Illinois Civics Hub Newsletter | | A newsletter for Illinois teachers to support the implementation of the Illinois middle and high school civics course requirements and K–12 social science standards. | | ISBE Releases Culturally Responsive Instructional Resources for Illinois Mandates | |
ISBE's Standards and Instruction Department is pleased to announce the upcoming release of comprehensive, culturally responsive instructional resources designed to support the revised Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science.
This initiative represents a major step forward in ensuring every K-12 student in Illinois experiences a rich, inclusive education that authentically reflects the diverse histories and perspectives of all communities, including Indigenous/Native Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, Latin/o/x peoples, those with religious and spiritual affiliations, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with special needs/disabilities. The complex histories of Holocaust and genocide survivors also are examined.
| Teaching America's 250 Award from the Jack Miller Center | |
The Jack Miller Center is thrilled to announce the Teaching America250 Awards thanks to generous support from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Teaching America250 Awards will allow 50 teachers across the country to develop and implement engaging educational projects focused on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
JMC will award a $5,000 prize to one teacher in each state to carry out a project of their own design that teaches the Declaration of Independence and celebrates its 250th anniversary with their students, school, or broader community. Proposed projects could include a field trip to a historic or cultural landmark, inviting guest speakers for a school-wide panel, or hosting an educational Declaration contest. We encourage teachers to get creative with their proposals!
Select winners will be chosen to participate in the Civic Learning Week National Forum or JMC’s National Summit on Civic Education in the spring of 2026.
The application form is now open and will close on November 16, 2025. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact teaching250@gojmc.org.
*There will be an informational session on Thursday, October 30 at 5:30 pm ET. Click here to register!
APPLY NOW
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Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award
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Do you know an outstanding history or social studies teacher in Illinois?
The ISHS Educational Services committee and the Awards Committee seek nominations for the Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award. This award honors Olive Foster, former Illinois State Historian, Director of the School Services Program, and originator of the Illinois History Program for students. The annual award is designed to recognize and reward a full-time teacher for outstanding contributions to the study and teaching of state and local history. Recipients of this award actively promote Illinois history in schools as well as in their local communities, using the resources of one or more local historical societies, museums, the ISHS, and other Illinois-based historical organizations.
Documentation of the teacher’s work is required. A $1,000 award will be given in 2026 to an Illinois teacher from one of the following categories:
(1) Elementary school level
(2) Middle/junior high school level
(3) High school level
The award will be presented at the Illinois State Historical Society’s Annual “Best of Illinois History Awards luncheon in 2026. Nominations may be made by any group or person, including the nominee, and should also include letters of support or recommendation. You may return the application to:
Kimberly Jones at clerical@historyillinois.org.
| | Are you the next Street Law Classroom Champion? | |
Since 2005, Street Law has honored outstanding educators who bring law and civics to life in their classrooms through our annual Classroom Champion award.
This award celebrates teachers who ignite curiosity about law, civics, and justice, helping students find their voices and recognize their power to shape their communities.
We invite you to nominate yourself or a colleague who exemplifies these values and uses Street Law materials to inspire student learning and engagement.
The 2026 Classroom Champion will receive:
- National recognition as one of the country’s top civic educators
- A FREE trip for two to Washington, DC, to attend the Street Law Awards Gala on May 6, 2026
- A place among Street Law’s distinguished past honorees
Please consider nominating yourself (or a colleague). Sharing your work provides a powerful window into how Street Law programs and materials make a difference for teachers and students every day.
The application deadline is January 15, 2026.
NOMINATE YOURSELF OR A COLLEAGUE
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NEW Resource from Retro Report to Support Illinois Inclusive Curriculum Mandate
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A new interactive resource from Retro Report will help students explore pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history, from the Stonewall uprising in New York to Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision that guaranteed marriage equality to same-sex couples. Students can learn about activists and organizations committed to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as significant court cases, legislation and events through the decades. Three Retro Report short docs are linked on the map.
This map is great for U.S. History courses examining the broader movement for civil rights, and Civics/Government courses diving into how activism, legislation, and legal battles intersect.
Explore New Interactive
| | Teach Different Certificate Program Opportunity | |
Teach Different, in partnership with the Illinois Institute of Colleges and Universities, has secured funding through an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) grant to certify a select group of Illinois social studies teachers in the Teach Different Conversation Method.
Teach Different provides a research-based, structured conversation framework using essential questions, claims, and counterclaims to spark meaningful dialogue, promote critical thinking, and strengthen emotional resilience.
What’s Involved?
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Complete Teach Different’s 8-week remote certificate program. This training includes two Zoom sessions, with the remainder of the work focused on applying the method in your own classroom and receiving feedback through an online platform. Click here for more detailed information on the program.
Why Participate?
- Receive professional training on how to start and manage classroom conversations.
- Receive 15 CPDUs of recertification credit.
- Earn one graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. (Teacher covers $100 cost.)
- Gain membership to an online professional learning community of educators around the country who are using the Teach Different Method.
- Earn a $250 stipend payable upon completion of the program and no later than June 30, 2026.
Spots are limited, Sign Up HERE for either the Winter or Spring Cohort.
Questions? Email Frank Houston, Program Coordinator at frankhouston@illinoisinstitute.us.
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Brain Gains with News Literacy Project
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Content that students see online can have a real-life impact. Conflicting medical advice from powerful figures, unrealistic body image standards, and heated debates over the latest wellness trends can heighten anxiety and influence students’ personal beliefs and choices.
News literacy can help. This fall, the News Literacy Project is launching a free 5-week “Brain Gains” planner of classroom activities to help students resist health rumors and prioritize their mental wellness.
By learning to evaluate claims, understand data, spot bias and navigate algorithms, young people can minimize that overwhelming feeling and make confident decisions based on facts.
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GET THE PLANNER
| | You're Invited to a Special Virtual Conversation With the Filmmakers of The American Revolution | |
Join PBS LearningMedia on November 18, during the premiere week of The American Revolution on PBS, for a conversation with filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.
Through this discussion, moderated by “America’s Government Teacher,” Sharon McMahon, participants will learn about the process of creating The American Revolution, consider the power of visual storytelling to engage with the past, and discover opportunities to use this film in the classroom as a meaningful way to connect students to a wide variety of perspectives from the Revolutionary era and its legacies today.
Intended for social studies educators in grades 3-12, participants will also learn about the Ken Burns in the Classroom: The American Revolution Collection on PBS LearningMedia.
REGISTER NOW
| | Explore the Indigi-Genius Collection for Grades 3-8 | |
Kick off Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, beginning November 1, with this exciting collection that will help your students dive into the scientific and cultural impact of Indigenous creations on the past and present! From erecting water management systems to building sustainable communities using adobe brick, your students can analyze the “Indigi-Genius” solutions applied by Indigenous communities to architecture, food, farming, design, engineering, and so much more.
Explore Collection
| National Roundtable on Political Violence hosted by Newsweek and AllSides | |
Political violence is escalating across America. From the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman to attacks on elected officials, churches, and government facilities, violence is being normalized as a political tool.
When bullets replace words, democracy dies.
It’s time to take bold action. On Nov. 6, join the National Roundtable on Political Violence, co-hosted by Newsweek and AllSides. Thousands of Americans will engage in live video conversations with their political opposite and commit to positive action.
You’ll be placed in a small group of 4–6 people with politically diverse perspectives. Together, you’ll talk, listen, and share — using a guided conversation process designed by Living Room Conversations to help you model what our society looks like when we choose positive action over violence.
How it Works:
- Sign up today to reserve your spot.
- On Nov. 6, click the event link we’ll email to you.
- Join thousands nationwide as you’re placed into a small group of people with different perspectives.
- Follow the built-in conversation guide to practice real dialogue.
- Conclude with commitments to action, and model a new way forward.
This is your chance to choose courage over chaos!
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Young People's Continental Congress Program
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Are you interested in bringing a student to Philadelphia in July 2026 for a deep dive into the history and legacy of the American Revolution? Or do you know of a dynamic teacher who might relish the opportunity to learn with colleagues and students from across the country?
Applications are open for the Young People's Continental Congress program, a collaboration between Carpenters' Hall National History Day.
This incredible initiative brings teams of teachers and students together from across the United States for a series of five online modules and a week of programming together in Philadelphia. I've had the privilege to serve as lead historian for the first two iterations of YPCC, and it just keeps getting better and better.
- Students must be enrolled in 10th or 11th grade in the 2025/2026 academic year
- Teachers are eligible if they teach any subject area in grades 4-12
Check out the YPCC website for more information about how to apply.
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Verna Ross Orndorff Student Scholarship
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Is your student the next winner of the Illinois State HistoricalSociety’s Verna Ross Orndorff Scholarship? The ISHS is offering this prestigious award of $1,000 for the best 1,500-word essay written by an Illinois high school student on the subject of Abraham Lincoln or the Civil War
era in Illinois. Essays must be submitted by January 15, 2026, and meet the following criteria:
- The focus of the essay should be about Abraham Lincoln or a significant event in the Civil War period in Illinois.
- Essay should be 1,500 words with a title page, outline, annotated bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.
- The name of the student; address and e-mail; phone number; name of school; and name of student’s teacher, must be provided with submission of the application for the scholarship.
The student whose essay is chosen will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a
Certificate of Achievement. The award will be presented at the Illinois State Historical Society’s Annual “Best of Illinois History” Awards Banquet in April 2026. Additionally, the winner’s paper will be published in a forthcoming issue of Illinois Heritage magazine.
For more information, call (217) 525-2781. To apply online visit the ISHS website at www.historyillinois.org.
Entries should be mailed to the Society office at 5255 Shepherd Road, Springfield, IL 62703. This scholarship is named for a lifelong student of Illinois history, Vera Ross Orndorff, a native of River Forest, Illinois.
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Explore Local Elections with iCivics
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The best way to strengthen our democracy is to teach it.
By discussing the election, the processes surrounding it, and the role of the people, we have the opportunity to build young people’s confidence in our country.
With iCivics free election-focused games and nonpartisan teaching resources specific to high school, middle school, and elementary students, you can help young people understand the power of their voice and vote, learn about state, local, and federal election processes, and become informed and engaged participants.
| New Lessons Bring Previously Unheard Perspectives to Your Students | |
The Center for Civic Education recently released a powerful new resource for middle school classrooms: the Elevating Unheard Perspectives toolkit. This ready-to-use resource features three powerful modules—Inalienable Rights, Land and Water Rights, and Cultural Preservation.
These lessons were designed with and for rural and Indigenous communities, but can be adapted for any classroom. One teacher wrote, “I felt like this module really gave students two different perspectives to consider that they have never been presented with before.” Try them out and spark civil discourse in your classroom today!
Explore the Elevating Unheard Perspectives Toolkit
| Youth Are Taking Civic Action, But Need Opportunities and Support to Overcome Socioeconomic Barriers | |
In this new analysis, the Center for Information and Reserach for Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), examines whether young people have remained engaged in various forms of civic action, the issues that motivate their participation, and some of the barriers that may be standing in the way of increased engagement. Using data from CIRCLE’s Post-2024 Election Youth Poll, they identify key trends that can inform youth engagement strategies and institutional support for broader participation. CIRCLE finds:
- 1 in 5 Protest or Advocate: 20% of youth have engaged in issue advocacy and 18% have gone to demonstrations, marches, or protests.
- Social Issues Drive Participation: Youth say economic issues are most important to them, but Issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change are linked to higher rates of taking civic action.
- Financial Struggles Hinder Engagement: Youth are less likely to join groups or take civic action if they're finding it hard to meet their basic financial needs.
Read the Full Analysis of Youth Civic Action
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Echoes and Reflections November Webinars
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To honor the anniversary of the Kristallnacht Pogrom, students and their teachers are invited to join a special webinar exploring personal stories and artifacts from this pivotal event. In November, we also offer opportunities exclusively for educators on the Righteous Among the Nations, teaching the Holocaust with limited time, and the Holocaust in Lithuania.
Register for these one-hour opportunities below!
*STUDENT WEBINAR ON KRISTALLNACHT*
Exploring Artifacts & Personal Stories
Students are invited to join their teachers for this interactive exploration of Kristallnacht, the "Night of Broken Glass." Using personal artifacts and historical resources, Sheryl Ochayon, Project Director for Echoes & Reflections at Yad Vashem, will engage with students to highlight these stories and discuss their meaning today.
Nov. 6, 2025 at 12 PM CT
REGISTER HERE
Righteous Among the Nations: One Teacher's Personal Story
The stories of non-Jews who risked their lives to help Jews during the Holocaust are exceptional testaments to the human spirit. Sheryl Ochayon, Project Director for Echoes & Reflections at Yad Vashem, and Marc de Zwaan, high school history teacher at the International Academy - Okma Campus in Michigan, will explore the Righteous during the Holocaust, including Marc's own personal connection through the story of his grandfather who saved Jews in the Netherlands.
Nov. 11, 2025 at 3 PM CT
REGISTER HERE
Teaching the Holocaust When Time is Limited
A common challenge for educators is how to teach the Holocaust effectively and responsibly within strict time constraints. Led by Echoes & Reflections Project Director, Jennifer Goss, discover one and two-day lesson plans that utilize curated, classroom-ready resources and examine how they can be integrated into your curriculum within a limited timeframe to engage students and foster critical thinking and empathy.
Nov. 13, 2025 at 3 PM CT
REGISTER HERE
The Holocaust in Lithuania
One of the most devastating chapters of the Holocaust occurred in Lithuania, where 95% of the prewar Jewish population was murdered. Echoes & Reflections Director of Holocaust Content & Pedagogy, Jesse Tannetta, will explore photographs, visual history testimonies, and other primary sources to show how the Holocaust unfolded in this place and how to guide students in grappling with difficult questions about complicity, moral choice, and resistance.
Nov. 18, 2025 at 4 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
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Can Congress Better Represent Americans?
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Deep polarization. Partisan gridlock. Gerrymandering. Shutdowns. Record low levels of trust in political institutions. In this challenging landscape, solutions that could meaningfully improve our politics for the future are more important than ever.
Join the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for a discussion of Expanding Representation: Reinventing Congress in the 21st Century, the latest publication from the Our Common Purpose project. The result of deliberations from the Academy’s working group on electoral design, this report outlines how one change could improve representation, reduce partisan divides, and end gerrymandering. Join us to learn what proportional representation is, why it matters for our current moment, what it can and cannot fix, and how it can be designed and implemented for American institutions today.
November 5, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. EST
Registration
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Join the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Speaker Series
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Dr. Lucas Morel and Dr. Jonathan White
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
7 p.m. CT (Zoom webinar)
Join ALPLM Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. CT, for a great conversation with Dr. Jonathan White and Dr. Lucas Morel on their soon-to-be-released book Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln.
In Measuring the Man, acclaimed authors and scholars Lucas E. Morel and Jonathan W. White assemble Frederick Douglass’s most meaningful and poignant statements about Abraham Lincoln, including a dozen newly discovered documents that have not been seen for 160 years. Readers will encounter the distrust and vitriol Douglass directed at Lincoln throughout much of the Civil War, including his anger and frustration with the president as he moved slowly, but methodically, toward emancipation. Douglass’s writings also reveal how three personal interactions between these two great men led to powerful feelings of friendship and mutual admiration. There is no one better than Frederick Douglass to offer a critical assessment of the Great Emancipator and savior of the Union. His reflections not only convey Lincoln’s contributions to the nation but also teach today’s generation timely lessons on how to fulfill the promise of the American republic. Measuring the Man sheds new light on the most critical period of American history and will transform the way we think about these two extraordinary leaders.
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KQED Call for Change Commentary Project
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Civic (and civil) dialogue can be difficult, but it’s an important part of making our classrooms and communities function productively. The Call for Change commentary project puts civic media-making front and center to help students encounter multiple perspectives, strengthen civic discourse skills and express their views in a variety of media formats. KQED provides the materials you need to successfully implement civic media-making in your classroom–and it’s all modifiable. You do you!
- A teacher toolkit with student project checklists for each media type
- Rubrics and graphic organizers. (All student-facing material is available in English and Spanish)
- Letter to share with parents or school communities about the project
See how other teachers have implemented this project, from using our resources as-is in a classroom slide deck to integrating it into specific government and climate change curriculum.egister Here
| Meet the Illinois Mandate for Service Learning with the My Impact Challenge from BRI | |
Have you heard about MyImpact Challenge, but don't understand what it is? It is a civic engagement contest hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute. In simple terms, BRI highlights students actively engaged in service, volunteerism, or entrepreneurship in their communities.
MyImpact Challenge is open to U.S. citizens and U.S.-based young people between the ages of 13 and 19. Students are eligible if they are involved in an active project that was undertaken or completed between May 18, 2025, and May 3, 2026.
MyImpact Challenge honors student service and innovation with the opportunity to win up to $10,000 for their work and a total of $40,000 for combined student and teacher prizes!
Encourage your students to take initiative—have them create a login today and begin their journey toward making a real impact!
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Talk. Decide. Act.
Virtual Workshop Series from NIFI
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The National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) is pleased to announce a new workshop series for fall 2025. Each one-hour workshop will focus on one aspect of NIFI’s renewed commitment to help more Americans talk, decide, and act better together.
During the workshop series, NIFI staff, board members, and special guests will provide an introductory overview of moderating for deliberation, framing issues for deliberation, and using deliberation to help individuals move beyond “just talk” to decide and act together.
We hope you’ll make plans to join us for this workshop series and share it with those in your network!
DECIDE: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Virtual Workshop • 1 hour
REGISTER
LEARN MORE
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Invitation: 20–25 Minute Survey on School Climate Trends
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International School Climate Center invites educators, mental-health professionals, and school-climate leaders to share insights in a 20–25 minute online survey examining how research, policy, and practice are shaping school climate across the United States. Your experience in classrooms, schools, and districts is essential to building a clearer picture of what’s working and where support is needed.
This project is sponsored by the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. At the end of the survey, you’ll be able to opt in to receive a summary of findings and indicate whether you’re open to future contact for follow-up questions. If you prefer, you may also email Jonathan Cohen, Ph.D. at ISClimate@umsl.edu to express interest.
Thank you for considering this request and for the work you do every day to support students and school communities.
Start the survey.
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2025 Geography Education in the 21st Century
Virtual Conference
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The Illinois Geographic Alliance, LLC (IGA) and the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment at Illinois State University are excited to announce the 2025 Geography Education in the 21st Century virtual conference, a conference for geography educators that focuses on methods, lessons, and resources for teaching geography.
What: Virtual conference for geography educators that includes a keynote and breakout sessions*
When: Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT
Where: Zoom (Link will be emailed to you a day or two prior to the conference.)
Who: This virtual conference is applicable for a wide range of geography educators, including pre-service (i.e., college students) and in-service elementary school teachers, middle school/junior high teachers, high school teachers, and community college/university instructors and professors.
Why: This conference is a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with geography educators from around the state. The conference includes a keynote and a variety of breakout sessions* presented by experienced educators.
Cost: Registration is free! PD hours (CPDUs) are provided to in-service Illinois K-12 educators at no charge.
Registration: Please complete the online registration form to register for the conference.
Questions: Please contact the Illinois Geographic Alliance, LLC, at IGA@IllinoisState.edu
*Note: We are looking for presenters for the breakout sessions! If you or one of your colleagues is interested in sharing a lesson, activity, resource(s), or experience, please reach out to the Illinois Geographic Alliance, LLC, at IGA@IllinoisState.edu by October 15, 2025.
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The 2026 National Civics Bee® invites students in grades 6–8 to explore an issue in their community, propose a solution, and compete for recognition and prizes. The essay application portal is open now and closes on Feb. 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. HST.
LEARN MORE
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Illinois Inclusive History Calendar
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The Illinois State Board of Education has designated November as Native American History Month. Check out the Inclusive History calendar for resources to celebrate. The calendar also provides resources for Veteran's Day and other commemorative dates.
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Fall Guardians of Democracy Microcredential Courses
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