Democracy & Civic Engagement

As students take action after Florida's school shooting, introduce a framework for civic participation in your classroom. Facing History has also created suggested discussion questions to help you have the difficult conversations that follow traumatic violent events. Use these questions as a starting point to spark a dialogue around the ways youth can get involved, be Upstanders, and make their voices heard in their own communities.

This Teaching Idea features Google Slides with activities that prompt students to reflect on the difficult ethical questions we’re all facing during the coronavirus crisis.

This Teaching Idea invites students to think about the “tools” they have access to during the coronavirus pandemic that can help them take care of themselves, others, and their wider community.

This Teaching Ideas uses our Free and Fair Elections Explainer to help students reflect on the importance of elections, define the phrase “free and fair elections,” and learn about electoral systems in their region.

The Iowa caucuses are the first chance voters in the US have to cast a ballot in support of a presidential candidate. Help students understand how the caucuses work, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of voting in person, and explore the question of whether Iowa should be the first state to vote.