Enhancing students’ knowledge of civic engagement equips them with necessary insights into global affairs and molds them into proactive citizens poised to drive change within their communities and beyond. Engaging with current events allows students to witness the practical implications of classroom topics, while a well-structured high school civics curriculum encompasses an exploration of civic history.
Whether you seek high school lesson blueprints on politics and governance, supplementary activities for your civics syllabus, or innovative projects on current affairs to inspire student dialogue, these resources will aid you in mentoring tomorrow’s leaders.
Resources on the U.S. Constitution and Government Functions
Utilize resources that cover the organization and processes of the U.S. government, along with engaging debate topics for high school centered on the U.S. Constitution to ignite students’ interest in civics. Such topics are particularly valuable for Constitution Day activities.
United States Civics and Government Pre-Test
By Samantha in Secondary
Grades: 6th-10th
This pre-assessment explores the branches of government, the U.S. Constitution, and fundamental government operations to evaluate students’ grasp of these topics prior to instruction.
These visual organizers aid students in capturing key information while watching videos about government and politics.
Civics First Day Activity – What is Government
By Let’s Cultivate Greatness
Grades: 9th-12th
This activity encourages students to depict foundational concepts in civics and government, fostering deeper conversations about their perceptions and values.
Resources on Elections, Voting, and Active Citizenship
Facilitate students’ comprehension of what it means to be an active participant in democracy, ensuring they are prepared for their role in elections once they reach voting age. Including examples of civic engagement will help make these concepts tangible.
This bundle encompasses activities on elections, campaigning, and civic responsibility, guiding students through bias, symbolism, and propaganda, alongside a mock election experience.
Redistricting & Gerrymandering Activity with M&M
By Save our Social Studies
Grades: 9th-12th
This engaging activity introduces redistricting and gerrymandering concepts visually for any governmental, civics, or human geography class.
The Political System and Election Process PowerPoint and Guided Notes
By History Gal
Grades: 9th-12th
This lesson addresses political parties, the electoral college, and factors influencing public opinion, offering a comprehensive view of the political system and electoral processes.
This resource comprises warm-up activities, lecture slides, cloze notes, and engaging activities to help students grasp the U.S. electoral process and its timeline.
Resources to Engage Students in Politics and Current Events
Addressing current events with high schoolers is a vital aspect of any civics program, providing students with the opportunity to witness governmental and citizenship matters through relevant and relatable narratives.
AP Language/Composition – What’s Up Wednesdays – Current Events
By Schooled by Stultz
Grades: 9th-12th
This weekly exercise aids high school students in developing a broad understanding of current events as they present articles and engage in class discussions.
Essential Elements of a High School Civics Curriculum
The NCSS National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies outline 10 thematic strands, several of which explicitly pertain to civics. This framework serves as an excellent foundation for developing or selecting a high school civics curriculum.
Topics to be explored include:
- Ethical exercise of political power
- Authority scope and limitations
- Purpose and functions of government
- Rights and responsibilities of citizens in a constitutional democracy
- Managing scientific and technological advancements for the benefit of all
- Privacy protections
- Fundamental freedoms and rights of citizens within a democracy
- Civic participation
- Civic ideals and practices in varied global contexts
This comprehensive bundle organizes key topics chronologically for a full year or by semester for civics and government classes, along with numerous lesson planning resources for civics, world geography, American history, and world history.
Tailor Your High School Civics Curriculum with TPT
Given the variations in local and state educational standards, finding a ready-made curriculum suitable for high school civics classes can be a challenge. By exploring high school civics materials, educators can tailor lessons to ensure they resonate with and engage their students effectively.
Team TPT
The TPT editorial team consists of experienced educators, writers, and content strategists dedicated to providing teachers with effective resources to excel in their craft. Our understanding of the challenges in education drives us to create valuable, actionable content tailored for today’s educators.
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