Civic Engagement, High School and History

Teaching Nixon

Passion for Social Studies

JANUARY 11, 2025

Students learn about such a wide range of politics in high school history classes. For example, teaching Nixon is a crucial aspect of American history due to his leadership, insights, and evolution of politics. Sign up for FREE history resources! These actions marked a shift in the U.S.

Teaching

Teaching Civic Engagement Civics Lesson Plan

Teaching ‘action civics’ engages kids — and ignites controversy

The Hechinger Report

AUGUST 1, 2021

Under a first-in-the-nation law that took full effect this year, students from across the state must take part in at least two “student-led, nonpartisan civics projects” — one in eighth grade, and another in high school. Peyton Amaral, an eighth grader at Morton Middle School in Fall River, Mass.,

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics Teaching Middle School

Strengthening Civic Education: The Role of High-Quality Curriculum and Teaching Strategies

TCI

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Civic education is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, yet recent evaluations reveal significant gaps in how it is taught across the nation. High-quality civics and U.S. history instruction is essential for developing informed, engaged citizens who can navigate the complexities of modern society.

Civics

Civics Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies

Service-Learning Can Be the Bridge to Social Emotional Learning. Educators Should Embrace It.

ED Surge

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

In 2020, California’s State Board of Education adopted criteria and guidance to award a State Seal of Civic Engagement to students who demonstrate excellence in civics education. In my 20 years as an educator, I have seen firsthand how service-learning engages students as they become leaders in their communities.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics K-12 Education

OPINION: Educators must be on the frontline of social activism

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

As a teacher and school-based leader, I always understood the necessity of advocating for students and helping them navigate life, and I tried to help other teachers change the trajectory of many lives. I taught my students to respect the power of civic engagement and social activism.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Education Civics K-12

The Future of Democracy Depends on a Quality Civics Education

ED Surge

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Fortunately, in light of democracy’s fragility, there has been a steady increase in initiatives from federal and state governments to incorporate civics education in K-12 classrooms. In 2020, California adopted a State Seal of Civic Engagement that high school students can earn upon graduation.

Civics

Civics Education Civic Engagement K-12

APSA’s Summer Rise High School Intern Program: Meet the Cohort

Political Science Now

OCTOBER 1, 2024

This summer, the American Political Science Association partnered with Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) District’s Summer Rise Program to offer three high school students the opportunity to gain experience in political science knowledge production and higher education non-profits.

High School

High School Civic Engagement Civics Social Justice

STUDENT VOICE: ‘Sometimes my voice alone wasn’t enough’

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 9, 2018

On a piece a paper, I wrote “Black History Month.” ” I asked my peers to sign it if they agreed that we should celebrate Black History Month at our school. This was the launch of my civics engagement. Related: Making America whole again via civics education. Sign up for our newsletter.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics Elementary School History

COLUMN: Should schools teach climate activism?

The Hechinger Report

MARCH 12, 2024

Yancy Sanes teaches a unit on the climate crisis at Fannie Lou Hamer High School in the Bronx – not climate change, but the climatecrisis. He is unequivocal that he wants his high school students to be climate activists. “I Related: How do we teach Black history in polarized times?

Teaching

Teaching Civics K-12 Civic Engagement

Waiting for the traveling teacher: Remote rural schools need more hands-on help

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

Rural students tend to do well in elementary school, but something changes as they get older. Although rural schools have made tremendous gains in high school graduation rates, these students are still less likely than their suburban and urban peers to successfully continue their education after high school.

World History

World History Civic Engagement High School Elementary School

The Importance of Research in Social Studies Classrooms

Teaching American History

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

A Conversation with Sonja Czarnecki Sonja Czarnecki, 2022 MAHG Graduate “In order to understand history, you have to do history,” Sonja Czarnecki insists. I felt like I’d won my own History Day contest!” Research Empowers Students of History Research work benefits everyone, Czarnecki feels. Czarnecki says.

Social Studies

Social Studies Research Archiving American History

Often overwhelmed on big campuses, rural college students push for support

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Credit: Matt Krupnick/The Hechinger Report High school students in remote towns across rural Northern California have a low opinion of the university, said sophomore Brynna Garcia, one of the event’s moderators, partly because — as Perez acknowledged — Chico recruiters rarely travel to those towns to speak with prospective students.

Library

Library Civic Engagement Civics High School

STUDENT VOICE: Let’s stop the apathy in Kentucky and beyond

The Hechinger Report

JUNE 20, 2017

Related: LISTEN: In this Kentucky town, refugees can choose a separate high school. The answer starts in the classroom, where civics education often fails to inspire and engage students. Far too many schools preach, rather than practice, democratic ideals. Where did we go wrong? Sign up for our newsletter.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement K-12 Government

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

C3 Teachers

MARCH 30, 2022

Doing so also offers valuable resources that can be used to help bring history to life. As a former high-school social studies teacher and professional development specialist, I have found that connecting with cultural centers (e.g., maps, household objects, and the like) that can make lessons more engaging and impactful.

Cultures

Cultures Heritage Civic Engagement Civics

Theme Panel: Civic Learning on Campus: Bringing Political Science In Mini-Conference I, II and III

Political Science Now

JULY 16, 2024

This roundtable will focus on Balasco, Forestal, and Abernathy’s Engaging Citizenship, a forthcoming introduction to politics textbook (Oxford University Press 2025). political system within a global context, and 3) to engage with the political process as educated and empowered citizens.

Political Science

Political Science Civics Civic Engagement K-12

Civil Conversation Protects Our Civil Rights

Teaching American History

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Young citizens need civics education to understand their constitutionally guaranteed rights. The best civics teachers also help students learn the skills they need to protect their rights. Kymberli Wregglesworth, a 2016 MAHG graduate, teaches Civics, World history and social studies electives at Onaway High School in Michigan.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement American History Government

Fun Civics Activity Ideas To Teach About Government

Let's Cultivate Greatness

MAY 31, 2024

Teaching civics and government is different from teaching history—it really requires a different set of go-to lesson ideas and projects. So, if you are brand new to the subject and need to know everything about how to teach civics, or you’re struggling to find ways to go beyond the textbook, welcome!

Civics

Civics Government Teaching Civic Engagement

Make the Citizenship Test the Best Part of Your Civics Class

Let's Cultivate Greatness

AUGUST 24, 2023

It seems like that’s precisely what’s happened now that the Citizenship Test is a high school graduation requirement in many states. The test bank contains 100 questions—about 60 relating to civics and government, 30 covering US history, and ten touching on geography and cultural topics. Now over a dozen do.

Civics

Civics Government Geography Project-Based Learning

OPINION: Can Zoom classes keep students excited and engaged? We have found some ways

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

This model of teaching could be used in a range of disciplines beyond journalism, at both high school and college, to engage students in complex issues and disciplines. To engage students, she will assign student teams – essential to building community in online classes – to research history and context for lessons.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Social Justice Economics Civics

OPINION: We did not need the Nation’s ‘Report Card’ to tell us we must invest in civic education

The Hechinger Report

MAY 3, 2023

Many educators probably weren’t surprised by today’s announcement of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test results for civics and history. In past years, the scores for civics have been flat, which is hardly encouraging. The roadmap is now being put into practice in school districts across the country.

Civics

Civics Primary Sources Civic Engagement K-12

What young Democrats have to say about higher education

The Hechinger Report

AUGUST 22, 2024

I grew up in a high school that was mostly conservative, and I’d have enough of that. They are a representation of our history. And if history is not taught in its complete state, then it will be repeated.

Education

Education Civic Engagement Civics Private School

Donald Trump and teaching in a democracy: Where did we go wrong?

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

On Tuesday, millions of Americans went to the polls to elect the next president, ending what has been one of the most vitriolic campaigns in history. Most educators believe that schooling is a place for children to deliberate ideas, to weigh different perspective, to learn about our past.

Teaching

Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies Civics

Last week was tough, teachers say. But it wasn’t the first difficult ‘day after’ they’ve faced

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 15, 2021

Staring at the faces of the middle school teachers on her computer screen, Principal Laina Cox felt the tears welling up — again. The subject line read: “Living history.”. Graduate school hadn’t prepared her for that, she said, but it had left her with the impression that she wasn’t supposed to cry in front of students.

Charter School

Charter School Civics Middle School Civic Engagement

OPINION: 70 years after Brown vs. Board decision, key takeaways remain buried

The Hechinger Report

MAY 12, 2024

Even as we approach the 70th anniversary of Brown vs. Board this May, key parts of its history remain buried. Reporting has begun to engage with some of the lost, and often complex, aspects of Brown’s legacy, such as the mass firing of Black educators following the Brown decision.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics Psychology History

Social Studies Network

Teaching Nixon

Teaching ‘action civics’ engages kids — and ignites controversy

Trending Sources

Strengthening Civic Education: The Role of High-Quality Curriculum and Teaching Strategies

Service-Learning Can Be the Bridge to Social Emotional Learning. Educators Should Embrace It.

OPINION: Educators must be on the frontline of social activism

The Future of Democracy Depends on a Quality Civics Education

APSA’s Summer Rise High School Intern Program: Meet the Cohort

STUDENT VOICE: ‘Sometimes my voice alone wasn’t enough’

COLUMN: Should schools teach climate activism?

Waiting for the traveling teacher: Remote rural schools need more hands-on help

The Importance of Research in Social Studies Classrooms

Often overwhelmed on big campuses, rural college students push for support

STUDENT VOICE: Let’s stop the apathy in Kentucky and beyond

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

Theme Panel: Civic Learning on Campus: Bringing Political Science In Mini-Conference I, II and III

Civil Conversation Protects Our Civil Rights

Fun Civics Activity Ideas To Teach About Government

Make the Citizenship Test the Best Part of Your Civics Class

OPINION: Can Zoom classes keep students excited and engaged? We have found some ways

OPINION: We did not need the Nation’s ‘Report Card’ to tell us we must invest in civic education

What young Democrats have to say about higher education

Donald Trump and teaching in a democracy: Where did we go wrong?

Last week was tough, teachers say. But it wasn’t the first difficult ‘day after’ they’ve faced

OPINION: 70 years after Brown vs. Board decision, key takeaways remain buried

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