Decoding Elections: Process, Persuasion and Participation

Check out NewseumED’s EDCollection on elections. Get historical context and tools to demystify election procedures, analyze campaign messages and make your voice matter. This EDCollection provides an easy-access path to re-engage students with the political process. Eleven case studies show students how to excavate the meaty issues from the political mud and prepare them to answer: Is there a better way?

For more resources on voting and elections, go here.

The Supreme Court: The Judicial Power of the United States

This lesson from NEH’s EDSITEment provides an introduction to the Supreme Court. Students will learn basic facts about the Supreme Court by examining the U.S. Constitution and one of the landmark cases decided by that court. The lesson for grades 6-8 is designed to help students understand how the Supreme Court operates. The federal judiciary is one of three branches of the federal government. The judiciary has played a key role in American history and remains a powerful voice in resolving contemporary controversies.

For more resources on the Supreme Court, go here.

Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Teachers can assign the materials in this Khan Academy lesson as homework or use them to create stations in their classroom in which students can understand how the House of Representatives and Senate differ in their structures, powers, rules, and functions. After students have gone through the lesson, teachers can assign one of two practice exercises to assess how much they understood from their lesson.

For more resources from the Khan Academy, go here.

The Civics Renewal Network welcomes the Khan Academy as its newest partner. Its mission is to provide a free, world‑class education for anyone, anywhere. The Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We focus on skill mastery to help learners establish strong foundations, so there’s no limit to what they can learn next! Learn more about the Khan Academy here.

  • Bill of Rights Institute: New free digital textbook, “Life, Liberty, & Pursuit of Happiness.” Learn more.
  • Bill of Rights Institute: In-person seminars across the country this fall. Learn more.
  • Center for Civic Education: New webinar series, Power to the People. Learn more.
  • Florida Joint Center for Citizenship: Enrollment open for online PD series: The Civics Classroom. Learn more.
  • Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: EduHam Online, the free Hamilton Education Program, is now available. Learn more.
  • James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation: Apply for a $24,000 graduate fellowship. Learn more.
  • National Archives: Check out a special DocsTeach page for National History Day. Learn more.
  • National Archives: Fall programs for K-12 students and educators in partnership with the Presidential Primary Sources Project. Learn more.
  • National Constitution Center: Sign up for live interactive classes on the Constitution. Learn more.
  • National Constitution Center: Sign up for live interactive classes on the Constitution. Learn more.
  • National Constitution Center: Free, online teacher workshops available. Learn more.
  • Street Law: New deliberations released on social emotional learning, compulsory voting, Electoral College, U.S. democracy, flag desecration. Learn more.