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Questions about any of these resources, future ideas for your curriculum planning, etc--contact me at my school email! :D

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Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski, or Mrs.B-K as students call her, is the 24/25 Civics Teacher Leader at the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning. Civic education is her passion, and she has had the privilege of doing it for the last 14 years! Breanna is a lifelong Mainer and lives in Southern Maine with her lovely family. She teaches at Scarborough High School and has worked at two rural schools in Maine. In recent years, she has served as part of a Maine Teacher Leader Cohort in 2019, earned National Board Certification in Social Studies, and worked with several civic organizations to expand her ability to deliver a positive educational experience to her students. Breanna is also a 2022-24 Constitutional Fellow with the National Constitution Center, a member of their Teacher Advisory Board, and an ambassador for Retro Report Education. Breanna is thrilled to be in this new position at the Office of Teaching and Learning to share her favorite civic resources with fellow Maine government teachers, professional development opportunities, and potential community connections. Let’s support Maine teachers in ways to engage and integrate robust civic educational resources and opportunities into their classrooms!

Questions or thoughts on Maine Civic’s resources? Email Breanna and get the conversation started! breanna.krupski@maine.gov

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Maine DOE Welcomes 2025-2026 Teacher Leader Fellows

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The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning is proud to welcome the 2025-2026 Teacher Leader Fellows. These exceptional educators bring diverse expertise and passion to …

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Webinar: Civic Resources with the National Constitution Center

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Webinar: Civic Resources with the National Constitution Center

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Join Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Civics Teacher Leader Fellow, in the Office of Teaching and Learning, as she hosts the National Constitution Center’s Education Team in a webinar exploring resources the Constitution Center has available for civics teachers.

The session is geared toward middle and high school civics teachers in Maine. The team at the National Constitution Center will highlight available resources on civil dialogue, elections, and opportunities for teachers to invite experts digitally into their classrooms via their Scholar Exchange Programs. The National Constitution Center is a non-partisan organization dedicated to helping teachers educate students about government by providing them with rich resources about our constitutional founding and the three branches.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 23 at 4 p.m. The link to join can be found here (no need to register in advance).

For further information, reach out to Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski at breanna.krupski@maine.gov.

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https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/

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Start Here: Subscribe to Receive DOE news

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Start Here: Subscribe to Receive DOE news

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https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=21283d239d

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Maine Department of Education Email Forms

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www.constitutioncenter.org

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www.retroreport.org

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Retro Report - A documentary news organization dedicated to examining stories after their headlines fade (new design) - Retro Report

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We're an independent, non-profit newsroom creating trusted documentary videos and classroom resources.

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Released at the Civic Learning Week National Forum in Washington, D.C., new research shows the need to provide more robust civic learning opportunities in high school, the positive effects of students openly discussing civic and political issues, the effect of legislation on teachers and students, and the need for more civic role models.

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Home - Advancing Civic Education for the Future of U.S. - iCivics

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iCivics is dedicated to advancing civic learning so young people have the confidence to shape the world around them and believe in our country's future.

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Did you miss our October 2024 PD? It is loaded on our DOE youtube page for you to watch! Some great resources shared from the National Constitution Center!

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Civic Resources for Maine Teachers with the National Constitution Center

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Civil Dialogue- National Constitution Center

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Civil Dialogue- National Constitution Center

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Positive resources to help engage your students in the concept of civil discourse. How can we have conversations about politics in a non-divisive way?

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Civil Dialogue and Constitutional Conversations

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Educational classroom resources about Civil Dialogue and Constitutional Conversations from the National Constitution Center

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The Constitution and federal elections: how does the process all play out?

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On Nov. 5, 2024, voters will head to the polls in person to select the next president and vice president of the United States, as well as members of the 119th Congress. How that process is conducted, and the Constitution's role in setting the guidelines for elections, has changed greatly over time.

To better understand how federal elections are conducted, here are some milestones and explanations of the process.
What is the basic process for electing the President and Congress?
In 1788 and 1789, when elections were conducted to pick the first president, vice president, and Congress, the process was a work in progress. The drafters of the Constitution in 1787 had created a new institution, the Electoral College, to select the president and vice president, and these elections were the first time in which this new system was implemented.

The Electoral College, in Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution, sets the number of presidential electors as equal to the number of members in a state's congressional delegation. The candidate receiving votes from a majority of electors from all states (and as of 1961, the District of Columbia) is elected president, and the runner-up becomes vice president. Under the original Constitution, electors cast votes for both president and vice president with no distinction, leading to a tie in the 1800 election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The 12th Amendment resolved this issue by changing the process to require distinct ballots for the president and vice president.

Today, a presidential candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win an election. If there is no candidate with the minimum requirement to win, the House of Representatives convenes in January to pick the winner of the presidential race in a contingent election, and the Senate picks the vice president. This has happened three times in American history, and not since 1837.

In congressional elections, the Constitution provided for the direct election of House members "by the People of the several States," but the election of members of the Senate by the state legislatures. In 1913, the 17th Amendment changed the process for the Senate to match the direct popular elections held for the House.
Who set the rules for electing a president, vice president, and members of Congress?
The federal government and the states share responsibility for conducting general elections. Under the Constitution's Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 ( the Elections Clause), state legislatures choose the times, places, and manner of holding elections for the House and the Senate, subject to Congress' authority to amend state regulations. The basic requirements for the presidential and vice-presidential elections are set by the Constitution's 12th Amendment, such as the rules of procedure for the Electoral College, and the contingent elections held in Congress if no candidate gets a majority in the general election.

The Constitution's Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 (the Qualifications Clause) requires the president to be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. Also, term limits under the 22nd Amendment bars candidates who have been elected twice as president or would serve more than 10 years by filling an unexpired term of another candidate. And if the Senate convicts a federal officer, including a president, at an impeachment trial, the Senate can also vote to bar the same person from holding public office.

For congressional elections, the Constitution's Article I, Section 2 sets the age requirement at 25 years for the House, with the candidate being a United States citizen for at least seven years, while Article 1, Section 3 sets the Senate candidate requirements at 30 years of age and nine years of citizenship. For any candidate, they must be a resident of that state at the time of their election.

For presidential and congressional candidates, the 14th Amendment's Insurrection Clause bars anyone from office who "shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."
Who can vote in general elections?
Today, most Americans citizens of legal age can register to vote in local, state, and general elections. Voter-age eligibility was set by the 26th Amendment in 1971, which requires voters to be 18 years of age on or before Election Day. States also have residency requirements for voting. People who are not citizens can't vote in elections. States also have different rules about when people convicted of a felony have their voting rights restored. But 13 states have the ability to permanently bar a convicted felon from voting under certain conditions.
When are general elections held?
The official date of Election Day is set by law as "the Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in November, in every even numbered year." The last change in this date was in 1845. But the process of voting can start much earlier. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 47 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories offer some form of early voting by mail or in person. The NCSL says the average early voting start date is 27 days before Election Day. Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia started their early voting on Sept. 20, 2024. All votes must be cast before the polls close on Nov. 5, 2024, and ballots received by mail need to be postmarked by that date.
What happens after Election Day?
After Election Day, the states tabulate the results, including absentee and overseas ballots. States have different deadlines for certifying results for presidential and congressional elections. The results are usually certified by the end of November, but some states set Dec. 6 as their deadline.

Each state has laws that allow a candidate, including a presidential or congressional candidate, to ask for an election recount. In some instances, a recount is automatically started based on the margin separating the top two candidates.

For presidential races, a federal law (3 U.S. Code § 5) known as the "safe harbor provision" requires a state to settle these disputes and determine its electors six days before the Electoral College members meet in person. In 2024, that deadline is Dec. 8, since the college votes on Dec. 17, 2024.

Federal law requires states to deliver certified Electoral College results to the vice president, serving as president of the Senate, and other parties by the fourth Wednesday in December; in the year 2024 that date falls on Dec. 25.

Then, by federal statute 3 U.S.C. §12, 13, the vice president or the Archivist of the United States asks a "secretary of state or equivalent officer" of that state to send the certified election results to Congress, using direct mail or a messenger.

For members elected to House and Senate, they are seated at the first meeting of the 119th Congress on Jan. 3, 2025. On rare occasions, Congress has assumed powers under Article I, Section 5 to refuse to seat a newly elected member. But a Supreme Court decision in 1969, Powell v. McCormick, greatly limited that practice.

A joint session of Congress is required by the 12th Amendment to count the electoral votes and declare the winners of the presidential election. That joint session of Congress will be held on Jan. 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. If there are delays related to the count in Congress or a contingent election, those processes would need to be finished by noon on Jan. 20, 2025, for the next president and vice president to take their oaths of office. If that does not happen, the Speaker of the House would serve as president until Congress certifies a winner of the presidential election.
Scott Bomboy is the editor in chief of the National Constitution Center.

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The Constitution and the federal election process

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On Nov. 5, 2024, voters will head to the polls in person to select the next president and vice president of the United States, as well as members of the 119th Congress. How that process is conducted, and the Constitution's role in setting the guidelines for elections, has changed greatly over time.

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Media literacy and civic matters: Icivics launched a new section of resources for teachers that helps students engage with media literacy especially when it comes to information.

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New Collection of Resources Teaches Students How to Verify Online Information - iCivics

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Civic Digital Literacy, developed by the Digital Inquiry Group and iCivics, is a collection of nonpartisan, evidence-based resources to help middle and high school students learn how to navigate misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.

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Looking for something small for your classroom across all ages that increases civic thinking? On Tuesday's We Vote is just that! Check out the information here.

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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

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Voting rights and elections: Virtual Field Trip!

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Voting rights and elections: Virtual Field Trip!

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Take your students on a 30 min virtual field trip through the National Constitution Center's Voting Rights exhibit!

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Voting Rights and Elections Virtual Tour

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One of the most valuable experiences for your students. Have a constitutional expert come and chat with your students via zoom! Great for schools who can't afford field trips but want some extra enrichment.

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Peer-to-peer Scholar Exchanges allow students to discuss Constitutional topics with a legal professional or constitutional scholar and peers around the country.

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A member of the civic teaching community shared this in a professional development group I am in the day after the election. I used it in my classes. I adapted this activity for small groups and it was great for my students (all ranges of classes) to process the exit poll and election data in a thoughtful way. Feel free to adapt for your classes this month!

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Electoral College and Exit Poll Webquest 2024.docx

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An organization working to break the negative cycle of false information sharing on social media.

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The News Literacy Project works with educators and journalists to give students the skills they need to discern fact from fiction and to know what to trust.

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Local Government Sample Lesson Plan from LWVME

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Local Government Sample Lesson Plan from LWVME

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Allyson Gardner provided this free resource for teachers all about Local Government. More resources are available through lwvme.org

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Local Government module curriculum LWVME

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Local Government module curriculum LWVME

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Maine's Local Government Curriculum: use the code to access a google classroom with plenty of resources for you!

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Flyer Maine’s Local Government Curriculum

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Incredible resources and real life civic application for students!

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Community Connections and Civics Education with the League of Women Voters

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Webinar: Community Connections and Civic EDU

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Webinar: Community Connections and Civic EDU

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Missed our November PD? No problem! Listen in as Allyson and I chat about all the real-life civic engagement opportunities the LWV and Maine Students Vote have for Maine Students!

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Community Connections and Civics Education with the League of Women Voters

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Maine Civics Network: learn more about it!

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Maine Civics Network: learn more about it!

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Missed learning about the Maine Civics Network? Watch to learn more about this important rising civic organization in our state!

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Maine Civics Network: What is it all about?

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What is a structured academic controversy? 

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What is a structured academic controversy? 

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Learn about this teaching tool to help guide civil discourse on tough topics in your classroom!

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Structured Academic Controversies for Civics Classrooms

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Sample Structured Academic Controversy template

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Sample Structured Academic Controversy template

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Feel free to make a copy and edit to your liking.

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Learn more about this rising, important organization aiming to increase student engagement in real-life civic applications.

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The Maine Civics Network catalyzes, coordinates, & amplifies opportunities for hands-on, local civic education in Maine schools.

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Civil discourse tool kit from Civil Discourse Project

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Civil discourse tool kit from Civil Discourse Project

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AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION GUIDE TO IMPROVING CIVIL DISCOURSE IN THE CLASSROOM 1

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I was able to attend a session with the Lou Frey Institute and the Bill of Rights Institute on Executive orders and actions. It was awesome. Much of this info will work for your classes.

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Use this form to download your own Civic Learning Tool Kit!

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Get the Civic Learning Week Educator Toolkit | Civic Learning Week

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Get the Educator Toolkit to access resources for planning and communicating your participation in Civic Learning Week. The toolkit includes planning resourc…

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Constitutional Powers and Limits of the Presidency

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Constitutional Powers and Limits of the Presidency

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Constitutional powers of the presidency, Limits on presidential authority, Checks and balances in U.S. government, Presidential character and leadership, Lara Brown Amateur Hour book, Executive branch

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What are the constitutional powers and limits of the American presidency? In this episode of Scholar Talks, Lara Brown, professor and the director of the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) at the George Washington University, joins BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams to talk about her book “Amateur Hour: Presidential Character and the Question of Leadership.” Together, they discuss important presidential character traits, notable and poor examples of these traits in contemporary presidencies, and how these traits can work to support constitutional principles and bring prestige and honor to the office of president.

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February's PD was the amazing Retro Report. We learned of so many excellent rich resources. A must watch!

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The U.S. Government Publishing Office has a database website where you can see all bills in the House and Senate that were proposed, debated on, or are in resolution. It's a fun website to browse and compare and contrast with current affairs.

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Congressional bills are legislative proposals from the House of Representatives and Senate within the United States Congress. There are eight different types of bills.

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Check out this playlist of presidency resources from the Bill of Rights Institute

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President’s Day | Bill of Rights Institute

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Educating for Self-Governance. Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society.

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This organization is still looking for student committee members on their steering committee! I hosted them on 4/7/25. Please visit their website to learn more about them.

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Welcome to Youthwork Makes the Boothwork! Our site connects you with ways to engage in upcoming elections and get involved with opportunities for civic engagement in your school, town, county, state, and nation. Become an active player in our democracy.

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PDF of all things Youth Work Makes the Booth Work!

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Youth Work Makes the Booth Work_ Informational Session

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In mid May, I sat down with Amanda Doherty the Maine Mock Trial coordinator. Unfortunately the screen didn't record so please check out the following website for more info.

https://dohertyesq.wixsite.com/mainehsmt/

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Maine Mock Trial Competition: Informational Session

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Please give these amazing podcasts, put together by two Bowdoin College Students, a listen! They're great informal professional development and some clips could definitely be adapted for honors/ap level learning.

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Have you ever asked the question: Who are these crazy people asking for my signature while I’m trying to vote? Attempting to answer this question, and others like it, became the inspiration behind our podcast - Pine State Politics: In Session.

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Compiled links to all the great resources for Constitution Day.

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Thought provoking on why local elections matter to our classrooms.

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Vocabulary

Voter suppression [ voh-ter suh-press-shun] (noun): an effort or activity designed to prevent people from voting by making voting impossible, dangerous or just very difficult. Voter suppression can be legal and organized (e.g., literacy tests or laws limiting the number of polling places), illegal and organized (e.g., mailers or robocalls telling people to vote on the wrong day), or illegal and unorganized (e.g., an individual showing up to a polling place to intimidate others into not voting).

Voter registration [ voh-ter regh-uh- stray-shun] (noun): the process by which people are added to voter rolls and thereby allowed to vote. Voter registration is required in every U.S. state with the exception of North Dakota. In some places, voters are automatically registered. In others, they must fill out, mail in or even notarize a registration form more than a month ahead of an election.

Voter roll [ voh-ter role] (noun): the official list, maintained by each secretary of state, of who is eligible to vote in state and federal elections. People who have been removed from voter rolls are not allowed to vote, even if they have registered.

Note to the Teacher

We are publishing this lesson in the fall of 2020, as many educators are teaching remotely. Where necessary, the procedure for this lesson includes adaptations for classes meeting online.

For this lesson, whether you're teaching in person or remotely, you will need to prepare some materials in advance. These include voting requirements in your state, voter turnout data from a recent local election and election results from your district's most recent State House or Senate race. Students should have some way to access this information, either through a handout or a slide.

Procedure

1. Begin with an "Alphabet Brainstorm" warm-up to get students thinking about the many ways government shapes our lives. Ask students to work in groups to alphabet brainstorm answers to the question, "How does government affect our lives?" Explain that they'll list one answer for every letter of the alphabet. Provide a few examples: A = Airport security. Z = Zoos. After a few minutes, have students share their answers aloud.

2. Introduce the lesson, letting students know you'll be discussing state and local elections. Inform them that voter turnout is much lower in local and state elections than in national (particularly presidential) elections. Ask students to take a minute or two to free write answers to the question, "Why would people vote in a presidential election but not a local or state election?"

3. Ask students to share their responses. As they do, flag for them three points that will be key to the lesson: the idea that local government doesn't matter (e.g., "The mayor doesn't do much."), the belief that a single vote doesn't matter and the effects of voter suppression (e.g., "People don't have time to vote; the lines are too long."). Let students know that these are three ideas you'll be focusing on today.

4. Help students recognize the significance of local elections using the "Who Decides?" handout. Have students take five minutes or so to work in groups, reviewing the handout and guessing "who decides" the answer to each of the questions listed. Ask students to share their answers aloud. They'll likely note that none of these decisions are made at the federal level. As they share, you can use the answer key to identify more specifically who makes these decisions.

5. After reminding students that you've now disproved the first point, that local government doesn't matter, let them know you'll be moving on to the next reason often offered to explain why people don't vote in local elections: that one vote doesn't matter.

6. Share the election results for your district's most recent State House or Senate race. If possible, share voter turnout from a recent mayoral election. Ask students to do a little quick math to see how many people would have needed to change their votes for a different outcome. In most cases, the number will be fewer than 500. Ask students to take another minute or so to brainstorm responses to the question, "How can we argue against the myth that one vote doesn't matter?"

7. Introduce the last point: that sometimes voting is difficult. Let students know that, for the most part, voting laws are one of the things that are determined at the state level. Explain that you'll be checking the laws in your state to see how legislators have made voting easier or harder.

8. Distribute the "Voting Rights and Restrictions" handout. Ask students to take a few minutes to review the glossary, and ask them to predict whether your state will have more "policies and practices that make it easier to register and vote" or "policies and practices that make it harder to register and vote."

9. With students, review Rock the Vote's page on Voting in Your State. Using the Voting Rights and Restrictions handout, walk through the policies outlined for your state. Ask students to decide whether they think your state encourages or discourages its citizens from voting.

10. Wrap up by reminding students that election laws are decided at the state level, so we have a pretty significant amount of power in electing the legislators who make voting easier or harder for people in our state.

Alignment to CCSS

English Language Arts Standards | History/Social Studies | Grade 6-8
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2

English Language Arts Standards | History/Social Studies | Grade 9-10
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7

English Language Arts Standards | History/Social Studies | Grade 11-12
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.9

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In this lesson, students explore the ways that decisions by local government affect their lives. They'll review research and data about a few recent local elections to push back against the myth that a single vote doesn't count. They'll learn how laws in their state encourage or suppress voter engagement.

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A simple, short, weekly shift can truly change the level of engagement in your classroom and connect to one of the most important civic actions we have in our society. Also on Instagram.

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On Tuesday We Vote Launches for 2025-26 School Year - iCivics

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Learning to swim is a skill that could save your life. If you were a swim instructor, would you teach swimming by having someone read about it or watch videos of Katie Ledecky’s Olympic races? Would you feel prepared to have your students swim if they’d never practiced before? We teach our students that democracy […]

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Voting Rights- National Constitution Center

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Voting Rights- National Constitution Center

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Some really grade primary source materials, videos, and webinars over voting rights and accessibility history.

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Classroom Resources about Voting Rights | Constitution Center

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Educational classroom resources about Voting Rights from the National Constitution Center

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Pine-State Politics- Ranked Choice Voting Explained

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Pine-State Politics- Ranked Choice Voting Explained

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Check out this great podcast about how ME uses Ranked Choice Voting and why.

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As Maine Goes, So Goes the Nation - Ranked Choice Voting

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Listen to this episode from Pine State Politics: In Session on Spotify. For episode number four, we speak with Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap. Before becoming the State Auditor, Matt Dunlap served as Maine's Secretary of State for 14 years.

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I am a 22-24 National Constitutional Fellow and a member of their Teacher Advisory Board. 

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I am a 22-24 National Constitutional Fellow and a member of their Teacher Advisory Board. 

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The National Constitution Center’s Teacher Advisory Board supports the Center’s education team in developing and evaluating materials on the Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition, and presents content created to support students using the National Constitution Center’s nonpartisan educational resources.

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I also serve as an Ambassador for Retro Report. 

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I also serve as an Ambassador for Retro Report. 

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Meet the Retro Report Teacher Ambassadors - Retro Report

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We're an independent, nonprofit newsroom creating trusted documentary videos and classroom resources.

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Paving the way for helping classrooms process media literacy.

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The News Literacy Project works with educators and journalists to give students the skills they need to discern fact from fiction and to know what to trust.

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Fact-based journalism. Breaks down articles into history, importance. Has podcast like reading right on there and has a great broadcast as well. Highly recommend.

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Straight Arrow News - SAN - Unbiased. Straight Facts.

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Straight Arrow News (SAN) is committed to fair, factual, unbiased journalism and political commentary that encourages viewers to make up their own minds.

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Similar to Adfontes Media Bias Analysis, ALLSides breaks things down for a more classroom friendly approach.

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AllSides Headline Roundups™ bring you top news stories from the left, center and right of the political spectrum - side-by-side so you can see the full picture.

We rotate the order of headlines to avoid biasing our coverage in favor of the left, which otherwise would always be listed first.

Learn how AllSides provides balanced news

A ship owned by an Israeli billionaire was attacked by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, per an unnamed Pentagon official. The Details: The Malta-flagged, CMA CGM Symi cargo...

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AllSides | Balanced news via media bias ratings for an unbiased news perspective

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We use media bias ratings to provide balanced news, perspectives and issues across the political spectrum. Unbiased news coverage doesn't exist - there is no such thing as unbiased news or t

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On this landing page geared toward educators, learn about the News Literacy Project's Back-to-School Guide, a collection of free resources designed to lay the foundation for teaching news literacy in grades 5-12.

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Bunch of short, 3-5 min activities you can adapt to your lessons in your classroom!

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Daily Do Now - Activity slides (2025-26)

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Excellent educator newsletter.

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Subscribe to the Maine Civic Digest | League of Women Voters

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League of Women Voters- Civics in Action

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League of Women Voters- Civics in Action

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Wonderful civics organization that leads with a democratic activity center and a bipartisan approach.

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For my fellow AP Governerds! Who couldn't use more FRQ samples?!

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AP U.S. Government and Politics – FRQ List - Retro Report

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Retro Report is an independent, nonprofit newsroom creating trusted documentary videos and classroom resources.

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Excellent group of young adults and high school students modeling awesome civic engagement.

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Media Literacy Mini Unit: Tested By A High School Teacher!

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Media Literacy Mini Unit: Tested By A High School Teacher!

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This is my media literacy mini unit geared from grades 7-12. I tested all lessons and activities in my own classroom with success, provide direct links for you to edit the items for yourself. The goal here was to focus on media literacy essentials for just 2 class periods because...well...sometimes that is all that we can find!

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Media Literacy and Media Bias Mini Unit- FULL PDF (2)

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ACLU of Maine bill tracker!

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2026 Legislative Priorities - ACLU of Maine

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The 132nd Legislature started the legislative session on December 4, 2024, and is expected to run through the spring of 2025. We are in Augusta every week, working with lawmakers and ally organizations to protect and defend the civil rights and liberties of all people in Maine. Many bills have printed and are moving through the […]

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$25.00 CEU's and classes? Amazing topics on several civic topic here.

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Summer Professional Development | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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Maine DOE: Check back soon for new materials!

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Maine DOE: Check back soon for new materials!

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Check back soon for more great civics content. Many teacher developed!

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Arts & Humanities Hub | Department of Education

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Webinar: Media literacy and media bias mini unit! For teachers by a teacher

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Webinar: Media literacy and media bias mini unit! For teachers by a teacher

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Here I walk you through the media literacy items I discovered and tried this year in my own classroom. I hope they can be used by others!

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Media Literacy and Bias: A Mini Unit for 7-12 Civics Teachers

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Great, straight forward political ideology quiz

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Great, straight forward political ideology quiz

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Geared for highschool and above

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Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy

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Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That's OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if it isn't exactly right.

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Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match.

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National Constitution Center: Virtual Museum

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National Constitution Center: Virtual Museum

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Schedule a virtual webinar for your classroom! Bring the NCC's expertise and carefully crafted historical exhibits to your classroom. Great for any age group---rural schools-- please look into this. Great opp.

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Our educators will lead students through live virtual tours workshops, activities, and demonstrations that feature some of your favorite history activities.

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The ever important 14th Amendment: BOR Institute has some great resources here.

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National Leader in Civic Education Resources | Bill of Rights Institute

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How did two Supreme Court Cases, fifty-eight years apart, come to such radically different conclusions? Explore the cases of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka (1954) to discover how the court interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection clause in each case.

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14th Amendment | What is the Fourteenth Amendment?

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The 14th amendment is the second Reconstruction amendment. It establishes citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

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The guru's for all things proper civics education teamed up with Kahn Academy to make a middle school curriculum. Modules of this program are great to be used in tandem with other resources or stand alone activities.

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In this module, students begin by taking a closer look at the Constitution and exploring how citizens, scholars, lawyers, and judges engage in civil dialogue. As they explore the text, students will learn the difference between constitutional questions and political questions and explore different methods of interpreting the Constitution. Throughout the module, students will also be practicing important skills including analyzing primary sources and asking and answering questions.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn about the people and ideas that inspired the founders to envision a better way forward. As they explore and analyze primary sources like the Declaration of Independence, students will begin to recognize the key principles that are the foundation of the new government. They will also identify the reasons leading to the American Revolution. Throughout the module, students will practice important skills like analyzing primary sources and asking and answering questions.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn about the early national government established by the Articles of Confederation and about the state constitutions written before the U.S. Constitution. Students will explore what life was like for Americans after the Declaration of Independence and figure out why some Americans chose to participate in mob violence. They will also analyze important primary sources to uncover why the founders wanted to create a new constitution.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn more about the Constitutional Convention. Students will learn more about the delegates who attended the Convention and explore their opinions on important issues that needed to be decided. They will discuss what it means to come to a compromise through debate, and how compromising helped achieve ratification. Finally, students will learn about the views of Federalists and Anti-Federalists and analyze primary sources to help you better understand the different points of view.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn about the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights guarantees important rights to Americans, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and protection from unreasonable searches. As students explore the text, they will learn why the idea of a Bill of Rights had a big influence on ratifying the Constitution.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn how the founders divided the powers given to the federal government by designing three different branches of the government. As students explore primary sources, they will uncover why this separation of powers was important. Students will also learn more about how power was divided between the federal government and state governments in a system called federalism.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn more about the legislative branch by exploring the powers and limits of Congress outlined in the Constitution. Students will uncover how the Constitution grants Congress the power to make laws and spells out the structure and functions of the legislative branch. They will also have the opportunity to learn how several Supreme Court cases shaped the way Congressional powers and limits were defined over time.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will uncover how Article II of the Constitution establishes the executive branch of the national government, headed by a single President. The President's primary responsibility is to carry out the executive branch's core function-namely, enforcing the nation's laws. Students will look at sections of Article II that outline the method for electing the President, the scope of the President's powers and duties, and the process of removing one from office. They will also explore how the Supreme Court and Congress have shaped the role of the Presidency over time.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will uncover how Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, which is responsible for interpreting laws. Students will explore the structure of the judicial branch, led by the United States Supreme Court, and learn how Supreme Court justices are selected. They will also explore two key concepts that are part of the nation's system of checks and balances: judicial independence and judicial review.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will begin to take a closer look at the freedoms granted in the First Amendment to the Constitution. The First Amendment protects five freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Students will learn how these First Amendment rights protect the freedom to think and speak their own mind. They will also explore debates over the First Amendment's five freedoms, examine several landmark Supreme Court cases, and investigate how the First Amendment has been used by groups of all perspectives to promote their vision of a more perfect Union.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will begin to take a closer look at the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment establishes that individuals have the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures of our bodies, homes, papers, and belongings. This amendment plays a crucial role in shaping our interactions with law enforcement.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will learn how slavery was already a big part of life in America by the time the Constitution was written and how during the Constitutional Convention, delegates made compromises that protected the interests of slaveholders. They will also explore how in the years that followed debates over slavery grew more intense, leading to Abraham Lincoln's election as the first anti-slavery president, the South's decision to break away from the U.S., and the Civil War. Students will also explore America's "Second Founding," the period after the war, when leaders worked to rebuild the country and strengthen the Constitution by passing the nation's first civil rights laws and adding the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will look closely at how voting rights have changed over time, including through amendments to the Constitution that have expanded the right. They will learn how the original Constitution did not specifically protect the right to vote-leaving the issue largely to the states. Students will also explore how new amendments granted Congress new power to enforce these rights. Finally, they will look at the roles played by the federal government and the powers of the individual states to play a central role in elections today.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will explore the 14th Amendment, which defines citizenship, guarantees equal protection of the laws, protects people from unfair actions by state and federal governments, and was key in extending the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states. Students will learn about the text, history, and application of the 14th Amendment and explore how the amendment has been instrumental in expanding freedom and equality in the United States since its ratification.
Curriculum - Get Started!

In this module, students will look closely at Article V of the Constitution, which explains the process for changing, or amending, the Constitution. Students will explore the amendment process to make big changes to the Constitution from the very beginning. Students will explore the amendment process, look at the reasons why the Founders chose to include a way to change the Constitution, and survey all 27 amendments to the Constitution.
Curriculum - Get Started!

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Teacher-led Middle School Curriculum Constitution 101 Curriculum

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Excellent basics for introducing civics curriculum for k-5! Civics is everything: how can you incorporate civics into your elementary classroom?

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Civics for Kids: Building Tomorrow Together | PBS LearningMedia

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Welcome to Civics for Kids: Building Tomorrow Together, a program designed to teach you about the power of democracy, community, and responsible citizenship. Just as our nation’s Constitution was written “to ourselves and our posterity,” this project is designed to help you understand how the actions we take today help shape a better world for the generations that follow. In partnership with Christian Wrabley, WQED’s PBS Digital Innovator All-Star, here are 10 lessons that empower K-5 learners, elementary students, and educators to foster community connections and increase civic awareness and engagement.
Our Community Helpers (Lesson 1)
Our School Rules (Lesson 2)
Voting in the Classroom (Lesson 3)
Being a Good Neighbor (Lesson 4)
The Power of Sharing (Lesson 5)
Our Rights and Responsibilities (Lesson 6)
Making a Positive Change (Lesson 7)
Every Voice Matters (Lesson 8)
Learning About Local Government (Lesson 9)
Our Civic Heroes (Lesson 10)
Lesson plans can be taught sequentially or individually.

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Welcome to the Pine State Politics Podcast Guide!

This guide is designed to help you and your students explore the Federal and Maine political systems through the Pine State Politics Podcast Season One. Created by Bowdoin College students Natalie Emmerson and Larson Van Horn, this podcast makes complex political topics easy to digest. The episodes are very well done.

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Pine State Politics Podcast Teacher and Student Guide

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PDF version of lesson plans for Pine State Politics Podcast!

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Pine State Politics Podcast Teacher and Student Guide (1)