Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fit perfectly in education. We're now less than 10 years away from the goals' "completion date." It's time to empower our students to be the changemakers they were born to be. Come learn about how SDGs intersect naturally in the social studies classroom. Presenter Tara Linney Author, Award Winning Educator and Founder, TL Specialists, LLC

Voting matters. In this session, we will examine who voted in the 2020 election, and how changes in the demographics of voter turnout, including age, income, education ethnicity and gender, may impact future elections and our democratic system.    

Examining the 1977 movement to force implementation of a law protecting those with disabilities is a powerful way to engage students in civic action, particularly those, like students at an Upper Midwest Deaf school, who may consider themselves on the margins.

The Educating for American Democracy initiative introduces an inquiry framework, or roadmap, organized around themes and questions to advance excellence in civic and history education. 

An earlier article (by W. Toledo and others) in Social Studies and the Young Learner examined how young students engaged with locally-relevant civics curriculum focused on civic perspective-taking, a process wherein students examine multiple perspectives on public issues and form their own stances on these issues using fact-based reasons with a consideration for the public good. Here, the authors present additional key skills in civic thinking and important strategies for teachers hoping to engage young students in civic perspective-taking.

A number of education theorists propose that promoting civic engagement in classrooms is essential to supporting children in learning how to participate in shaping decisions that affect their lives. Müge Olğun Baytaş and Stephanie Schroeder examine civic education with younger students and note that early childhood and elementary educators can take a leading role in fostering civic engagement and agency with even the youngest of children. The authors share an approach where children’s literature can be used to introduce young children to the concept of citizenship as active civic and…

Are discussions about Black Lives Matters making their way into your classroom? Do you want to bring up topics in the news like immigration, COVID-19, and the 2020 election, but are not sure how? Between overheard conversations and social media feeds, young people are regularly exposed to news featuring controversial issues that involve bias, hate, and social justice. They want to be part of the conversation and we should encourage their engagement. Are you concerned that these discussions will backfire and deteriorate into arguments, discord, and less understanding? Anti Defamation League’s…

A look back at former President Trump’s tremendous control over the work of experts and independent agencies can launch an engaging constitutional lesson about Article Two of the Constitution and executive power. 

At a time when there are too few women in key leadership positions, some schools have moved forward with programs to actively cultivate the potential of female students.

By examining a local policy issue such as plans to build power transmission lines across the James River in Virginia, students can investigate significant questions related to urban sprawl and the environment.