Democracy and Current Events
Subject
- Civics & Citizenship
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Language
English — USPublished
In this lesson
Overview
About This Toolkit
We live in a time of great tension and conflict in democracies around the world. Elections in recent years—both inside and outside of the United States—have revealed and exacerbated deep divisions within many democratic societies, raising fundamental questions about the strength and fragility of democratic institutions. The resources in this toolkit can help your students learn about the concept of democracy, the forces that strengthen or weaken it, and make connections to issues of democracy in the present.
This toolkit is designed to be flexible. You can use all of the resources or choose a selection best suited to your classroom. It includes mini-lessons, explainers, and strategies for engaging students on the following topics:
- Understanding Democracy
- Democracy in the News
- Media Literacy
Preparing to Teach
A Note to Teachers
Before teaching with the resources in this toolkit, please review the following information to help guide your preparation process.
Students' identities and life experiences shape the way they understand government, form political opinions, and participate in discussions related to elections and democratic institutions. The following resources can help you guide meaningful discussions on potentially divisive topics:
- Fostering Civil Discourse (Guide)
- Current Events in Your Classroom: Fostering Dialogue in Divisive Times (Professional Learning)
The following teaching strategies can help students process breaking news, discuss multiple perspectives on an issue, or uncover the complexity behind an event:
Related Materials
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Teaching StrategyHead, Heart, Conscience
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Teaching StrategyJournals in the Classroom
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Teaching StrategySave the Last Word for Me
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Teaching StrategyBarometer: Taking a Stand on Controversial Issues
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Teaching StrategyTown Hall Circle
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Teaching StrategyIceberg Diagrams
Inside This Toolkit
Understanding Democracy
Assessing the Strength of Democracy
Free and Fair Elections
Free and Fair Elections: Why Do They Matter?
Political Polarization in the United States
What Makes Democracy Work?
Democracy in the News
Voting Rights in the United States
A New Generation of Young Voters Emerges
What Happened During the Insurrection at the US Capitol and Why?
Mob Violence, Human Behavior, and the Capitol Insurrection
Media Literacy
How to Read the News Like a Fact Checker
Where Do We Get Our News and Why Does It Matter?
News Article Analysis
What Does It Mean to Live with Social Media?
Additional Resources
Related Facing History Resources & Learning Opportunities
US History Curriculum Collection: Democracy & Freedom
Current Events in the Classroom
Teaching Current Events: Educator Guide
Democracy and Current Events
You might also be interested in…
10 Questions for the Future: Student Action Project
10 Questions for the Present: Parkland Student Activism
Voting Rights in the United States
Understanding and Assessing the UK’s Democracy
Finding Your Voice
Many Voices, One National Identity
How to Read the News Like a Fact Checker
Confronting Apartheid
The Hope and Fragility of Democracy in the United States
What Happened During the Insurrection at the US Capitol and Why?
Young People Respond to Climate Change
Assessing the Strength of Democracy
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