iCivics is a great site for both language arts and social studies classes. It provides a wealth of resources for both students and teachers. This site was created as the vision of former United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She felt that there needed to be more available for helping students understand civics. The site is geared for middle school and high school students. It may be possible to use some aspects of the site with students as young as 5th grade.
“Wait,” you ask. “I’m a reading teacher. Why do I need a civics site?” Well, as a history teacher may tell you, one of the characteristics of the colonists at the time of the American Revolution was that they were among the most literate in the world. It was the reading that they did that spread ideas that encouraged the Revolution. The newspapers and pamphlets of the day were that generation’s social media that sparked the colonists to action. Today, we all have an interest in a literate citizenry. It is both an economic and political necessity.
But there are more practical and instructional reasons for recommending this site. First, one of the aspects of the site that will appeal to students is that there are fourteen (and growing) games that are both engaging and instructive. Students get hooked on the games and do not realize that they are learning at the same time. Imagine class coming to an end and students wishing they could keep playing. I have had students who have played well beyond the time I require them to play outside of class. Many of these games require critical reading and thinking. One such game is A similar game that involves critical reading and thinking is Do I Have a Right in which students play a lawyer in a law firm who has to decide if clients have a right in the cases they bring and then match that client with the proper lawyer to help win the case. This is just one of the many well-designed lessons found on this website. Teachers can work with students playing the game to enhance their strategic approach to reading.
Second, there is a great unit on the site for teaching persuasive writing. The unit uses a fictitious case about a school dress code that forbids the wearing of band t-shirts. The seven lessons lead students through writing two persuasive essays, one supporting the dress code and one arguing against it. After working through the process of “arguing on paper,” as the site describes it, it is suggested students play the game Supreme Decision. In this excellent game about how the Supreme Court works, students must engage in critical reading and thinking to be successful in the game. The game puts students in the position of a law clerk to one of the justices who must listen in on oral arguments, understand the issues, and figure out which side the student agrees with. It might also be combined with the lesson “Up for Debate” that teaches students a traditional model for debate.
Reading specialists should share this site with their social studies colleagues. As someone who rarely uses lesson plans found online or developed by others, I have used almost all of these excellently constructed lessons in my social studies classes this year. The lessons and games are both quite engaging for students and help them develop a solid understanding of civics concepts. There are many opportunities for integrating reading and writing strategies as well. It could lead to more opportunities for reading specialists to collaborate with social studies teachers to enhance student learning and thinking.
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