250 to 250: 26. New Madrid Earthquakes, Narrated by Conevery Bolton Valencius

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: New Madrid Earthquakes, Narrated by Conevery Bolton Valencius

Dr. Conevery Bolton Valencius is a Professor of History at Boston College, and author of “The Lost History of the New Madrid Earthquakes” and “The Health of the Country: How American Settlers Understood Themselves and Their Land.” Dr. Valencius recounts the New Madrid earthquakes which reshaped the landscape, displaced Indigenous Americans, and prompted America's first disaster relief legislation.

Between 1811 and 1812, several strong earthquakes struck near New Madrid.

• The earthquakes happened near the Mississippi River.
• The shaking was felt in many parts of the United States.
• People felt the earthquakes as far away as New Haven and Washington, D.C.
• At that time, few people lived near New Madrid.
• The earthquakes changed rivers, swamps, and the landscape.
• Travel routes in the region were affected.
• Some Native American communities were forced to move farther west.
• The earthquakes caused serious damage.
• The U.S. government passed its first national disaster relief law after the earthquakes.

Over time, many people forgot about the New Madrid earthquakes.

• Scientists believe strong earthquakes could happen there again.
• The earthquakes remind us that natural disasters can change people's lives.
• Americans continue to recover and rebuild after disasters.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:37.  If the law requires it, are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction (do non-military work that the U.S. Government says is important to the country)?
• USCIS 100:88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
• USCIS 128:18. What part of the federal government writes laws?

Family Fun

• Arkansas Dept of Safety: 20 Interesting Facts: About Earthquakes on the New Madrid Seismic Zone 
• Earthquake Country Alliance: Resources in Multiple Languages
• EPA: Earthquakes
• History: How a Trio of Hellish Earthquakes Prompted America’s First Disaster Relief Act
• KET: The Great New Madrid Earthquakes | short lessons
• Kids Activity Blog: Earthquakes
• New Madris Historical Museum: The Great Quakes
• NPS: Lower Mississippi Delta Region: Concept III:New Madrid Earthquakes-Seismic Zone Tour Route
• USGS Earthquake Learning Links & Activities | New Madrid Seismic Zone

250 to 250: 25. Samuel Adams, Narrated by Stacy Schiff

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Samuel Adams, Narrated by Stacy Schiff

Stacy Schiff is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer whose works include the New York Times bestsellers “Cleopatra,” “The Witches: Salem, 1692,” and “The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams.” Schiff chronicles the life of Samuel Adams, the relentless agitator who shaped public opinion and pushed the colonies toward independence.

Samuel Adams was an important leader before the American Revolution.

• He believed the British government had too much power over the colonies.
• He encouraged colonists to support freedom and self-government.
• Adams helped shape public opinion in New England.
• He communicated with leaders in other colonies.
• When British soldiers came to Boston, Adams led protests against British rule.
• He used the Boston Massacre to gain support for the colonial cause.
• He helped organize the Boston Tea Party.

Samuel Adams worked in the Continental Congress.

• He encouraged people who were unsure about independence.
• He wanted the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain.
• In 1776, he signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
• Adams believed Americans were fighting for liberty and freedom.
• He is remembered as one of the leaders of the American Revolution.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• USCIS N-400 Part 9:05b. Have you ever supported, been a member of, involved in, or in any way associated with any group that advocated the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property?
• USCIS 100:08.  What did the Declaration of Independence do?
• USCIS 128:77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

Family Fun

• Freedom Trail: Boston Freedom Trail Sites
• MHS: The Formation of the Committees of Correspondence
• Museum of the American Revolution: Season of Independence interactive map
• NPS: Boston National Historical Park | Boston Freedom Train Audio Tour | coloring pages

250 to 250: 24. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Narrated by Roxana Robinson

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Narrated by Roxana Robinson

Roxana Robinson is an award-winning novelist, biographer, scholar, and the great-great-great niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Robinson recounts how Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” changed how millions of Americans thought about human enslavement.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a writer who opposed slavery.

• She grew up in an abolitionist family.
• Abolitionists believed slavery was wrong.
• She saw the effects of slavery for herself.
• Stowe wrote more than 30 books.

Her most famous book was Uncle Tom's Cabin.

• The book was published in 1852.
• It told the stories of enslaved African Americans.
• The stories showed the cruelty and sadness of slavery.
• Many readers felt sympathy for enslaved people.
• The book helped more Americans oppose slavery.
• Uncle Tom's Cabin became very popular.
• It sold more copies than almost any other book in the 1800s.
• Some people in the South strongly disagreed with the book.
• The novel helped change public opinion about slavery.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe's writing influenced American history.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:07d. Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in intentionally and severely injuring or trying to injure any person?
• USCIS 100:06 What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
• USCIS 100:60 / 128:75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
• USCIS 128:96. What U.S. war ended slavery?

Family Fun:

• The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum: Anti-Racism Resources
• Harriet Beecher Stowe House: Cincinnati Abolition: Places and People Integral to Abolition and the Underground Railroad
• NPS: Uncle Tom's Cabin lesson plan
• PBS: American Experience: The Abolitionists (stream online or borrow the DVD from your library)
• Smithsonian Learning Lab: Harriet Beecher Stowe coloring page

250 to 250: 23. Rat Pack, Narrated by Michael Green

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Rat Pack, Narrated by Michael Green

Michael Green is a Professor of History in UNLV's Department of History and teaches courses on nineteenth-century America and on Nevada and Las Vegas. Green details how the Rat Pack encouraged racial integration and reflected the melting pot of American culture. 

In 1960, a famous group of entertainers, the Rat Pack performed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• The Rat Pack included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.
• They sang, danced, acted, and told jokes.
• Their shows were very popular.
• They performed at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.
• Many famous people came to see their performances.
• One visitor was John F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign.
• The Rat Pack helped make Las Vegas a famous entertainment city.
• The group included people from different backgrounds.
• They worked together and entertained audiences.
• Many Americans saw the Rat Pack as an example of people from different cultures getting along.
• Their success showed how diversity can strengthen American culture.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Par 9:07g. Have you ever harmed someone because of their race, religion, national origin, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion?
• USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?
• USCIS 128:124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?

Family Fun:

• City of Las Vegas: Throwback Coloring Book
• LOC: The House I Live In: Frank Sinatra performs an iconic song and speaks to a group of neighborhood children about the importance of tolerance and unity. This short film promotes the ideals of American democracy, emphasizing that diversity in background and belief strengthens the nation against prejudice.
• NPS: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Sammy Davis Jr.

250 to 250: 22. An Wang, Narrated by Representative Lori Trahan

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: An Wang, Narrated by Representative Lori Trahan

United States Representative Lori Trahan of Massachusetts is the granddaughter of immigrants who became the first in her family to graduate from college before embarking on a distinguished career that culminated in her election to Congress in 2018. Representative Trahan recounts the life of An Wang 王安, the Chinese American computer engineer who invented magnetic core memory and embraced an ethic of philanthropy.

An Wang was an engineer, inventor, and business leader.

• He was born in China.
• He studied electrical engineering and later earned a doctorate from Harvard University.
• Wang invented magnetic core memory for computers.
• His invention helped make modern computers possible.
• In 1955, he sold his invention to IBM.

He started his own computer company, Wang Laboratories.

• His company made calculators, word processors, and early computers.
• Wang's business created many jobs in Massachusetts.
• He gave money to schools, cultural programs, and community projects.
• Michael Dukakis praised Wang's achievements.
• Many people saw An Wang as an example of the American Dream.
• His inventions and generosity helped improve the lives of many people.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 7:01 Where have you worked and/or attended school (full-time or part-time) during the last 5 years?
• USCIS 100:11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
• USCIS 128:118. Name one example of an American innovation.

Family Fun:

• Computer History Museum: Activities and Resources
• The Tech: Lessons and Activities
• usedandelion: Historical Record of Chinese Americans: Chinese American Figure: Computer Industry Magnate, Inventor, and philanthropist Dr. An Wang
• uscitizenpod: An Wang coloring page
• Wang Museum: unoffical online museum curated by Jan van de Veen

Incorporating Digital Literacy in an Adult Citizenship Curriculum

Incorporating Digital Literacy in an Adult Citizenship Curriculum google slides | pdf

CASAS Summer Institute 2026

Jennifer Gagliardi JGagliardi@scoe.net

This presentation from the 2026 CASAS National Summer Institute addresses the critical need for digital literacy in adult citizenship curricula. Key highlights include:

• Objectives: Encouraging providers to set three digital literacy goals, such as navigating USCIS websites and managing secure email with two-factor authentication.
• Instructional Strategies: Leveraging communication platforms like WhatsApp for oral practice and utilizing AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to simulate citizenship interviews or create study aids.
• Data Resources: Using regional data from the California Immigrant Data Portal and USC Dornsife to understand learner demographics and literacy levels.

250 to 250: 21. Everglades, Narrated by Jack E. Davis

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Everglades, Narrated by Jack E. Davis

Pulitzer Prize-winner Jack E. Davis is a historian, author, longtime Florida resident, and Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Florida. Davis honors the Everglades, the Florida wetland known for its astounding beauty, and highlights the conservationism that ensured its protection

The Everglades is a large wetland in Florida.

• The Everglades helps protect people from hurricanes.
• It cleans water and supports many plants and animals.
• Native Americans lived, hunted, and traveled in the Everglades for many years.

In the 1880s, developers dug canals to drain the wetlands.

• They wanted to turn the land into farms.
• Draining the wetlands harmed the natural environment.
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas worked to protect the Everglades.
• She taught people about its beauty and importance.

In 1947, Harry S. Truman created Everglades National Park.

• The national park protects more than 1.5 million acres of land.
• Douglas called the Everglades a unique and special place.
• Today, the Everglades remains an important natural treasure of the United States.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:05b. Have you ever supported or been part of any group anywhere in the world that supports the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property?
• USCIS 100:90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
• USCIS 128:117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

Family Fun:

• Captains for Clean Water: The Everglades Explained: What’s Really Happening to Florida’s Water
• Everglades: Voices of the Earth
• Everglades Literacy: Media
• NPS: Everglades Junior Ranger  bingo

Topics in Citizenship Preparation

 

Topics in Citizenship Preparation google slides | pdf

CASAS Summer Institute

jgagliardi@scoe.net

This presentation outlines current citizenship preparation resources and policy changes for 2025-2026.

Developing Civics and Citizenship Prep Materials

 

 

Developing Civics and Citizenship Prep Materials google slides | pdf

CASAS Summer Institute 2026

Jennifer Gagliardi JGagliardi@scoe.net

Nitya Ramanan nramanan@musd.org

This workshop, presented by Jennifer Gagliardi and Nitya Ramanan at the 2026 CASAS National Summer Institute, focuses on using technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to create customized, high-quality civics and citizenship preparation materials.

250 to 250: 20. D-Day: In Case of Failure, Narrated by Todd Arrington

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: D-Day: In Case of Failure, Narrated by Todd Arrington 

 

Dr. Todd Arrington is a historian, writer, and veteran. He serves as Executive Director of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation and is the former Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library. Arrington tells the story of the message Dwight D. Eisenhower drafted before D-Day, accepting sole blame should the invasion fail.

During World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower planned the D-Day invasion.

• D-Day took place on June 6, 1944.
• It was the largest amphibious invasion in history.
• Allied soldiers landed in Normandy, France.
• Eisenhower hoped the mission would succeed.

Before the invasion, he wrote a message in case the mission failed.

• In the message, he accepted full responsibility for the decision.
• He praised the courage of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen.
• The invasion was successful, so the message was never used.

D-Day helped the Allies defeat Nazi Germany.

• Eisenhower showed strong leadership during the operation.
• He was willing to take risks and accept responsibility for his decisions.
• Today, D-Day is remembered as an important event in World War II history.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:35. If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms (carry weapons) on behalf of the United States?
• USCIS 100:53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
• USCIS 128:70. What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Family Fun:

• National D-Day Memorial: Education
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to the WWI Memorial
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

CASAS Assessments for Citizenship Preparation

CASAS Assessments for Citizenship Preparation google slides | pdf

CASAS Summer Institute 2026

Jennifer Gagliardi JGagliardi@scoe.net

CASAS provides comprehensive assessments and resources to help adult learners succeed in the USCIS naturalization process. Key evaluations include the Citizenship Interview Test (CIT), Government/History Listening Test, and Reading for Citizenship. These assessments align with WIOA funding requirements and the N-400 application.

Instructional support includes EL Civics Objectives (COAAPS) like Objective 40, which focuses on mock interviews and U.S. history. Educators can access various digital resources, including YouTube support channels, USA Learns, and practice materials from ProLiteracy.

Special Resources:

• FTC: Fotonevelas
• We Speak NYC: Watch, Learn & Practice
• USCIS: One Nation, One People (2025 Version)
• USCIS: One Nation, One People (2024) original format | single page reformat

250 to 250: 19. Hubble Space Telescope, Narrated by Mike Massimino

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Hubble Space Telescope, Narrated by Mike Massimino

Mike Massimino is a former NASA astronaut, Columbia University Engineering Professor, New York Times Bestselling Author, and the first person to Tweet from space during the Hubble Space Telescope missions. Massimino explains how the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of outer space and serves as a testament to American ingenuity.

In 1990, Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space.

• The telescope was placed in orbit around Earth.
• It was named after Edwin Hubble.
• Edwin Hubble helped scientists learn more about galaxies.

The Hubble Space Telescope takes pictures of objects far away in space.

• It helped scientists learn more about planets, stars, black holes, and galaxies.
• Hubble changed our understanding of the universe.

Between 1993 and 2009, NASA astronauts repaired and upgraded the telescope.

• Astronauts traveled to Hubble on several space shuttle missions.
• These missions were difficult and dangerous.
• John Grunsfeld worked on three Hubble repair missions.
• He said that Hubble helps people learn more about the universe.
• The Hubble Space Telescope is one of NASA’s greatest scientific achievements.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:37.  If the law requires it, are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction (do non-military work that the U.S. Government says is important to the country)?
• USCIS 100:53.  What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
• USCIS 128:118. Name one example of an American innovation.

Family Fun:

• NASA: Coloring pages and activity books (free pdfs)
• NASA: ‘Hubble Inspires’ Online Resources and Activities
• NASA: Hubble Space Telescope Activity Book 
• NASA Goddard: Hubble (many online activities)
• NASA and NPS: Junior Ranger Spaceflight Explorer
• Start with a Book: Star Rangers
• Telescope Guide: Astronomy For Kids: The Journey Begins