Teaching Social Studies (K-12)

How can schools and the school curriculum contribute to building democratic citizens? This is a major question posed by governments, educational systems, schools, teachers and researchers around the world. One important way is to identify the competences needed for preparing democratic citizens and incorporate these within both the formal and informal school curriculum.

Research polls, media interviews, and everyday conversations reveal an unsettling truth: citizens, while well-meaning and even passionate about current affairs, appear to know very little about politics.

This study takes a look at what America's high school seniors know about government and politics and how they learn it.

Making Civics Relevant, Making Citizens Effective is designed to help secondary social studies and civics teachers bring an innovative, student-centered approach to the classroom that provides students with a framework for effective civic participation.