How Philly Works: A Guide to City Government

The Committee of Seventy, in partnership with PA Youth Vote, has adapted our popular How Philly Works guide into free classroom resources for Philadelphia teachers. The lessons break down complex systems of Philadelphia's civic structure into easy-to-understand activities that empower students to navigate the city’s systems to advocate for themselves and their communities effectively.

Teachers can access six out-of-the-box lessons for use in the classroom. They include:

• A brief history of the city
• The mayor's office and administration
• City Council
• City budget simulations
• Other elected offices
• The School District of Philadelphia

To access the How Philly Works lessons, email HPWlessons@seventy.org.

Behind the Bench with Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts

Do you have students how are interested in Law, Justice, or Public Service? Apply for Behind the Bench: Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts’ Summer Legal Program, running July 8–31, 2025, in Center City, Philadelphia! Open to rising high school juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors, this immersive 4-week program offers courtroom observations, legal reflections, and conversations with judges and attorneys. Participants attend real hearings, write weekly judicial journals, and explore legal careers firsthand. The program runs Tuesday–Thursday, 15 hours per week, and concludes with a Certificate of Completion.

To apply by May 31, submit a 500–1000-word personal statement and have a teacher nomination sent to amccloy@pmconline.org.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to go behind the bench! If you have any questions, please contact Amelia McCloy at amccloy@pmconline.org.

Teaching students about the "Perception Gap"

Looking to navigate the difficult political environment in your classroom? PA Civics member nonprofit More Like US seeks social studies teachers to be part of a pilot either this semester or in the fall of its lesson plan about the Perception Gap, the finding that Americans are more similar across the political spectrum than often believed. 

The Civic Education Research Lab at Georgetown University is leading pre- and post-surveys of effectiveness, after conducting an initial successful study. This lesson plan for 1-2 class periods achieves many goals: supporting classroom civil discourse and media literacy, increasing understanding of fellow Americans, boosting support for democracy, and inspiring action to reduce perceived political divides.

While most appropriate for high school social studies classrooms, any teacher can modify the lesson plan, so middle school teachers and those in other departments can also participate. This minute-long video covers some highlights of the lesson and rationale. The lesson plan and additional resources provide instructions, or teachers may contact More Like US Co-Founder and Executive Director James Coan (James@MoreLikesUS.org) to discuss next steps. James would be happy to meet you in person in Philadelphia at the National Liberty Museum Community Open House on May 17. 

Bring media literacy plans to your district

Would you like to develop and deliver news and media literacy education plans across your district in a way that’s sustainable, replicable, and has a lasting impact? Apply for News Literacy Project’s District Fellowship program!

• The fellowship requires a three-year commitment and NLP provides access to experts in the field, professional learning, implementation support and a stipend of $10,000 each year.
• Fellows work with the News Literacy Project to lay the foundation and develop an action plan executing news literacy instruction in their district. Then fellows pilot their implementation plan and continue this work to expand their impact.
• Participants will be part of a community of educators who share expertise and collaborate with NLP on news and media literacy education issues.

Applications are now being accepted! Deadline: May 16 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Learn more at newslit.org/district-fellowship.