Resources to encourage student civic engagement

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This school year marks my 20s.^th year in education and my 12^th year at Rockingham Early College High School in Wentworth, North Carolina. Our school is a five-year program working to create first-generation college students. North Carolina is a leading state in the number of “early colleges,” which allow students to earn a college degree with their high school diploma. As the first person in my immediate family to graduate with a bachelor's degree, this mission is very close to my heart.

I live in a rural community and, unfortunately, in a county with one of the highest poverty rates in North Carolina. So, I know firsthand how important equitable access to resources is and how hard we as educators work to prepare our students for success. Rural teachers are exceptionally creative, working around limited library access, funding constraints, and the ever-present battle with scaling best practices to support their students.

I always work to make my lessons informative and accessible to each child. Finding engaging resources goes a long way toward boosting my students' engagement with the material, better positioning them for lifelong success. I do this by seeking out content that encourages their curiosity about civics, so they can leave my class informed, engaged, and inspired.

Here are some of my favorite (free!) tools and tricks to get all students excited about civics:

iCivics

x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAo0bDvlkK32046F_3mSOfFWfRt2j8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJvXjOTeiAMVKl9HAR0hHQu1EAAYASAAEgLLPPD_BwE” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>iCivics offers free, nonpartisan educational resources on civics, government systems and operations, and American history. Materials are aligned to state standards and are designed to encourage students to engage in complex content and generate interest in politics and current events. Resources are available for grades preK-12, so teachers at all grade levels can find relevant and informative materials for their students.

This is a great resource for civics teachers to use in the classroom. The information is thoroughly vetted; I can trust its accuracy without having to check it again. I use it to support my lesson planning and to supplement that material with content that students would find interesting, such as games and online activities. Students can argue real Supreme Court cases, practice advising the president at key historical moments, learn how to build and balance national budgets, and more.

my favorite is The “federal” in federalism lesson. This lesson is part of the Constitution unit and is available in English and Spanish with several integration options, so the material can be adapted to the needs of your classroom. In the lesson, students learn to differentiate between state and federal power, understand where that power comes from, and can connect and contrast this information to other government systems to create a more dynamic conversation about important decisions in American history.

iCivics takes a topic that can be somewhat quiet and makes it engaging and interesting. From lessons focused on the American Revolution to more recent debates on rights and freedoms, lesson plans and activities are available for any unit your students need.

Excursion to the United States

Excursion to the United States America250 and Discovery Education is a nonpartisan national contest for students in grades 3-12 to celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Students submit original artwork or a written piece answering the question “What does America mean to you?” to highlight young voices during this historic milestone for the United States. Contest winners will be able to participate in behind-the-scenes experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites as part of America's Field Trip.

As part of the America250 faculty advisory group and as one of the fellows of the America 250 NC Freedom Scholars In my inaugural cohort, I gained incredible tools and resources that help students understand our state's unique and diverse history and the important role it played in the American Revolution. As part of the group and with America250's free, standards-aligned resources available to everyone (including the student contest), I can try out new technologies and ideas right in my classroom.

I specifically love the contest because it is an opportunity for students to tap into their individual interests and emphasize their skills and talents in their presentation. Students can compete and interact with their peers not only in their own school but also across the country, giving them different perspectives, new ideas, and in some cases, new friendships. I see what a difference it makes for students to have the freedom to be creative for an assignment when they are not thinking about it affecting their GPA.

There are also peripheral benefits for students who take part in community projects and national competitions like America's Field Trip. A big plus are the prizes: a private guided tour of Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming or a candlelight tour of Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco, California. I wish there was a teacher version of the awards!

These community projects encourage students to take ownership of their learning and instill a sense of responsibility and connection to their local community. This enhances their educational experience and cultivates a generation of active and informed citizens who are prepared to contribute positively to society.

Illustrated books

One of my all-time favorite resources to use in my lessons are picture books; yes, picture books in a high school classroom! Picture books are an undervalued and underutilized form of information as our students grow. But they are a staple of early education for a reason and should be used more often as a creative way to present complex information.

Picture books can help break down a complicated topic into easily digestible parts, acting as an accessible and engaging entry point for students. Children's books are designed to capture the reader's attention and hold it. There are plenty of authors who take key moments in history, complicated government systems, and other civic concepts and turn them into children's books that can be used by students of all ages.

I combine illustrated books with Essays by Gilder Lehrman in my classroom. They are at an early college level, which fits very well with my students who read college-level literature. The length is manageable for a classroom and the essays cover a wide variety of topics. This allows me to be creative in how they connect to our lessons and the picture books complement the material very well.

Picture books are also a fantastic way for teachers to learn more topics – they help me immerse myself in new concepts all the time! Remember the guy from Jeopardy! A couple of years ago who said they used children's books to study? That was James Holzhauerand is the third winningest contestant on the show. She swears by using children's books for learning and maintaining information, as they are filled with images and infographics and engaging language that keeps audiences entertained.

This principle can be extended to the classroom. My students love using picture books as part of our lessons; They feel like it's a brain break, while I know they're actually absorbing even more information.

My advice: model what you teach

While I encourage my students to get involved in civics, I do the same. It may seem like a lot, but I keep it simple. My participation in our local museum, the Rockingham County Museum and Archives, and the creation of community service projects such as The rural experience in América Cívica community through historical research for him CAREFULThey have stimulated my interest in extending teaching beyond the walls of the classroom.

Resources like the ones I recommended here make a difference not only in my classroom, but also in the personal and academic growth of my students. When students feel that you are fully engaged with them, they are more likely to do their best in the classroom. This, in turn, makes for less hectic days and better classroom management. Having students excited about the lesson begins a transformation in both students and teachers that helps rekindle that passion for learning about history and being a part of it.