Newspaper in Education (NIE) Week honors the contributions of the newspaper and is celebrated in the resource within a civics, mathematics, and fine arts setting. The resource represents every grade from 3rd to 12th with questions...

Discuss as a class some problems that you would like to see changed in your school or community, and then take action! After your young citizens determine the appropriate steps they should take to accomplish their objectives, they will...

Ask not what the lesson here can do for you, but what you can do with the lesson. The answer is quite a lot! Young scholars revisit JFK's famous inaugural address with a focus on his plea for civic engagement. There's a...

Students analyze messages and values associated with civic engagement present in the media. They analyze the local community's promotion of values associated with civic engagement by conducting investigative research. They hypothesize...

Students identify the civic responsbilities of those living in a constitutional democracy. In groups, they brainstorm a list of those characteristics of a good citizen. They participate in various scenerios to identify the...

Students define the term philanthropy and find examples of it in everyday life. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students try to define philanthropy and illustrate it. Students then work in groups to define the term and...

Learners take on the roles of jurors in a civil case to evaluate evidence and determine a verdict in this engaging online interactive experience.

Interpret current events using editorial cartoons and other print media. Middle schoolers explore the meanings of literary and artistic terms such as satire, irony, and caricature. They visit internet sites to develop an understanding of...

Students explore a local seat of government to examine ways to make changes in their communities. In this local government lesson plan, students read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his nonviolent protests. Students read important...

During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay. 

Students engage in a lesson plan which can be adapted to a simulation, emphasizing citizens' contributing to the legislative process. They gain a better understanding of how the legislative process works.

Students listen to President Obama's speech, and discuss its meaning. In this President Obama lesson students learn about the president, about how to deliver a speech, and the ways they can make a difference. They create posters, write...

Students explore political candidates' viewpoints on issues that contribute to the "common good." In this political candidates lesson, students read and view mixed media to identify political issues that contribute to a civil society....

Students explore the meaning of the word hero. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students examine what the word hero means as they discover Jackie Robinson and hits contributions to society.

Should a criminal's punishment match the crime? An argumentative writing plan explores this question as class members investigate a variety of mixed-medium sources by experts in the field, form evidence-based claims, and support them...

Learners write and present a speech. In this service lesson, students read an anecdote adapted from The Star Thrower and discuss their feelings about their ability to make a difference in the world. Learners make a short speech about...

Students set long-term and short-term goals. In this character education instructional activity, students determine whether goals that they write for themselves are long-term or short-term.

Students discuss philanthropic behavior. In this philanthropy lesson, students read Shel Silverstein's Hug O' War and brainstorm ways of working together.

Students study the concept of bird migration. In this bird lesson, students read Make Way for Ducklings, discuss the concept of community, and write reflections.

Students identify the role of free speech in the selection of library books. They choose one banned book to read and evaluate the reason for its censorship. They create an argument for or against the selection of the book.

Students discuss the role that individuals have in contributing to society. They develop alternative solutions to problems in their area. They write a paper about what they have discovered.