Kentucky Council for the Social Studies
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The Kentucky standards call for students to learn about the historical foundations and principles of American government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. As part of these topics, students are tasked with understanding the unique roles of local, state and national institutions. For the Civic Content, we organized the resources around: civic and political institutions; the roles and responsibilities of a citizen; civic virtues and democratic principles; processes, rules, and laws; Kentucky government; and current events. ​

Civic and Political Institutions

Constitutional principles, branches of government, and forms of government
ELEMENTARY
​

C3Teachers
  • Do I have to like everyone? (Inquiry)
  • Was Greek democracy a success? (Inquiry)
  • ​Is the president the most important person in government? (Inquiry)
Discovering Justice
  • Virtual Mock Trial Units 
Kid Citizen
  • Primary Source-based interactives
MIDDLE

C3Teachers 
  • Is compromise always fair? (Inquiry)
Discovering Justice
  • Pilot Topics Program (Project-based Classroom Resources)
iCivics
  • Race to Ratify (Interactive Game)
  • Branches of Power (Interactive Game) 
  • Executive Command (Interactive Game)
  • Three Branches: Laws in Action (Webquest)
  • Three Branches: Checks and Balances (Webquest)
  • Being President (Webquest)
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • Who has the power? (Inquiry)
  • Are students protected by the First Amendment? (Inquiry)
Discovering Justice
  • Pilot Topics Program (Project-based Classroom Resources)

Roles and Responsibilities of a Citizen

Citizens' ability to impact law-making.
ELEMENTARY

C3Teachers
  • What did it take for women to be considered “Equal” to men in New York? (Inquiry)
  • Why do I have to be responsible? (Inquiry)
  • How can I make a change in my community? (Inquiry)
  • Why should I be a global citizen? (Inquiry)
  • Why did Ruby Bridges stand up? (Inquiry)
MIDDLE

C3Teachers
  • Does celebrity require social responsibility? (Inquiry)
  • How will I make a change? (Inquiry)
iCivics
  • Civic Heroism (Webquest)
  • Responsibility Launcher (Interactive Game)
  • Activate (Interactive Game)
  • Who Represents Me? (Webquest)
  • Voting: Will you do it? (Lesson Plan)​
PBS LearningMedia
  • We the Voters Film Collection (Lesson Plan/Video Resources)
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • Is there anything new about the 2020 protests? (Inquiry)
  • How will I make a change?
  • Can the civics test make you a good citizen? (Inquiry)
  • What made nonviolent protest effective during the Civil Rights Movement? (Inquiry)
  • Do community helpers ever need our help? (Inquiry)
  • Am I going to vote? (Inquiry)
  • What drives you to the polls? (Inquiry)
  • What made nonviolent protest effective during the Civil Rights Movement? (Inquiry)​
Facing History and Ourselves
  • The Audacity of a Vote (Lesson Plan)
  • Citizen’s power makes democracy work (Lesson Plan)
Generation Citizen
  • Lobby a legislator (Lesson Plan)
Town Hall Project
  • (Civic Engagement Resource)
PBS LearningMedia
  • We the Voters Film Collection (Lesson Plan/Video Resources)
  • Will young voters turn out to vote this year? (Instructional Video/Questions)

Civic Virtues and Democratic Principles

The impact of Enlightenment ideals and English law on the United States government and the philosophies behind civil liberties.
ELEMENTARY
​

C3Teachers 
  • Do people around the world care about children’s rights? (Inquiry)
  • Why do countries declare independence? (Inquiry)
  • Do we have to have rules? (Inquiry)
  • Are all rules good rules? (Inquiry)
MIDDLE

C3Teachers
  • What does it mean to be powerful? (Inquiry)
  • Does religious freedom exist? (Inquiry)
  • Is protest patriotic? (Inquiry)​
iCivics
  • Do I Have a Right? (Interactive Game)
  • History of Voting Rights (Lesson Plan)
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • Did the Constitution establish a just government? (Inquiry)
  • How did reason lead to revolution? (Inquiry)
  • What makes “equality” equal? (Inquiry)
  • Is it ever too late for justice? (Inquiry)
Constitutional Rights Foundation
  • Bill of Rights in Action Newsletter (Seasonal Newsletter)
  • Journalism under Siege (Student-Friendly Article)
Facing History and Ourselves
  • Civil Rights Curriculum (Multiple Instructional Units)​
Generation Citizen
  • Voting Rights (Lesson Plan)

Processes, Rules, and Laws

The legislative process, elections, political parties, and foreign/domestic policy.
ELEMENTARY
​

C3Teachers
  • Does it matter how leaders are chosen? (Inquiry)
Kids Voting
  • Election Bulletin Board (Warm-up Activities)
  • Our homes, our town, our country (Learning Activity)
MIDDLE 

Close Up
  • Public Policy In-Depth - Elections (Student-friendly Article/Webquest)​
iCivics
  • Win the White House (Interactive Game)
  • Cast Your Vote (Interactive Game)
  • The Electoral Process (Lesson Plan)
  • Primaries, Parties, Caucuses, & Conventions (Lesson Plan)
Kids Voting
  • Voting Barriers (Lesson Plan)
PBS LearningMedia
  • Electoral Decoder (Interactive Resource)
  • What are the primaries and caucuses? (Lesson Plan)
  • Do midterm elections matter? (Lesson Plan)
  • How important are local elections and ballot measures? (Lesson Plan)​
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • Why is the Affordable Care Act so controversial? (Inquiry)
  • Does money really matter in political campaigns? (Inquiry)
  • Do we need the electoral college? (Inquiry)
  • Can polls be trusted? (Inquiry)
  • Do political parties represent me? (Inquiry)
Democratic Knowledge Project
  • Election Process (Multi-topic Instructional Unit)
Generation Citizen
  • What is an ordinance? (Lesson Plan)
New American History
  • Historians' Guide to the 2020 Election (Lesson Plan)
PBS LearningMedia
  • Electoral Decoder (Interactive Resource)
  • How important are political endorsements? (Instructional Activity)
  • What are the primaries and caucuses? (Lesson Plan)
  • Do midterm elections matter? (Lesson Plan)
  • How important are local elections and ballot measures? (Lesson Plan)

Kentucky Government

​Principles of government in the Kentucky Constitution and comparing Kentucky's government to other states.
ELEMENTARY

C3Teachers
  • What’s so special about Appalachia? (Inquiry)
MIDDLE

C3Teachers 
  • Is Kentucky a southern state? (Inquiry)
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • Is Kentucky a southern state? (Inquiry)
Kentucky Humanities 
  • Think History (Classroom Video Series)
Kentucky Humanities - Vote Worthy 
  • Role-play the vote (Instructional Activities)
  • Women’s Suffrage: Idealism and Reality (Instructional Activities)
  • Salamanders and Politics (Instructional Activities)
  • Voting Rights: Access and Security (Instructional Activities)
  • What does it mean to be American? (Instructional Activities)
  • Are states still relevant? (Instructional Activities)
  • How do we make sure voting is representative? (Instructional Activities)
  • Is voter fraud a big deal? (Instructional Activities)
  • Election laws in Kentucky (Instructional Activities)
  • Local Government (Instructional Activities)

Current Events

Present day news about elections, civic action, and government.
ELEMENTARY
​

C3Teachers 
  • Should Puerto Rico be a state? (Inquiry)
MIDDLE

CNN 10
  • Daily news
Facing History and Ourselves
  • Current Events Collection (Instructional Topics/Activities)
iCivics
  • Candidate Report Card (Lesson Plan)
SECONDARY

C3Teachers
  • How should we define courage? (Inquiry)
  • Is it possible to create humane and restrictive immigration policies? (Inquiry)
  • What should we do about mass incarceration? (Inquiry)
  • What should we do about hate groups recruiting young people? (Inquiry)
  • What should we do about our polluted media environment? (Inquiry)
  • Who do gun laws protect? (Inquiry)
  • Is there anything new about today’s immigration debate? (Inquiry)
Constitutional Rights Foundation
  • Newspaper front pages Jan. 7, 2021 (Instructional Activity)
  • Police Reform after the death of George Floyd (Student-friendly Article)
Facing History and Ourselves
  • Current Events Collection (Instructional Topics/Activities)
Generation Citizen
  • How are cities responding to Covid-19? (Lesson Plan)
Teaching for Democracy Alliance
  • Model Pop-up Diplomacy - Coronavirus Response (Instructional Activity)​
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Educate
    • Professional Developments
    • Instructional Resources
    • Subject Resources
    • Special Topics
    • Kentucky Resources
    • Contemporary Perspectives
    • General Resources
  • Conference
  • Inform
    • Social Studies Teaching and Learning
    • SSTL Submissions
  • Advocate
    • KCEC
    • KCEC Resource Page
    • KCSS Position Statements
  • Contact