How to Use:
Build civic knowledge with ready-to-use lesson plans that consist of readings and activities. Each lesson plan offers a teacher’s guide that outlines the objectives, timing, resources, and steps needed to complete the lesson.
Key features
iCivics lesson plans include everything you need. You won’t have to search for supplementary readings or type up a last-minute worksheet. Just print the materials, follow the step-by-step instructions, and teach.
Standards-aligned
Reduce time searching for materials and make teaching civics easy and relevant with lesson plans that meet state standards.
Ready-to-use
Simplify planning with grab-and-go lessons that require minimal prep and include everything you need.
Engaging
Ignite student interest with a variety of scaffolded activities, including traditional student readings, primary sources, role-plays, and more.
Available in Spanish
Engage Spanish speakers and multilingual learners with a growing library of Spanish-language lesson plans available for middle school and high school levels.
Teaching Tips
Use the Teacher’s Guides
Teacher’s guides make lessons easy to facilitate and implement. Each guide includes step-by-step instructions, extra context and tips, and options for adapting the lesson based on students’ needs.
Engage digitally with Kami
Our free Kami integration boosts creativity by equipping students to highlight, annotate, and mark up readings and activities. Built into iCivics lessons, Kami is a dynamic PDF-reading and annotation tool. Students and teachers can also leave video, voice, or screen capture comments to explain or share feedback.
Adapt based on your access to technology
Lesson plans are built to be adapted to your classroom needs. The lessons and activities can be completed in a variety of settings and only use common classroom materials. Many lessons also include optional and customizable slide decks.
Lesson plans include:
Student readings
Create impactful learning experiences with visually engaging readings that are written in an approachable tone, chunked into digestible sections, and include contextualized vocabulary.
Starter and classroom activities
Encourage collaboration and instill a sense of agency with activities that invite students to wonder, predict, and consider.
Independent student assignments
Promote critical thinking and curiosity with independent assignments that create an opportunity to assess a student’s progress.
Discussion opportunities
Spark meaningful engagement with discussion opportunities that build a sense of scholarship and community among your students.
Most popular lesson plans
- Foundations of Government
Students learn about the different forms of government that exist, including democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, and others. They compare and contrast these types of government, and they look at real-life examples in the world today.
- One class period
- Foundations of Government
Great question! We ask Thomas Hobbes and John Locke to help us find an answer. The thing is, they don’t agree. Dig into the philosophers’ ideas and see how they’ve influenced those that have followed in their footsteps.
- One class period
- Foundations of Government
Students learn about the different forms of government that exist, including democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, and others. They compare and contrast these types of government, and they look at real-life examples in the world today.
- One class period
What makes our lesson plans unique?
iCivics lesson plans are a powerful way to introduce students to important topics. Lesson plans work well for students, as they:
Include readings and activities that are written directly to students in ways that are relatable and make the content understandable.
Feature visuals that make the information digestible and spark rich student discussions.
Deliver content in a way that is concise and engaging, with easy-to-navigate headings and contextualized vocabulary.
Why lesson plans work for educators
iCivics lessons are written, curated, and reviewed by educators for educators. They stand alone or can be paired with the teacher’s existing curriculum to fill gaps, go deeper, or reteach. By providing step-by-step guidance for new educators and innovative teaching activities for veteran teachers, lesson plans are a valuable resource for teachers of all levels and experiences.
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