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This article is part of a series that spotlights learning apps available in 国产精品 Library, a place where teachers can discover and adopt great apps for their classrooms through the 国产精品 portal.

With the presidential election approaching, students will be eager to understand civic life and how to participate in conversations as informed individuals. So as an educator, you are likely planning lessons in the 2019-20 school year to help students understand governmental systems.

If you are not sure where to start, consider testing out the . This application offers over 20 online games and 200 resources (now available in the 国产精品 Library!) that teach students how America’s political systems work by allowing them to experience it first-hand and empowering them to address real-world issues.

Here are some lesson thought-starters using iCivic resources:

Make current connections

Making civic lessons relevant to students鈥� lives is essential for keeping them engaged and, more importantly, helping them to connect the dots beyond the classroom. Here are two national events that take place at the start of the school year that will provide educators with opportunities to teach core civic skills:

September 17 is Constitution Day 

• Using lesson plans from the unit, , help students learn about how the U.S. Constitution was created and what some of its key characteristics are.
• Help your students simulate the deliberation process of Supreme Court justices using the iCivics game .
• Task students with exploring key amendments and their application in protecting citizens’ rights with the game,

September 25 is National Voter Registration Day 

• In the game, , students can evaluate candidates for political office based on their positions on multiple issues.
• Have students explore the evolution of voting rights in the U.S. by highlighting landmark changes in the lesson plan. 
• Your students may be too young to register to vote, but it鈥檚 never too early to learn about what it takes to get to the ballot. Teach them about why .

Give students a bird鈥檚 eye view

Many students may only experience parts of the election process as they absorb it through social media, their peers, their families, and the news. Take a step back, and allow students to see and experience all that goes into running a presidential campaign with our game, .

In , students get to manage their very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. Having this view can help students understand the nuances, challenges, and hard work that it takes to get to our nation鈥檚 highest office.

Practice, practice, practice

As the founder of iCivics, Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor once said, 鈥淭he practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned anew by each generation.鈥� Students need to keep learning, questioning, and applying civics. So even if there isn鈥檛 a current event or specific date, make sure to include civic lessons throughout the year. (Tip: Many teachers plan iCivics game days on Fridays to keep students engaged through the end of the week!)

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