Civics

Now that the school year is just about over it is time to start thinking about the Fall, right? Well, here's a little something to get you started.

It can difficult to find material on civics topics that is interesting to the students. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s “iCivics Project” has done a wonderful job of producing reliable information in a way that is engaging to students. The site contains games to help introduce students to the Separation of powers, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. I actually started playing Do I Have A Right? where I got to run my own law firm and deal with Constitutional issues. Pretty cool, huh? The teachers section is arranged by curriculum topic with interactive webquests and lessons that provide everything you need to teach your students.

And don't forget that Constitution Day is Friday, September 17. Visit Sunnylands Classroom to register for free Constitution Day 2010 resources. According to a promotional email I received from annenbergclassroom.org, 2010 resources will include:

Several films:
A Fair and Impartial Jury: Jury Selection – Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Company (mailed only to those who sign up by September 3rd)
A Conversation on the Constitution with Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony M. Kennedy: The Right to an Impartial Trial by Jury

And many interactive educational games on the Constitution:
The Bill of Rights
Being John Marshall
Branches of Power*
LawCraft*
Executive Command*
Court Quest*

* produced in partnership with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s “iCivics Project”.

So get a jump on the new school year and check these out.