Saturday, October 31, 2026

Adult Education & English Language Learner Resources

250 for 250 is on a short break because I am working at our local voting center.

Created with MD Designer by Jennifer Gagliardi 2026-10-30 22:36:00

Here is a list of adult ELL lessons, videos, classroom activities, and voter information to support adult education and English language instruction. Tomorrow, I will post free resources on voter registration, voting rights, elections, and media literacy.  You can find the full list on COABE’s Voter Resources page. 

American English at State

A Starting Point (ASP)

ActiVote

ATLAS ABE

Annaberg Classroom (K12—adapt for AE)

·       Teaching the Constitution

Bill of Rights Institute (K12—adapt for AE)

Bow Valley College Literacy Readers (Canada—adapt for the U.S.)

Center for Civic Education (K12—adapt for AE)

CISA.gov

Civics Renewal Network (K12—adapt for AE)

·       Resources for Teaching About Voting and Elections (featured) | search results

Common Sense Education

EL Civics

ESL Discussions

  • Voting (20 discussion questions)

ESL Fast

elli (formerly ESL Library) (Requires subscription).

ESL Podcast: (Excellent resource for Advanced students. Requires subscription.)

  • Government + Law
    • Daily English 689 – Listening to a Political Speech
    • Daily English 733–Voting in an Election
    • Daily English 757–Getting Political Support
    • Daily English 825–Political Advertising
    • Daily English 1230–Expressing Disapproval of Elected Officials

ESOL Courses

Facing History (K12—adapt for AE)

 First Literacy

Google Arts and Culture

How to Vote in Every State

iCivics (K12—adapt for AE)

I Side With

Jennifer ESL

Learn English Feel Good

Learning Chocolate

Learning for Justice (K12—adapt for AE)

Library of Congress

Linguahouse

Listen A Minute

MN Literacy

National Archives Foundation: Docs Teach

·       Elections and Voting

National Constitution Center

Nearpod

NELRC: Change Agent Magazine (Subscription required)

  • Issue 62 of Change Agent: Advocate, Organize, Vote (Aug 2024) is available via subscription. Packet 30 features Voting Rights. Packet 33 includes activities for the Media Literacy, Voting, and Advocacy. Free lesson packets available at nelrc.org

Newsela (K12—adapt for AE! Subscription Required)

News Literacy Project

PBS

PBS Frontline

·       U.S. Voters Share Their Views & Lives | American Voices 2026 (full documentary)

·       Elections playlist

PBS Learning Media

·       Election Center

ProLiteracy

Share America

si.edu

 StoryCorps

 Study

Teachers Pay Teachers

TED-ED (K12—adapt for AE. Check video description for links to the lesson plans)

this i believe

USA.gov

US Citizenship Podcast

  • Election ABCs google slides/ video
  • Electoral College Citizenship Quizzes: Part 1: U.S. Civics mp3/ pdf |  Part 2: U.S. History mp3 / pdf
  • A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about Voting and Elections pdf and mp3
  • American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote  pdf
  • Interview E-1 (N-400 focus on voting and residence)

USCIS

Voice of America

Vox 

 Five things you need to know for the 2026 midterms | America, Actually

·       The AI election | America, Actually

We Speak NYC

Your Election Pal


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Friday, October 30, 2026

250 to 250:153. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Narrated by Charlotte Clymer


Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Narrated by Charlotte Clymer

Charlotte Clymer is a writer, activist, and military veteran. She writes “Charlotte’s Web Thoughts,” a popular, award-winning Substack newsletter about politics, religion, foreign policy, and culture. Here, Clymer honors the unbroken 89-year vigil at Arlington's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a solemn promise never to forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
  • The tomb honors American soldiers who died in wars.
  • Three unknown soldiers died in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
  • Their names are not known.
  • Since July 2, 1937, soldiers have guarded the tomb 24 hours a day.
  • The guards protect the tomb in rain, snow, heat, and cold.
  • The guards show respect for soldiers who died serving our country.
  • The tomb reminds Americans to never forget their sacrifice.
  • The words on the tomb say: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”


POP Interview and Civics Quiz:


Family Fun:
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Thursday, October 29, 2026

Rest in Power, Dolores Huerta!


(April 10, 1930 – October 28, 2026) 

Dolores Huerta was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico.
  • Her parents were of Mexican descent.
  • In 1954, she became a teacher in California.
  • Many of her students were poor and hungry.
  • She stopped teaching to work with farmworkers (the parents of her students).
She worked with Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong to organize farm workers.
  • Together, they started the United Farm Workers union.
  • In 1965, she helped lead a grape strike in California.
  • She helped farm workers fight for better pay and working conditions.
  • She helped make the words “Sí se puede” (Yes, we can) famous.
She also supported women's rights, immigrant rights, and civil rights.
  • In 2002, she started the Dolores Huerta Foundation to help communities.
  • In 2012, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • In 2018, California made April 10 Dolores Huerta Day.
  • In 2026, Huerta publicly said that Cesar Chavez had sexually abused her.
  • She died on October 28, 2026, in Bakersfield, California, at age 96.


POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • N-400 Part 2:05: Are you male or female?
  • N-400 Part 3:01. Are you Hispanic or Latino?
  • USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
  • USCIS 128:69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
  • Read: What do people want? 
  • Write: People want to live (and work) in freedom.


Family Fun:

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Wednesday, October 28, 2026

250 to 250:152. Dust Bowl, Narrated by Representative Josh Turek


Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Dust Bowl, Narrated by Representative Josh Turek

Joshua Turek is an Iowa House Representative, 4x Paralympian, 2x Gold Medalist in wheelchair basketball, disability advocate, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in Iowa. Turek recounts the Dust Bowl, the 1930s environmental catastrophe that drove families from the Great Plains and taught America the value of soil conservation.

The Dust Bowl happened during the Great Depression.


POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • N-400 Part 8:01. Have you taken a trip outside of the United States in the last 5 years?
  • USCIS 100:89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
  • USCIS 128:103. What was the Great Depression?
  • Read: What do people in America want?                                | Why did people come to California?
  • Write: People in America want to work and live in freedom.  | People came to California for work.


Family Fun:
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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

250 to 250:151. Ice Industry, Narrated by Ken Lincoln

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Ice Industry, Narrated by Ken Lincoln

Ken Lincoln is president of the Thompson Ice House Preservation Corporation, which operates an onsite museum and sponsors an annual ice harvest. Lincoln chronicles America's forgotten ice trade, which revolutionized how the nation ate and drank before mechanical refrigeration melted the business away.



POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • N-400 Part 7: List the start and end dates for all employment for the past 5 years.
  • USCIS 100:92. Name one state that borders Canada.
  • USCIS 128:81. There were 13 original states. Name five. 
  • Read: What was the first U.S capital? 
  • Write: New York City was the first capital. 


Family Fun:
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Monday, October 26, 2026

250 to 250:150. Molly Ivins, Narrated by Andy Borowitz

 
 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Molly Ivins, Narrated by Andy Borowitz

Andy Borowitz is an acclaimed American humorist, New York Times bestselling author, and creator of the popular satire site The Borowitz Report. Borowitz celebrates Molly Ivins, the razor-tongued Texas columnist who skewered politicians and made a career of speaking uncomfortable truths.

Molly Ivins was a famous newspaper writer from Texas.
  • She wrote about politics and government leaders.
  • She used jokes to criticize politicians.
  • In 1991, one of her jokes about a Texas congressman made many people angry.
  • A billboard asked, “Molly Ivins can't say that, can she?”
Molly believed people should question their government leaders.
  • In 2001, George W. Bush, a former Texas governor, became president.
  • Molly criticized President Bush and his decisions.
  • She believed people should speak freely about their government.
  • She used humor and newspapers to encourage Americans to think about politics.


POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • N-400 Part 11:03. What is your email addess?
  • USCIS 100:93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
  • USCIS 128:65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? 
  • Read: Who has freedom of speech?
  • Write: People who live in America have freedom of speech.


Family Fun: 
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Sunday, October 25, 2026

250 to 250:149. Trail of Broken Treaties, Narrated by Nick Estes


Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Trail of Broken Treaties, Narrated by Nick Estes

Nick Estes is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and Associate Professor in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He co-hosts the Red Nation podcast and is the lead editor of Red Media. He recounts the cross-country caravan that indigenous activists organized in October 1972.

Native Americans fought to protect their land and rights for many years.


POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • USCIS N-400 Part 9:02. Have you EVER registered to vote or voted in any Federal, state, or local election in the United States?
  • USCIS 100:06. One is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
  • USCIS 128:65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? 
  • Read: What do American Indians have?
  • Write: American Indians have freedom of speech and the right to vote.


Family Fun:

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Saturday, October 24, 2026

250 to 250:148. Soo Locks, Narrated by Lauren Westphal


Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Soo Locks, Narrated by Lauren Westphal

Lauren Westphal is a proud Yooper born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a producer and an independent media strategist. Here, Westphal tells how the Soo Locks unlocked Michigan's iron riches, becoming the "Linchpin of the Great Lakes" that fed America's steel mills and westward expansion.



POP Interview and Civics Quiz:
  • N-400 Part 4. Where do you live?
  • USCIS 100:92. Name one state that borders Canada.
  • USCIS 128:118. Name one example of an American innovation.
  • Read: Where is Canada? 
  • Write: Canada is north of the United States. 


Family Fun:
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