Schools and Teachers Needed for iCivics Pilot Project

Do you want to help students this summer learn more about citizenship? iCivics needs your help!

iCivics is working in conjunction with GlassLab and Filament Games to upgrade a popular game called Argument Wars. Middle and high school students and teachers are needed to improve the learning that occurs within the game’s cases.

iCivics is looking for 6th through12th grade students to play four games and then complete a short online survey. Their teachers – you! – would be volunteering on June 16 through July 3 to supervise the students testing out the new version of Argument Wars and provide feedback from what they also learned from the game. All pilot testing takes place online.

Contact Alison Atwater at alison.atwater@icivics.org by June 6 to learn more about this terrific program.

An Eagle Lands in the Supreme Court's Courtroom

There are some very innovative teaching tools being used to help educate students about government. Recently, fourth graders from New Albany 2-5 Elementary School in Franklin County wrote to Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. They were learning about Ohio history and government, and they sent a colorful picture of their school’s eagle mascot. They asked her to take a picture with the eagle and then describe where the eagle had “landed” and why it was important. The Chief Justice was more than happy to accommodate the request and posed with the eagle on the bench of the Supreme Court’s courtroom. Her letter back included information about the court. This 

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor

is just one example of an entertaining project to spark students’ curiosity about a branch of government and involve students in the learning process.

There are some great resources available to teachers who are looking for ways to engage students, including the Supreme Court’s Visitor Education Center and the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. A question for teachers in our state: What programs do you find useful in civics education?

iCivics Teachers Council Needs You

How would you like to be a part of a national effort to create free, innovative educational materials to reverse our young peoples’ declining civic knowledge and participation?

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s iCivics program is accepting applicants for its Teachers Council, to help with teacher engagement and product development.

In four years, iCivics has produced many educational video games as well as vibrant teaching materials that have been used in classrooms in all 50 states. It offers the nation’s most comprehensive, standards-aligned civics curriculum that is available freely on the Web.

By becoming a member of the council, you’ll receive many benefits, including:

• A letter of commendation from Justice O'Connor sent directly to your administration.
• A press release in your local community upon acceptance to the Council. 
• Access to an all expenses paid meeting in Washington, D.C. with fellow Council Members, iCivics staff, education and technology leaders, and Justice O'Connor as her schedule permits.
• And much, much more.

How to apply:

• Read the instructions / FAQs, then download the fillable PDF application.
• Attach the completed application and the 3 other required documents (outlined in the instructions) to teacherscouncil@icivics.org by October 18 at 5 p.m. EST. 
• Share this link with your teacher friends!

Teachers and anyone passionate about serving teachers may apply, including nonprofit directors, library and media specialists, and curriculum specialists. Instructions and the application are available online, with the application due by October 18 at 5 p.m. EST.

September 17 is a Special Day for Our Country

On this day in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was adopted by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.



U.S. Constitution (National Archives Website)

The U.S. Courts’ website has resources for teachers and the general public to learn more about the Constitution. The site includes a quiz to test your knowledge about this vital document that established the foundation of our government. For example, when was the last time the Constitution was amended? I won’t give away the answer. See for yourself and then let me know how you did.

FLASH - for OHIO Teachers!

We were given this information on short notice, but the iCivics program is looking for teachers to give input to help design a new product. The curriculum team and developers from Filament Games are hosting an asynchronous focus group via Google Docs. The feedback would be a written-form focus group that gives you a new set of questions to ponder each day and engage with other teachers. Instead of a video conference, you would just comment on the questions throughout the week.

The goal of the questions is to look at how you overcome classroom challenges, and how iCivics can help you with those problem areas. Teachers would only spend about 15 minutes a day from August 13-16.

Please RSVP to Carrie Ray-Hill at carrie.hill@icivics.org by Monday, August 12 with your preferred email address if interested. And feel free to share with other teachers who you think might be interested.

Ohio Teachers Become Students during Two-Day Program

Teachers from across the state visited the Ohio Judicial Center on Nov. 2 to learn more about the Supreme Court of Ohio.

More than 20 Ohio teachers participating in the annual Ohio Government in Action program sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. The two-day program teaches the educators about the three branches of government.

Besides being welcomed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Conner, the group also took a tour of the Visitor Education Center, observed a Supreme Court of Ohio oral argument session, and ate lunch with Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell, Robert R. Cupp, Yvette McGee Brown and myself.

The group also toured the Statehouse and met with Secretary of State Jon Husted and Attorney General Mike DeWine and had meetings with legislators.

Teachers: Please don’t hesitate to contact the Visitor Education Center if you’d like to tour the Ohio Judicial Center.