Civic
Participation &
Citizenship
Collection
> Civics for ABE & ESOL
Professional Development in Civics
Civics for ESOL & ABE
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History and Civil Rights
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Immigrant Experience
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Media Literacy
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Adult Education Project Descriptions
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Voting, Government, and the Constitution
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Current Issues
-
US Systems and Everyday Civics
- Useful K-12 Resources
History and Civil Rights
American
Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/students/
This learner-oriented site includes materials and resources for
students and teachers as well as an educational rights page.
"American
Memory" Collections
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/index.html
The Library of Congress has catalogued dozens of "American
Memory" collections, organized by topic, time period, place,
etc. The collections include historic documents, pictures, and
information.
American
Social History Project
http://www.ashp.cuny.edu/
ASHP seeks to revitalize interest in history by challenging the
traditional ways that people learn about the past. Classroom
resources are available for projects such as Heaven
Will Protect the Working Girl: Immigrant Women in the Turn-of-
the-Century City.
The
Bill of Rights Institute
http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/
The Bill of Rights Institute's mission is to educate high school
students about the Bill of Rights through classroom material
and programs that teach:
- what the Bill of Rights protects, both explicitly and implicitly,
- how the Bill of Rights affects our daily lives, and
- and how the Bill of Rights shapes our society.
Although not designed for adult education, this site offers access to primary sources and current news about our civil rights. Adaptable "Free Lesson Plans" are available on the right navigation bar under the "Quick Links" heading.
Black
History: Exploring African-American Issues on the Web
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/BHM/index.html
This site contains links to six Web sites that were created as
models of ways to integrate the World Wide Web and videoconferencing
into classroom learning. Each of the six sites focuses on African-American
History. Diverse formats are used to support different learning
styles.
Constitutional
Rights Foundation (CRF)
http://www.crf-usa.org/
Constitutional Rights Foundation seeks to instill in our nation's
youth a deeper understanding of citizenship through values expressed
in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights, and educate them
to become active and responsible participants in our society.
See CRF online
lesson plans.
Discovery
of America
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/adulted/lessons/lesson1_activities.html
This lesson about the “discovery of America” invites students
to look at history from varied points of view and to understand
history as a story told from a perspective.
Fabric
of History Project
http://tech.worlded.org/docs/fabric/intro.pdf
The Fabric of History is an innovative curriculum that examines
history through the lens of fashion as it conveys class, culture,
and changing gender relations.
Federal
Resources for Educational Excellence
http://www.ed.gov/free/bhm.html
This page of the collection links to interesting websites
on black history and culture. For a larger menu of social studies
sites, go to http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/cfapps/free/displaysubject.cfm?sid=9
History
of Voting Rights
http://www.governor.state.ut.us/lt_gover/histofvotingrights.html
This site offers a short, concise timeline on the history of
voting rights.
History
Matters
http://historymatters.gmu.edu
This is a wonderful resource that supports teachers in making
history relevant to students. Although designed for high school
and college contexts, it illustrates approaches we can use in
adult education. It includes sections on "Many Pasts," "Making
Sense of Evidence," and "Past Meets Present," among
others.
How
Race is Lived in America
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/race/web-guide.html
This web site contains a long list of web sites as well as captivating
articles published by The New York Times about race
in America. The web sites cover the major race and ethnic groups
in America divided into categories such as Educational Resources,
Civil Rights, Media, Government and Politics, Statistics, Business
and Commerce, Health and Organizations and Institutions.
The
Power of Words Curriculum
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/web/power_of_words/index.jsp
The
Power of Words curriculum “encourages us to explore the words
used in the United States to label ethnic groups, women, and
sexual minorities and to examine the ways in which these words
reveal our nation's social landscape.” It offers high school
lesson plans that can be adapted for adult education.
Racial
Intervention Story Exchange (RISE)
http://rise.pdx.edu/
This
site is a place where people can exchange stories of the ways
in which they have spoken up to interrupt racism.
Teaching
with Historic Places
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/
This site uses Historic Places as the focus
for lessons on geography, civics, history and many other subjects.
Site includes over 100 lesson plans that can be browsed by location,
theme, or time period.
Time
Lines: Connecting Your Life to History
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/adulted/lessons/lesson16_activities.html
This site describes four lessons that use time lines: A Time
Line of Today, A Time Line of Your Own Life, Time Line of Historical
Events in Our Lifetime, and Then Versus Now.
Tolerance.org
http://www.tolerance.org
The links in the side bar to the right
include a well-presented history of the Civic Rights Movement
and a "Hidden History" page with interesting and little-known
history facts.
U.N.
Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations
adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
the full text of which appears on this site.
Writing
for Change Curriculum
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/web/wfc/wfc_sctn1_4.jsp
The
authors of Writing for Change, a collection of 50 activities
that “raise awareness of power, difference, and discrimination,”
have designed their activities to be adaptable to varied contexts.
Most require only a pen and paper or copies of the provided page.
Immigrant Experience
Ancestors
in the Americas
http://www.cetel.org
This is the companion site for "Ancestors
in the Americas," a new PBS series exploring the history and
legacy of Asians in the Americas. The site links you to discussion
guides, resources (curricula, oral history projects, etc.), an
opportunity to contribute to an archive of immigrant stories,
and ways to research your own family ancestry.
The
Change Agent-Immigration Issue (PDF)
http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/pdf/issue11webversion.pdf
This issue of The Change Agent focuses
on immigration, with articles and classroom activities that explore
the history of immigration.
Ellis
Island.org
http://www.ellisisland.org/Immexp/
index.asp?MID=00122573060020223808&
This part of the Ellis Island website offers an immigrant history
timeline and the stories of six Americans of different backgrounds
researching their immigrant ancestry.
The
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
http://www.tenement.org/Virtual_Tour/index_virtual.html
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum's mission is "to promote
tolerance and historical perspective through the presentation
and interpretation of the variety of immigrant and migrant experiences
on Manhattan's Lower East Side, a gateway to America." Visitors
to this site can tour the on-line exhibits.
The
Mosaic of Immigrants to America
http://library.thinkquest.org/19258/data/hp.html
ThinkQuest
is an international website-building competition for teams of
students and teachers. This website chronicles the immigrant
experience and offers a gallery of downloadable photographs.
The
New Americans
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/
This is the site of the PBS series "The
New Americans," which tells the stories of a diverse group of
immigrants and refugees. The series aims to capture the lives
of contemporary immigrants in all their complexities and to "put
a human face on the breadth and scope of immigrants' and refugees'
experience in America." The site links to discussion questions,
common misconceptions about immigrants, and activities for researching
your own family history.
Media Literacy
Center
for Media Literacy
http://www.medialit.org/bp_mlk.html
This project advocates for media literacy education and promotes
books, videos and teaching materials for K-12 classrooms. It
provides resources and information for families and communities
as well as links to conferences and training opportunities.
The
Change Agent: The Media and You
http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/pdf/issue12.pdf
This issue of the Change Agent increases the readers' awareness
of what gets printed, viewed, or aired. It contains stories,
articles and classroom activities for adult learners.
CNN
San Francisco Interactive Learning Resources
http://www.literacynet.org/cnnsf
These web pages focus on utilizing CNN news stories for educational
purposes many of which relate to civic participation. Teachers
can use the lessons for group activities or students can work
at their own pace for individualized learning.
The
Democracy Project
http://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/index.html
At this site, you can explore the history of political ads and
look at how and why political ads are created. You can also create
your own ad and learn how to manipulate it to work for or against
a candidate.
Evaluating
websites
http://www.altn.org/webquests/websites/index.html
This
webquest is a resource for teaching information literacy, critical
reading and comprehension skills. It walks readers interactively
through techniques for critiquing websites and provides practice
evaluating real and hoax websites to determine which ones are
trustworthy and present accurate information.
FAIR
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=101
FAIR is a watch group that criticizes well-documented media bias
and censorship while seeking to invigorate the First Amendment.
International
newspapers
http://www.refdesk.com/paper.html
This
is one of many sites where you can link to newspapers from around
the world. This one is clear and easy to navigate.
News
media online at American Journalism Review
http://newslink.org/
A joint venture of American Journalism Review and NewsLink Associates,
this site offers among other things a comprehensive listing of
links to radio, T.V. and newspapers throughout the country.
Adult Education Project Descriptions
Advocating
for a Cause: A Lesson in Community Action http://tech.worlded.org/docs/advocating/ri3.htm
Carrying
out
a
technology
mini-grant,
Providence
Public
Library
teachers
Debbie
Peterson
and
Denise
DiMarzio
facilitated
a
student-chosen
project
t
o
advocate
for
a
resource
office
that
could
assist
immigrant
parents
in
their
dealings
with
the
school.
The
site
documents
their
project
and
offers
suggestions
for
adaptation.
The
Changes Project
http://www.sabeswest.org/publications/oeri/changes1.htm
The Changes Project was a participatory action research project
focused on the impact of welfare reform, immigration reform and
the changing nature of work. The project describes the impact
of these three issues on the lives of adult learners at five
adult education programs in Massachusetts.
Just
in Time Civics: On the Border
http://www.bordercivics.org
This site describes a Texas border program that integrates EL/civics
with family literacy. Class projects are based on the issues
that are compelling to students, reflecting their immediate civic
needs.
English
Literacy/Civics Education Demonstration Projects
http://www.ed.gov/programs/elcivics/awards.html?exp=0
This is the US DOE's site for information about the federally
funded English Literacy/Civics Education programs.
Implementing
a Civic Action Project
http://www.crf-usa.org/violence/action.html
Though
developed for high school students, this guide by the Constitutional
Rights Foundation offers a helpful structure for organizing civics
projects.
Making
Change: Civics as a Second Language
http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/articleView.cfm?articlenumber=1016 This
article describes the work of EL/civics teachers who are helping
students participate actively and speak up civically.
Project
VOICE
http://www.ccsf.edu/Resources/VOICE/
This project of the City College of San Francisco links the ESL
and Citizenship programs with Civics Education. The lessons on
this site build on the literature of civic education, Project-based
Learning, SCANS and EFF as they integrate civic participation
with language learning.
Voting, Government, and the Constitution
Center for the Study of Civic Values
http://www.iscv.org/
This site from the Institute for the Study of Civic Values has
resources about the U.S. Constitution and links to civic and
political education resources. An online discussion guide uses
the Preamble to the Constitution as a framework for community
planning and social contracts. There are also extensive links
to sites that track the implementation of welfare reform.
The
Center for Voting and Democracy
http://www.fairvote.org
FairVote seeks elections that promote voter turnout, fair
representation, inclusive policy and meaningful choices. It conducts
research, analysis, education and organizing to ensure all Americans
can exercise their right to vote and elect representatives who
reflect our racial and political diversity.
The
Civic Center at E-Square
http://alri.org/esquare/civic/meet.htm
This on-line "civic center" designed for ABE and ESOL learners
includes immigration information, a student visit to the Statehouse,
and tips for helping students talk to policymakers.
Contacting
the Congress
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
This is a site that makes it easy to find out who your U.S. representatives
are.
Easy
Voter
http://www.easyvoter.org/california/resources/5a.html
These are easy-to-read materials about how to pick a candidate
and how to vote.
English
Language, Civics and Citizenship Teacher's Toolbox
http://www.caaelii.org/teachers_toolbox_valid.htm
The Teacher’s Toolbox was created by the Coalition of African,
Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAELII).
It integrates components of English language learning with practical
plans for student involvement in civic activities. The plans
are designed so that teachers can adapt them for use in their
classrooms with a minimum of preparation time.
First
Amendment Plus
http://www.projectshine.org/FAP/index.htm
First
Amendment Plus engages immigrant learners and their ESL and Citizenship
instructors in contemplating these powerful words and in discussing
how they influence their lives and the life of their communities.
The project uses a framework for developing ESOL curriculum and
materials that builds language and literacy skills while adults
reflect on their lives.
How
a Bill Becomes a Law Quiz
http://www.quia.com/pp/5157.html
This interactive quiz has students sequence the steps needed
for a bill to become a law.
How
To Be Heard
http://www.easyvoter.org/california/community/booklet.pdf
This was created by adult new readers to
help other students learn more about becoming involved in making
decisions in their community.
Know
Your Rights
http://nlg.org/resources/kyr.php
On
this site, the National Lawyers Guild offers free downloadable
brochures that use plain language to explain our constitutional
rights. Brochures are available in a variety of languages.
Language & Civil
Society
http://exchanges.state.gov/forum/journal/civic.htm#contents
The journal "Language & Civil Society" has produced
a volume on Civic Education containing 10 chapters on topics
such as "Rights of the Individual," "Responsibilities
of the Government," and "Societal Dilemmas: Finding
a Balance". Each chapter has background information and
lesson plans.
League
of Women Voters
http://www.lwv.org/
A voter education and information web site that includes voter
registration information in English and Spanish, as well as excerpts
from the League of Women Voters' 'Get Out the Vote Kit.'
The
National Voting Rights Institute
http://www.nvri.org
The National Voting Rights Institute protects
the constitutional right of all citizens to participate in the
entire election process regardless of economic status.
New
Citizen's Vote! Curriculum
http://www.immigrantvoice.org/ncv
This is the link to a four-hour voter education curriculum
(available in English and Spanish) called "New Citizens Vote!
An Educational Curriculum About Voting." The goal of the curriculum
is to increase the skills and self-confidence of participants
regarding voting and other local decision-making processes. The
curriculum emphasizes local issues and opportunities for civic
participation.
People
and Politics: A Civic Literacy Curriculum
http://tech.worlded.org/docs/politics/people.htm
Students learn how to identify the issues most important to them,
ask the right questions and select a candidate whose platform
reflects their own concerns.
Pick
Your Candidate
http://tech.worlded.org/docs/pick/PICKPR.HTM
This multi-faceted lesson plan helps students to understand political
campaign advertising and candidate's positions so they can make
educated decisions at the polls.
Project
Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm
Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a
Voter's Self-Defense System that provides the tools for effective
self-government. The Project shares information about candidates
and elected officials in five basic categories: biographical
information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances
and interest group ratings.
Right
to Vote
http://www.sentencingproject.org/IssueAreaHome.aspx?IssueID=4
The mission of the Right to Vote Campaign is to remove barriers
to voting faced by people with felony convictions so that they
may freely participate in the democratic process. To achieve
this goal, it aims to change policies, practices and perceptions
concerning felony disfranchisement. This website educates on
the issue and lets people know how they can get involved.
The
Savvy Voter
www.pbs.org/elections/savvyvoter.html
This
site, sponsored by the PBS project, “By the People,” links you
to lessons about dissecting ads, analyzing poll numbers, and
other skills needed by the “saavy voter.”
Thomas
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html
Provides an easy way to keep track of federal legislation.
United
States House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/
Keep up-to-date on legislative activities, discover information
about potential bills, and find out how to contact your representative.
Also includes practical information about the workings of the
judicial and executive branches of the government.
United
States Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov
This site offers hard data on the demographics of the U.S. population
and on aspects of our quality of life. For example, the Housing
pages reveal that the percentage of families able to buy a modestly
priced house was lower in 1995 than in 1984 or 1988; the site’s
Poverty pages show an increase in poverty. This site can be useful
for any type of research project.
United
States Senate Home Page
http://www.senate.gov/
This easy-to-read site includes a tour of the Senate, information
about the legislative process, the Senate's current activities
and how to contact your senator.
The
White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov
The White House site provides an easy way to access the different
branches of government and federal services. You can download
historic national documents, daily press releases, and speeches.
Your
Government, Your Taxes, Your Choices
A
Curriculum for Adult Basic Education Students
http://www.mcae.net/curriculum/
Focused
on Massachusetts but generally relevant, this curriculum introduces
students to different forms of taxation. It addresses what kinds
of taxes people and corporations pay and how the services taxes
pay for are distributed. It invites students to reflect on whether
the system is fair or unfair. Regardless of students' status
as citizens and voters, they can participate fully in all lessons
found in this curriculum. They will find that they can advocate
proactively on behalf of themselves and their communities. The
curriculum consists of three units and eight lessons that include
activities, helpful charts and suggestions for extension activities.
Current Issues
The
Change Agent
http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/
The Change Agent, published by the New England Literacy
Resource Center, includes a variety of articles and teaching
resources focused on social justice issues. You can browse a
selection of articles from recent issues or download entire issues
in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Civics
Lessons Related to Iraq War
http://www.nelrc.org/cpcc
The
material on this page lists sites, many of which, with resource
materials, lessons and activities for use in the classroom.
Global
Connections: The Middle East
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/index.html
This PBS site uses six questions to explore some of the big-picture
issues affecting the Middle East. For each question there is
background reading, a timeline, and several lesson plans.
Global
Issues for Learners of English
http://www.newint.org/easier-english/index.htm
The material on this site is adapted, with permission, from the
magazine, The New Internationalist. The aim
is to "provide material that is relatively easy for learners
to read, but which hasn't lost its 'edge.'" The readings
are about global issues (e.g. fair trade, the environment, child
labor, etc.) with scaffolding support, such as background information
about countries, glossing of text, comprehension and vocabulary
quizzes, teacher and learner pages.
Public
Agenda
http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/issuehome.cfm
Public Agenda's two-fold mission is to help American leaders
better understand the public's point of view and to help citizens
know more about critical policy issues so they can make informed
decisions. P ublic Agenda Issue Guides provide facts and figures,
competing perspectives, and analysis of public attitudes. Topics
include: health care, immigration, the federal budget, and many
more.
Teachable
Moment
http://www.teachablemoment.org
TeachableMoment.Org provides educators with timely teaching ideas
to encourage critical thinking on issues of the day and foster
a positive classroom environment. With its focus on timely news,
the site is very up-to-date.
United
Nations Cyberschoolbus
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/peace/frame3.htm
The United Nations Cyberschoolbus was created in 1996 to promote
education about international issues and the United Nations.
The project produces high quality teaching materials and activities
for training teachers. The c urriculum, linked from the left
column menu, addresses global peace issues such as respect for
dignity and identity, social justice and civic responsibility,
and global citizenship.
US Systems and Everyday Civics
Arlington
Education and Employment Program (REEP) ESL Curriculum
http://www2.apsva.us/15401081182015517/lib/15401081182015517/reepcurriculum/index.html
REEP has developed an on-line adult ESL instructional system
to assist educators in enabling adult students of English to
navigate U.S. systems. Lifeskills instruction, student voice,
and integration of technology are central to this nine-leveled
curriculum.
The
Beehive
http://www.beehive.org
This website connects low-income households to information and
resources around the things that matter most to them: health,
jobs, money, education and family.
Citizen/Community
Member Role Map
http://eff.cls.utk.edu/fundamentals/role_map_ccm.htm
Equipped for the Future's Citizen Role Map captures what adults
need to know and be able to do to be effective in their roles
as citizens and community members. It was developed from focus
groups with over 250 citizens across the United States.
City
Family Magazine
http://www.cityfamily.org
This is an easy English online magazine for immigrants and for
parents who have limited skills in reading English. Its articles
about family, work, home, and money aim to help people understand
how American systems work.
Civic
Participation and Community Action Sourcebook
http://hub1.worlded.org/docs/vera/index1.htm
Published by the New England Literacy
Resource Center, this resource for adult educators provides
a collection of narratives (written mostly by teachers) of community
education and action projects. It also includes a variety of "prep
and practice" activities.
English
Language, Civics and Citizenship Teacher's Toolbox
http://www.caaelii.org/teachers_toolbox.htm
The
Teacher’s Toolbox integrates components of English language learning
with practical plans for student involvement in communities at
the local, state and national levels. The plans are designed
so that teachers can adapt them for use in their classrooms with
a minimum of preparation time (handouts and Internet links are
included as resources with most of the lessons).
ESL-Civics
Curriculum Designed for Very Beginning ESL Learners
http://www.clese.org/brightideas_eslcurric.htm
The Bright Ideas curriculum was designed for elderly learners
participating in community-based ESL programs. The curriculum
focuses on developing oral English communication skills and providing
opportunities for learners to use these skills inside the classroom
and outside in the community. Each unit contains instructions
for the teacher, lessons for the students, and visual support
materials to facilitate learning for students with limited literacy
skills in any language.
EL
Civics Health Curriculum
http://www.ccs.k12.va.us/programs/esl/docs/health/Health_Curriculum.pdf
This Charlottesville, VA curriculum integrates health content
with civic rights and responsibilities and informed decision-making.
Fairfax County
Family Literacy Curriculum
http://www.aelweb.vcu.edu/publications/famlitcurric/
This curriculum supports immigrant parents in understanding and
navigating U.S. systems. Its four modules are: Self, Family and
Community; Schools and Community; Medicine and Stress; and Shopping
and Making a Budget. It contains complete, multi-level lesson
plans and many reproducible handouts.
Fairfax
EL/Civics Curriculum
http://www.aelweb.vcu.edu/publications/ELCivics/
The Fairfax County High Intermediate and Advanced EL/Civics Curriculum
includes modules on government/civic participation, health, and
consumer awareness. Each module includes some use of the Internet
and leads to a learner-generated project.
FirstFind.info
http://www.firstfind.info
This is a new online library providing easy-to-find and easy-to-use
information (in English) for low-to-intermediate level adult
readers. This Website can be used by anyone looking for a wide
range of information, from housing and jobs to history and government.
Foreign
Born
http://www.foreignborn.com
This site orients newcomers to how various U.S. systems work.
It is a useful resource to learn about banking, credit cards,
drivers licenses, sending money abroad, finding a school, and
many other systems that immigrants need to navigate.
I
Have a Problem: Bright Ideas EL-Civics Project
http://www.clese.org/Products/Student%20guide%20to%20problem%20video.doc
This document is a transcript of the video, “I Have a Problem,
Scenarios and Situations for Just-in-Time Civics,” made with
students enrolled in an EL/Civics course sponsored by the Coalition
of Limited English Speaking Elderly (CLESE). It addresses common
problems through students’ own words.
The
Key
http://www.keynews.org
Published monthly by the Milwaukee Area Technical college office
of grants and development, The Key is a newspaper for new readers
- all the news stories are written to be accessible to adults
with limited reading skills. The stories can be freely reproduced
for use in educational nonprofit settings.
Learning
Adventures in Citizenship: From New York to Your Town
http://www.thirteen.org/newyork/laic/index.html
This is a site for teachers, parents and kids. It uses one key
city, New York, as a starting point for the study of issues that
affect communities. Although some of the lessons will need to
be adapted for adults, much of the content is appropriate. Of
particular interest are New York: Documentary Online and
the episodes in Explore the Learning Adventures.
How to Buy a Home: Lessons for Adult Learners
http://literacyworks.org/fmfhome/
This collection of three publications: a home-buying guide for ABE students, a guide for ESL students, and an additional set of tools for teachers (activities, handouts, etc.) are designed for programs that are interested in implementing a home-buying readiness project, either as a stand-alone unit or as a topic integrated into an existing curriculum. The activities and tools were developed by teachers and reflect their varied approaches and styles.
Online
Newspapers
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com
This site is a list of thousands of links to newspapers from
around the world.
Talking
with the Police: An English Language and Civics Workbook
http://www.otan.us/images/publicarchive/ArchivesDigitalFiles/ELCivics/003369.pdf
This downloadable curriculum is targeted for high beginner/low
intermediate students, but includes material that may be relevant
to immigrants at all levels.
Teacher
Writings about Civics
New England Writings about Civics
http://www.nelrc.org/civicsteachers/
These
writings describe the work of New England educators who want
to
address civic participation in their local contexts. Many of
their lessons refer to activities from NELRC's Civic Participation
and Community Action Sourcebook.
The
Massachusetts Civic Education and Participation Group
(CEPG)
http://www.nelrc.org/cepg/
These
writings illustrate eight promising practices that Massachusetts
educators have identified as key indicators of effective civic
education. The CEPG includes programs that vary in size, schedules,
and approaches to incorporating civics into instruction. Some
weave civics into their regular ESOL coursework; some have set
aside separate class time to focus on civic participation; and
others have approached the civic participation work as a program-wide
effort.
Civics
Online
http://civics-online.org/teachers/activities.php
A rich collection of K-12 civics lessons and strategies that
are based on the classroom use of primary documents and the incorporation
of interactive learning. There are classroom case studies that
include teacher reflections, source materials used, and classroom
artifacts.
Democracy
for Kids
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/index.html
This site introduces kids to democracy by:
- introducing the structure and duties of local, state and federal government;
- examining how government affects our everyday lives;
- understanding the history of voting rights in America, and articulating how voting and other forms of civic involvement are essential to a healthy democracy.
The site includes links to interactive activities such as an online voting game (http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/vote/index.html)
Democracy
Project
http://pbskids.org/democracy/vote/index.html
This
Democracy Project site provides rich resources for teachers,
especially a voting rights timeline, on which you can follow
the continuing struggle for universal suffrage in America. Along
the way you can learn about changes to how we vote and also discover
whether you could have voted at different points in history.
Education
for Freedom
http://www.freedomforum.org/packages/first/curricula/educationforfreedom/index.htm
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/resources/lessonplans.aspx
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/firstamendment101/
This is sponsored by the Freedom Forum’s
First Amendment Center, a nonpartisan center dedicated to the
understanding and appreciation of the values of the First Amendment.
The “Lesson Plans” (beginning and advanced levels) linked from
this page address constitutional principles and contemporary
issues involving the First Amendment. The “Cybernewseum” section
uses critical media literacy to explore a variety of news topics.
Global
Connections: The Middle East
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/index.html
This
PBS site uses six questions to explore some of the big-picture
issues affecting the Middle East. For each question there is
background reading, a timeline, and several lesson plans.
Learning
Adventures in Citizenship: From New York to Your Town
http://www.thirteen.org/newyork/laic/index.html
This is a site for teachers, parents and kids. It uses one key
city, New York, as a starting point for the study of issues that
affect communities. Although some of the lessons will need to
be adapted for adults, much of the content is appropriate. Of
particular interest are New York: Documentary Online and
the episodes in Explore the Learning Adventures.
Montgomery
County Public School Social Studies Curriculum
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/Curriculum.html
This is a dense but rich set of curriculum units that address
equity and justice issues – good for background reading and for
excerpting/adapting lessons. Lessons listed in the left column
menu include Unit VIII: Equal Opportunity for All, which overviews
our nation’s history of housing/property discrimination, examines
the economics of unfair housing practices, and poses questions
about the right to housing.
National
Constitution Center
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/WelcomeEducatorsandStudents/index.shtml This
site, hosted by the National Constitution Center, offers readings
and adaptable K-12 lesson plans on Constitutional issues. Links
include “Current events discussion starters,” a “Constitutional
Timelines,” and a “Save the Bill of Rights” game.
Online
Civics Text
http://members.tripod.com/~tutor_me/book/little.htm
This online civics text is a handy resource
for educators. It goes beyond the basics of government to include
topics such as "economic systems" and "economic concepts."
Social
Studies Sources:
http://education.indiana.edu/~socialst/
Links and lessons that were originally designed for K-12 social
studies teachers and students, but the ideas could be adapted
for use in the ABE classroom.
US
History Lesson Plans Library
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/ushis.html
This site offers an extensive collection of history lessons for
grades K-12, covering topics from the American Revolution to
Watergate and including lessons such as ‘Understanding Stereotypes’
and ‘Racism: Law and Attitude’. Each lesson plan consists of
objectives, materials, procedures, evaluation, vocabulary, and
academic standards. Lessons provide background information on
each topic and invite students to research it further using the
links provided, often culminating in a project.
