iCivics Education

Dive into Primary Sources & Inquiry-based Learning with Three New DBQuests

Dive into Primary Sources & Inquiry-based Learning with Three New DBQuests

Are you looking for ways to incorporate primary source analysis into your lessons without spending hours preparing? 

Unlock the power of inquiry-based learning with our three new DBQuests! Each DBQuest asks students a big question which acts as a guiding light for in-depth analysis of three multimedia primary resources. With step-by-step guidance from a virtual writing assistant, students will gather evidence, check sources, analyze what they mean, and write responses to important questions.

Explore Our Three Newest DBQuests

Non-Voting Delegates in Congress

Today there are six non-voting members of Congress representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this DBQuest, students will explore the duties and limitations of non-voting members from the perspective of the members themselves.

Policy, Public Interest, and… Margarine?

This DBQuest invites students to take a closer look at how the public can inform and impact public policy over time. Students will review and analyze primary sources from 1900–1949 to discover how legislation can change and the role of public opinion in these changes. It’s a DBQuest with extra butter (or margarine) on top! 

Kids Making a Difference

Hear as kids from three different times in history share, in their own words, how they helped their communities and country tackle the issue of food insecurity in times of war and peace. In this DBQuest, students will use evidence from primary sources to support analysis, answer questions, and describe how young people have made a difference in their communities throughout U.S. history. 

Explore more from the educator blog

What is Constitution Day, and how to teach it?

Every September 17th, the nation commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution. What is Constitution Day? Constitution Day is a historical commemoration marking the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. Constitution Day is an opportunity to reflect on the monumental, difficult compromises that united a diverse

ASK iCivics: Your AI-Powered Co-Planner
A Tale of Modern Prep: Meet Your Secure, AI-Powered Co-Planner

It was the most organized of times, and still the most chaotic of times. The age of shiny new platforms and user IDs, and also the age of forgotten passwords. A season of high expectations, cold coffees, and way too many free trial emails. Every standard is mapped out, and

Educator Shari Conditt with quote, "Students can watch the law develop in real time."
Shari uses Supreme Court cases to help students understand the interpretation of laws

As an English teacher, I approach civics through the lens of language. One of the most memorable moments I’ve experienced teaching rhetoric happened during a lesson on the Declaration of Independence. I’d taught the document before, but as part of the Civic Star Challenge, I decided to shift my approach.