Democracy and Current Events
This toolkit provides lessons and strategies for helping your students make sense of issues in the news related to democracy.
Developing Media Literacy for Well-being, Relationships and Democracy
Teach students about media literacy, helping them develop as critical consumers and creators of information, in order to support their well-being, their relationships and our democracy.
The Pursuit of Educational Justice in Boston
This 7–9 day C3-aligned inquiry explores the compelling question, “What can we learn from Boston’s past about what it takes to make progress toward educational justice today?”
Establishing Opening and Closing Routines
These opening and closing classroom routines will set a welcoming tone, allow students to connect with one another, and encourage goal setting.
10 Questions for Young Changemakers
This unit uses the 10 Questions Framework to explore two examples of youth activism: the 1963 Chicago schools boycott and the present-day movement against gun violence launched by Parkland students.
Memphis 1968
Lessons and resources help you explore the sanitation workers’ strike and other events that brought Dr. King to Memphis in the spring of 1968. This lesson is part of our partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum's MLK50 initiative.
Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age
Help students become informed and effective civic participants in today's digital landscape. This unit is designed to develop students' critical thinking, news literacy, civic engagement, and social-emotional skills and competencies.
The Reconstruction Era 3-Week Unit
Teach a 3-week study of the Reconstruction era guided by the essential question "What can we learn from the history of Reconstruction as we work to strengthen democracy today?"
Standing Up to Hatred and Intolerance
Address today's global challenges with lesson plans focused on current events including the refugee crisis and contemporary antisemitism.
What Makes Democracy Work?
Explore this collection of lesson plans that cover a wide range of themes related to democracy, including citizen power and civic participation, the rule of law, the role of a free press, and more.
Activities for the First Days of School
These first-week-of-school activities create welcoming learning environments that prioritize care, relationships, and community.