Events of the past year have made clear that the work of civic educators—to empower youth with the ability to make positive change—is now more urgent than ever. Oftentimes, we see something that’s unjust and wonder, Where do I go? What do I do? The professional development series “Democracy in Action: Teaching for Civic Agency,” sponsored by Facing History and Ourselves, consists of three interactive online workshops exploring a unit of activities and lessons to inspire, empower, and prepare students to take ownership of their own civic agency in confronting societal injustices and inequities. Participants in the workshop will receive resources and teaching strategies to support student-led civic action projects that inspire students to use their voices, strengthen their civic agency, and choose to participate in democracy today. The live online sessions, 90 minutes each, will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET) on January 21, January 28, and February 4, 2021. Registration fee is $30.00.
TheWhite House Historical Association is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a student art competition on the theme The White House: An American Story. The association is seeking submissions from students across the nation that depict and reflect the White House, its collection, and its diverse history.
KidCitizen introduces a new way for K–5 students to engage with US history. In KidCitizen’s interactive episodes, children explore civics and government concepts by investigating primary source photographs from the Library of Congress and connect what they find with their daily lives.
Teachers nationwide are considering how to support students who may be traumatized by images of violence at the United States Capitol on January 6. Some school districts are offering counseling services for students, giving them opportunities to share.