Teaching Civics & Citizenship

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Why it works

Civic education, guided by standards and research, aims to develop students' understanding of how government and democracy work, the skills of civic participation (deliberation, evaluating sources and arguments, respectful disagreement), and the dispositions of engaged citizenship, not just memorized facts about institutions. Research on effective civic education emphasizes discussion of issues, media and source literacy, and fair, nonpartisan teaching that develops students' ability to reason and participate, not what to think.

The research: Civic education research (CivXNow; iCivics); civic standards.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: develop citizenship, fairly

Teachers leave with a civics lesson that builds a civic skill, taught fairly and nonpartisanly.

Pick a civics topic.
Go beyond facts to develop a civic skill (evaluating sources, deliberating respectfully, understanding a process).
Teach it fairly and without partisanship, presenting perspectives and building reasoning.
Connect it to authentic civic participation.

Teach how to reason and participate, not what to thinkCivics develops informed, engaged citizens. Build knowledge, participation skills, and respectful deliberation, fairly and without partisanship.

Facilitator notes

Develop knowledge and civic skills.
Teach source literacy and respectful deliberation.
Teach fairly and nonpartisanly; connect to authentic participation.

Facts alone, or partisanship, both fail civicsMemorizing institutions without skills, or pushing positions, both undermine civic education. Develop reasoning and participation, fairly and nonpartisanly.

Adapt it

Elementary: community, fairness, participation basics.
Secondary: government, deliberation, source literacy, engagement.
All settings: knowledge, skills, fair and nonpartisan.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Civics & Citizenship: reason and participate

Informed, engaged citizens: knowledge, participation skills, and respectful deliberation, taught fairly.

The civics topic:
The civic skill to develop beyond facts:
How I teach it fairly and without partisanship:
How I build reasoning and deliberation:
The authentic civic participation it connects to:

Make it stick

Reason and participate:

Develop citizenship skills.
Teach fairly and nonpartisanly.
Bring a civics lesson that built reasoning to the next PLC.

Common questions

Isn't civics just learning the branches of government?

Knowledge of how government works matters, but civics also develops participation skills, source evaluation, respectful deliberation, and engaged citizenship. It is skills and dispositions, not just facts.

How do I teach civics without being partisan?

Teach how to reason, evaluate evidence, and deliberate respectfully, not what positions to hold. Present multiple perspectives fairly, focus on skills and understanding, and let students think for themselves.

What does effective civic education include?

Understanding of government and democracy, discussion of issues, media and source literacy, respectful deliberation, and opportunities for authentic civic engagement.