.S. Constitution protect Jamie’s right to due process before a suspension from school?

These simulations use technology to facilitate, not replace, student interaction and engagement and create a controlled environment to have debates in a manner that allows a full range of opinions to be heard safely.

Don’t Navigate the Challenges of Teaching Alone. Apply to join the Educator Network!

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

While many professional learning communities exist, the iCivics Educator Network is unique. This group of energetic civics, history, government, and social studies teachers serve as champions and ambassadors for high-quality equitable civic education. 

As a member of the Educator Network, you’ll be connected to fellow educators with whom to collaborate and learn from and gain access to the tools and resources you need to effectively engage your students. 

“I love iCivics Educator Network because it creates a place for civics educators to gather and learn from one another… Because of these meetings, I feel empowered to use the materials and resources with authority and experience.”

~ Shari C., AP Government Teacher and iCivics Educator Network member

Join the cohort of Kindergarten to post-secondary educators from every state in the nation and learn from the broad range of experiences, diverse opinions, and valuable perspectives.

Benefits of joining the iCivics Educator Network:

  • Monthly virtual Educator Network meetings where you’ll connect with other members and discuss pedagogy and teaching ideas 
  • Monthly email newsletter packed full of learning opportunities and resources
  • First access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at new iCivics resources, special events, pilots, and other opportunities
  • Collaboration with other teachers as part of a vibrant and supportive community
  • Opportunities to share your teaching experiences with national and local media

Being a member of the Educator Network gives me added insight into best practices and helps me to troubleshoot as my students are engaging with the resources. It also introduced me to so many amazing teachers and gave us time to meet and talk about what we are doing, and why we do it. They inspire me to try new things!

~ Jennifer C., Teacher and iCivics Educator Network member

iCivics Launches Animated Music Video Series with Nickelodeon

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics is thrilled to announce its partnership with Nickelodeon and ATTN: to bring children ages 2–11 a brand new animated music video series that helps them learn about how to be a part of a stronger democracy.

Well Versed hits all the right notes as it teaches civic concepts to the youngest generation in fun and imaginative ways through original pop songs. The 12-video series explores topics such as the functions of government, how laws are made, and how to be of service to the community. iCivics helped design the series and created viewing guides that support learning in the classroom or at home with short activities and conversation starters.

View the Series

Joining us to unveil the series on National Civics Day were First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden and Former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush. Speaking to a crowd of students in Philadelphia, Dr. Biden shared, “…learn everything you can about the things you love, the things that make you curious, but also take time to learn your rights as a citizen.”

First Lady Bush added via recorded video: “We believe that we need to inspire public trust, promote service, encourage civility, tolerance, and compassion among Americans. But it’s especially important that we teach our children how to be engaged citizens.”

Said Shari Redstone, Chair of Paramount Global, “Our goal is for these videos to be played in classrooms and homes across the nation in order to help address the enormous gaps in civic literacy today.” Check out these stories on NPR and CBS News to learn more.

Civic education, like reading or math, should start young, and these videos and learning materials can make government more relevant, interesting—and fun—for our youngest learners.

In addition to iCivics, the videos are also available across all Nickelodeon Platforms, Paramount+ and Noggin now.

Dive into Primary Sources & Inquiry-based Learning with Three New DBQuests

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

Are you looking for ways to incorporate primary source analysis into your lessons without spending hours preparing? 

Unlock the power of inquiry-based learning with our three new DBQuests! Each DBQuest asks students a big question which acts as a guiding light for in-depth analysis of three multimedia primary resources. With step-by-step guidance from a virtual writing assistant, students will gather evidence, check sources, analyze what they mean, and write responses to important questions.

Explore Our Three Newest DBQuests

Non-Voting Delegates in Congress

Today there are six non-voting members of Congress representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this DBQuest, students will explore the duties and limitations of non-voting members from the perspective of the members themselves.

Policy, Public Interest, and… Margarine?

This DBQuest invites students to take a closer look at how the public can inform and impact public policy over time. Students will review and analyze primary sources from 1900–1949 to discover how legislation can change and the role of public opinion in these changes. It’s a DBQuest with extra butter (or margarine) on top! 

Kids Making a Difference

Hear as kids from three different times in history share, in their own words, how they helped their communities and country tackle the issue of food insecurity in times of war and peace. In this DBQuest, students will use evidence from primary sources to support analysis, answer questions, and describe how young people have made a difference in their communities throughout U.S. history. 

iCivics has your back all year long

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

Is the new school year truly upon us? How are you feeling about it?

We’re sure you have mixed feelings.

At iCivics, we are filled with anticipation and excitement. There are so many new resources debuting this fall—including a new game and video series—and we can’t wait to share them with you!

We recognize you might not be feeling that same energy, or maybe yours comes with a bit of trepidation. Teaching is a tough job, and you’re on the frontlines of some of the biggest challenges facing our country. But without fail, you continue to show up to support your students. And we are by your side. 

You can rely on iCivics to create engaging, trustworthy, and useful materials that are accessible and scalable. We remain committed to providing you with the highest quality, nonpartisan civic education resources and programs.

Here are a couple of places to start:

  • Scope & Sequence
    This document is a handy reference all year long as you plan lessons. It lists all of our non-partisan resources in one place so you can quickly find the perfect match for your learning objectives. Our comprehensive units can be used as-is or you can select individual items to supplement existing materials. 
Elementary
Middle School
High School
  • Free Webinar
    Join us for an information-packed webinar that will energize you for the year ahead. You’ll come away with great ideas for incorporating iCivics’ other resources into your lessons and have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and the iCivics team.
Elementary Webinar
Middle School & High School Webinar

We admire you, we support you, and we’re cheering you on! We hope this year is filled with inspiration and growth.

DBQuests: Adventures in ELA

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

It is a universally known truth that teachers are some of the only people who live for the questions. Well, us and whoever hosts Jeopardy. But while living for the questions, we sometimes struggle with which questions to ask and about what we should be questioning. We worry about time for authentic student agency because research shows that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their learning, and practice shows that students are more engaged when the content is relevant or valuable to them.

A few years ago, as a classroom teacher, I happily spent Sunday afternoons fueled by coffee, researching and creating engaging lessons. In fact, my classroom was designed for engagement and activity. As an ELA (and former social sciences) teacher, it was extremely important to include materials that connected my students to the setting and context of the literature. ELA is designed to be inclusive in that way. Yet, by the time I found relevant resources, created the teaching materials, scaffolded the activities, and wrote the lesson plans, the coffee pot would be empty and the street lights would be on. Every Sunday, same routine. It is the weekend routine of many educators. Imagine the time and coffees saved had I known about DBQuests by iCivics.

ELA teachers rejoice! There is a place where historically relevant content exists in ready-to-use lessons. iCivics DBQuests are free online digital activities that teach history and civics by using primary source documents and evidence-based learning. Each lesson allows students to interact with several primary sources to answer guided questions and craft written responses. Students respond to questions about the text. They examine the text for supporting details and evidence BEFORE creating an analysis in response to a Big Question that links each of the primary sources together. At the end of the lesson, the students will have a written analysis. There is no wandering around a wide-open web visiting shady sites or getting lost en route to the lesson’s materials. With DBQuests, everything is in house and on the house.

The versatility had me giddy. With so much emphasis on improving student writing and increasing engagement, DBQuests are the perfect interactive digital writing tools to support educators in their quest for student mastery. Whether your class is 1:1 or you’re sharing tech, these innovative and intentional inquiries into history and civics are game changers. But that’s not all. Imagine using DBQuests in a cross-curricular collaboration with your fellow history or civics teacher. You’re getting ready to begin a unit teaching Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Beals. The memoir details Beals’ experiences as one of the “Little Rock Nine.” You want to adequately dig in and cover the topics and themes of the book, but time, right? Well, iCivics DBQuest Little Rock: Executive Order 10730 would be a perfect addition. It introduces students to the historical context of desegregation and why Executive Order 10730 was used by President Eisenhower. Teach middle school? Then try Clean Getaway by Nic Stone, one of my favorite new bildungsromans about Scoob, a young boy experiencing the inequalities and injustices of the past while road tripping through the South with his grandmother. Tie in the iCivics DBQuest, The Nashville Sit-Ins to provide students an opportunity to experience what life was like for Scoob’s grandparents. Then collaborate and synchronize with your fellow civics or history teachers for an impactful and memorable lesson. Imagine the possibilities! Talk about relevant and engaging! Excuse me while I go tell all my teacher friends about DBQuests by iCivics. But first, another coffee.

Written by Emeka Barclay

Emeka Barclay is a Curriculum Associate at iCivics where she helps create and cultivate curricular materials for educators and students. Prior to joining the iCivics team, Emeka taught secondary language arts and social sciences and worked as a technology and learning coach in Alabama. She then relocated to Florida where she was a dean of students. When not helping save the world, Emeka enjoys exploring the sites with her family and friends, searching for the perfect sip of coffee and nibble of cheese, and visiting public libraries.