250 to 250: 33. Establishment of Washington D.C., Narrated by Lisa Ann Walter

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Establishment of Washington D.C., Narrated by Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Ann Walter is an actress, comedian, and producer who proudly calls Washington, D.C. her hometown. Walter was born and raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area where she marched in protests for women’s reproductive rights and the Equal Right Amendment, as well as against the Vietnam War. Walter later went to college in the area, researching and writing her term papers at the Library of Congress. Her connection and understanding of the area are why she narrates our explainer about how Washington D.C. became America’s capital.  

After the American Revolution, the U.S. capital moved from city to city.

• The first capital was New York City.
• Later, the capital moved to Philadelphia.
• The country wanted one permanent capital city.
• Northern and southern states disagreed about where the capital should be.
• Alexander Hamilton wanted the federal government to pay the states' Revolutionary War debts.
• James Madison and Thomas Jefferson thought this plan was unfair to the southern states.
• The leaders reached a compromise.

In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act.

• The law created a permanent capital along the Potomac River.
• George Washington chose the location for the new capital.
• The new capital became Washington, D.C..
• Washington, D.C., is still the capital of the United States today.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 4:01 When did you first begin to live at your current physical (home) address?
• USCIS 100:67 The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution.  Name one of the writers.
• USCIS 100:94. / 128:119. What is the capital of the United States?
• USCIS 128:87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Family Fun

• DC History: Interactive Timeline
• NPS: National Mall and Memorial Parks | Junior Ranger Booklet
• Open Data DC: Washington DC Historic Boundary Stones interactive map
• White House Historical Society: Survey of Washington D.C. - 1792
• Woodson Center: Benjamin Banneker lesson plan
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union: Guide to the Monuments and Memorials on the National Mall for the 2008 Civics Test (13 pdfs!)
• uscitizenpod: The Establishment of Washingon DC (updated) | Planners of Washington DC coloring pages (note the old spelling of the river)
• "Potomac" is a European spelling of Patawomeck, the local Native American tribe.  There were many alternative spellings of this name.

250 to 250: 32. Eatonville, Narrated by Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Eatonville, Narrated by Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida is the first Generation Z member of the U.S. Congress. Frost served as the national organizing director for March for Our Lives, a youth-led group fighting gun violence. Representative Frost explores the history of Eatonville, Florida, one of the first self-governing all-Black towns in America.

Eatonville is a historic town near Orlando, Florida.

• In 1887, Eatonville became one of the first self-governing all-Black towns in the United States.
• Many African Americans came to the area in the 1870s to work in orange groves.
• Some families wanted to build their own community.
• Twenty-seven Black men signed a charter to create the town of Eatonville.
• The people of Eatonville elected their own local leaders.
• The town gave African Americans more freedom and opportunities.
• Eatonville welcomed Black families seeking a better life.

Zora Neale Hurston grew up in Eatonville.

• She wrote about the lives, traditions, and culture of Black communities.
• Her famous book is Their Eyes Were Watching God.
• Today, Eatonville is remembered as an important part of African American history and culture.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:05b. Have you ever advocated the overthrow by force or violence or other unconstitutional means of the Government of the United States or all forms of law?
• USCIS 100:03. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
• USCIS 128:10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Family Fun: 

• Eatonville Rising: About the Town
• Florida: State Symbols coloring book
• Florida DOS: Florica Black Heritage Trail
• PBS: American Experience TRAILBLAZERS | ZORA NEALE HURSTON
• PBS: Zora Neale Hurston | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum 
• TED-Ed: Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" - Tanya Boucicaut
• Zinn Education Project: Aug. 15, 1887: All-Black Town of Eatonville Incorporated

250 to 250: 31. Zimmermann Telegram, Narrated by Daniel W. Drezner

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Zimmermann Telegram, Narrated by Daniel W. Drezner

Daniel W. Drezner is Distinguished Professor of International Politics at The Fletcher School, co-host of the popular Space the Nation podcast, and the author of Drezner's World on Substack. Drezner explains how a single German telegram to Mexico helped push the United States into World War I.

In 1917, Woodrow Wilson wanted the United States to stay out of World War I.

• Many Americans did not want to join the war.
• Some leaders, including Theodore Roosevelt, wanted the United States to enter the war.

Germany sent a secret message to Mexico.

• The message was called the Zimmermann Telegram.
• Germany asked Mexico to become its ally if the United States entered the war.
• Germany promised to help Mexico regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
• Britain intercepted the secret message and shared it with the United States.
• When Americans learned about the message, many changed their minds about the war.

On April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

• The United States entered World War I.
• Wilson said the goal was to help "make the world safe for democracy."

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:36. If the law requires it, are you willing to perform noncombatant services (do something that does not include fighting in a war) in the U.S. armed forces?
• USCIS 100:79. Who was President during World War I?
• USCIS 128:101. Why did the United States enter World War I?

Family Fun:

• National Archives: Zimmerman Telegram: Decoding a Message activity | lesson plan
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: Interactive Timeline | WWI Map | Making Codes and Cyphers activity
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: How WWI Changed America: Citizenship and WWI
• Truman Library: ROOM 40: British Naval Intelligence and the Zimmermann Telegram lesson plan
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to the WWI Memorial
• uscitizenpod: 1915 Peace Protestors | April 19, 1917 Wake Up America Day coloring pages

250 to 250: 30. Hoover Dam, Narrated by Michael Green

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Hoover Dam, 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 tells the story of Hoover Dam, the colossal public works project that delivered power and reassured America during the Great Depression.

Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression.

• Construction took place from 1931 to 1936.
• About 21,000 workers helped build the dam.
• The dam is on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona.
• Hoover Dam provides water and electricity to the Southwest.
• It is one of the largest dams in the United States.
• Building the dam was difficult and dangerous.
• At least 96 workers died during construction.
• In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt praised Hoover Dam as a great achievement.
• He said: "I came, I saw, and I was conquered, as everyone would be who sees for the first time this great feat of mankind."

Today, about 1.3 million people receive electricity from the dam.

• Millions of people visit Hoover Dam every year.
• Hoover Dam remains an important part of American engineering and history.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• USCIS N-400 Part 7: When did you begin to work at your current job?
• USCIS 100:93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
• USCIS 100:80. / 128:105.  Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? 
• USCIS 128:103. What was the Great Depression?

Family Fun:

• Easy Documentary History: Hoover Dam: The Impossible Construction of the Great Depression 
• History: Hoover Dam (S5, E15) | Modern Marvels 
• Kids Activity Blog: Hoover Dam Facts
• NPS: Lake Mead: Hoover and Davis Dams | Junior Ranger Activity Book
• TED-Ed: Blood, concrete, and dynamite: Building the Hoover Dam - Alex Gendler
• USBR: Hoover Dam Map

250 to 250: 29. Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” Narrated by Katherine Richardson

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” Narrated by Katherine Richardson

Katherine Richardson is a Professor in Biological Oceanography at the University of Copenhagen and active in the development of Earth system science. She leads the Queen Margrethe and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir´s Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ocean, Climate, and Society and is an architect of the Planetary Boundaries Framework. Richardson tells of marine biologist Rachel Carson, whose 1962 book Silent Spring exposed the dangers of pesticides and sparked the modern environmental movement.

Rachel Carson was a scientist and writer.

• In 1962, she wrote the book Silent Spring.
• The book explained how some pesticides harmed nature.
• One pesticide, DDT, poisoned birds, fish, and other animals.
• Some companies criticized Rachel Carson's ideas.
• Many scientists and Americans supported her work.

Silent Spring became a very popular book.

• The book helped start the modern environmental movement.
• In 1970, Americans celebrated the first Earth Day.
• The U.S. government created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Rachel Carson reminded people that humans are part of nature.
• She encouraged everyone to protect the environment for future generations.

POP Quiz: N-400 Vocabulary Deep Dive (Latin and Greek Root Words!)

• "-cide": from the Latin "caedere," meaning "to cut" or "to kill."
• "Pest-": from the Latin "pestis," which originally referred to a plague, pestilence, or a destructive disease.
• Rachel Carson fought against DDT, a powerful pesticide that kills insects and animals.
• "Geno-": from the Greek "genos," meaning "race," "family," or "tribe".
• N-400 Part 9:7b. Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in genocide?
• Explain "genocide."

Family Fun

• Elle Cree / She Creates: Rachel Carson coloring page
• EPA: Watershed: Kids' Corner
• FWS: Let's Celebrate Rachel Carson activity book
• Migrant Clinician: Pesticide Comic Books (English and Spanish)
• NPIC: FAQ Comics (English and Spanish)
• PBS: American Experience: Rachel Carson (stream or borrow the DVD from the library) | short lessons
• Rachel Carson: Interactive Timeline
• Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance: Birthplace of Silent Spring
• TED-ed: How one scientist took on the chemical industry - Mark Lytle
• uscitizenpod: 10 Citizenship Questions in Honor of Earth Day (pdf)

250 to 250: 28. Joshua Chamberlain, Narrated by Senator Angus King

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Joshua Chamberlain, Narrated by Senator Angus King

Senator Angus King is an American lawyer and Independent politician best known for being the former Governor of Maine who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013. Senator King explores the legacy of Joshua Chamberlain, the Mainer who helped the Union win the Battle of Gettysburg.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was an important leader from Maine.

• He served in the American Civil War.
• On July 2, 1863, he led Union soldiers at the Battle of Little Round Top.
• Many historians believe his leadership helped the Union win the battle.
• His actions helped protect the United States during the Civil War.

After the war, Chamberlain became Governor of Maine.

• In 1880, he helped peacefully settle a disputed election in Maine.
• People respected him for his courage, wisdom, and leadership.
• He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
• Today, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is remembered as one of America's great leaders.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:45: If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms (carry weapons) on behalf of the United States?
• USCIS 100:43 / 128:61. Who is the Governor of your state now?
• USCIS 128:93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

Family Fun:

• American Battlefield Trust: Joshua Chamberlain Lesson Plan
• Emerging Civil War: Joshua Chamberlain stares down the 1880 Maine rebellion Part 1 | Part 2
• Maine.gov: MAINE AND ME: Jobs in the State of Maine Government 
• NPS: Gettysburg National Military Park | Gettysburg Junior Ranger Activity Book
• Pejepscot Historical: The Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum

250 to 250: 27. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, Narrated by Tom Perez

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, Narrated by Tom Perez

Tom Perez is a civil rights attorney, former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and served as U.S. Labor Secretary under President Barack Obama. Perez tells us about the tragic 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the workplace reforms that it inspired. 

On March 25, 1911, a fire started at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

• The factory was in New York City.
• Many workers were young immigrant women and girls.
• A total of 147 workers died in the fire.
• Some doors were locked, making it hard for workers to escape.
• The tragedy shocked many Americans.
• People wanted to make workplaces safer.
• A commission studied unsafe working conditions.
• It examined problems such as long hours, low pay, and child labor.

Frances Perkins worked to improve worker safety.

• New laws were passed to protect workers.
• The laws helped make factories safer.
• Frances Perkins later became the first woman to serve in a U.S. president's Cabinet.
• The fire led to important changes in workers' rights and workplace safety.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N400 Part 7:01. Where have you worked and/or attended school (full-time or part-time) during the last 5 years?
• USCIS 100:42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states.  What is one power of the states?
• USCIS 128:70. What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Family Fun:

• Empire State Plaza: Virtual Visit: Hauntings - Fire of 1911
• MCNY: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
• National Fire Safety Council: Free games
• NWHM: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire lesson plan
• NY Dept of Labor: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
• PBS: American Experience: Triangle Fire (stream online or borrow the dvd from your library) | short lessons
• Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition: Resources
• Smokey Bear: Fire Safety for Children
• uscitizenpod: Coloring Pages:  Shirtwaist | Women Picket during Ladies Tailors Strike 

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

250 to 250: 18. Pujo Committee, Narrated by Representative Joe Morelle

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Pujo Committee, Narrated by Representative Joe Morelle

United States Representative Joe Morelle of New York serves as Vice Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee and is a Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration. Representative Morelle explores the impact of the Pujo Committee’s 1910s examination of consolidation in American banking.

In the late 1800s, many Americans worried that a few bankers had too much power.

• Large banks controlled many businesses and investments.
• People called this group of powerful bankers the "money trust."

In 1912, Congress created a committee to investigate the banking industry.

• The committee was led by Arsène Pujo.
• The investigation found that a few banks controlled a lot of the nation's money.
• The committee recommended new rules for banks.
• It also suggested new regulations for the stock market.
• Louis Brandeis used the report to write a book about banking.
• Many Americans supported stronger government oversight of banks.
• The investigation helped lead to banking laws during the Progressive Era.
• These new rules helped make banking fairer.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 10:01: Is your household income less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines?
• USCIS 100:11 / 128:12: What is the economic system of the United States?

Family Fun

• Consumer Finance: Banking Basics card game | all activities
• Currency Education Program: Money coloring pages
• Federal Reserve: Banking Panics of the Gilded Age; Education (many lesson plans and activities)
• FDIC: Money Smart Basics for Kids
• The Morgan Library and Museum: J. Pierpont Morgan's Library onlinee exhibit
• USCIS: Fact Sheet Form N-400, Application for Naturalization Filing Fees

250 to 250: 17. Fannie Lou Hamer, Narrated by Monica Land

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Fannie Lou Hamer, Narrated by Monica Land

Monica Land is a journalist and niece of civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer. She produced the award-winning film, “Fannie Lou Hamer's America” and now manages the digital educational website, www.fannielouhamersamerica.com. Land remembers the inspiring life of the Mississippi voting rights activist who asked “Is this America?”

Fannie Lou Hamer was born in Mississippi in 1917.

• She worked as a sharecropper on a farm.
• In 1962, she attended a meeting about voting rights.
• The meeting inspired her to register to vote.
• Local officials would not let her register.
• She lost her home because she tried to vote.
• Hamer continued to help African Americans register to vote.
• Many people opposed her work.

In 1963, she was badly beaten and suffered injuries for the rest of her life.

• She became a leader in the civil rights movement.
• In 1964, she gave a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention.
• In her speech, she asked, “Is this America?”
• Many people across the country heard her message.
• In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
• Fannie Lou Hamer helped expand voting rights for African Americans.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• Have you EVER registered to vote or voted in any Federal, state, or local election in the United States?
• USCIS 100:48. / 128:63. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote.  Describe one of them.
• USCIS 100:84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
• USCIS 128:69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

Family Fun:

• Civil Rights Trail: Fannie Lou Hamer
• Getting to Know ALL About Her: Fannie Lou Hamer lesson plan
• NMAACH: How Fannie Lou Hamer Challenged a Nation
• NPS: When Everyday Folks Become Heroes
• Poets: Teach This Poem: “When Fannie Lou Hamer Said” by Mahogany L. Browne
• uscitizenpod: Fannie Lou Hamer coloring page

250 to 250: 16. Man o' War, Narrated by Governor Andy Beshear

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Man o' War, Narrated by Governor Andy Beshear

Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky is currently serving his second term in office with a strong focus on education, disaster response, faith, and family. Governor Beshear tells the story of Man o’ War, the prolific thoroughbred race horse who helped restore Americans’ faith in the country after World War I.

Man o' War was one of the most famous racehorses in American history.

• He was named in honor of the WWI military service of his breeder, August Belmont Jr..
• Man o' War won 20 of his 21 races.
• He earned a large amount of prize money.
• He was known for his speed and long stride.

In 1920, the New York Times named him an outstanding athlete of the year.

• He shared this honor with Babe Ruth.
• His success came after World War I and a worldwide pandemic.
• Many Americans admired him and followed his races.
• Man o' War became a symbol of hope and confidence.
• He fathered many successful racehorses.
• One of his descendants was Seabiscuit.
• Seabiscuit later became a symbol of hope during the Great Depression.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:17.f. Have you EVER gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling?
• USCIS 100:79. Who was President during World War I?
• USCIS 128:101. Why did the United States enter World War I?

Family Fun

• Breyer: Horses coloring pages
• Dummies: Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies Cheat Sheet
• Kentucky Horse Park: Man o' War
• Unique Creations by Anita: How to Make a Horse Racing Game
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: War Horse Visits the National WWI Museum in Kansas City

250 to 250: 15. Social Security Act, Narrated by Jan John

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Social Security Act, Narrated by Jan John

Jan John is a retired sales executive, active volunteer in local Maine politics, Social Security beneficiary, and dog lover. Jan John reveals how pioneering Labor Secretary Frances Perkins fought to create Social Security benefits during the Great Depression. 

During the Great Depression, many banks and businesses closed.

• Many people lost their jobs and savings.
• Frances Perkins wanted to help workers and families.
• She worked with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act of 1935.

• The law provided money for older people after retirement.
• It also helped widows, orphans, and unemployed workers.
• Workers helped pay for these benefits through payroll taxes.
• Social Security became an important safety net for Americans.
• Millions of people have received help from Social Security.
• Later, Dwight D. Eisenhower said Social Security was very important to the country.

Social Security remains an important program in the United States today.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 2:02a. Do you want the Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue you an original or replacement Social Security card and update your immigration status with the SSA if and when you are naturalized?
• USCIS 100:80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
• USCIS 128:71. Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Family Fun:

• Frances Perkins Center: Resources
• NWHM: Frances Perkins and the New Deal (lesson plan)
• NASI: A Young Person's Guide to Social Security
• NPS: FDR's Home Junior Ranger Booklet
• NPS: FDR Memorial, Washington DC
• SSA: Social Security Information in Other Languages
• SSA: Social Security Factoids Comic Books | Book 2 | Book 3| (1950s-1960s)

250 to 250: 14. Ellis Island, Narrated by Ken Burns

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Ellis Island, Narrated by Ken Burns

Filmmaker Ken Burns explores the legacy of Ellis Island, the immigration entry station that processed millions of immigrants coming to America.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrants came to the United States from Europe.

• Many arrived by ship in New York Harbor.
• They often saw the Statue of Liberty as they entered America.
• Third-class passengers went to Ellis Island for inspection.
• From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island.

Immigrants received medical and legal inspections.

• Most immigrants were allowed to enter the United States.
• People with serious illnesses might be sent to a hospital.
• Some immigrants were sent back to their home countries.
• About 2% of immigrants were not allowed to enter.

Ellis Island became a symbol of hope and opportunity.

• Many immigrants came to America to build a better life.
• Their hard work helped shape the history and culture of the United States.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 1:01  Explain how you are elibgible to become U.S. citizen?
• USCIS 100:95.   Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
• USCIS 128:124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?

Family Fun

• ColorKo: Ellis Island Gateway to America Coloring Page
• iCivics: Immigration Nation online game
• KQED: Ken Burns in the Classroom: The Statue of Liberty (and Ellis Island) lesson plans
• NPS: Ellis Island Expedition Series
• NPS: Ellis Island Junior Ranger Booklet
• PBS: Ken Burns' Statue of Liberty (and Ellis Island) (stream online or borrow it from the library)
• USCIS: USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island

250 to 250: 13. Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience,” Narrated by Governor Janet Mills

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience,” Narrated by Governor Janet Mills

Maine Governor Janet Mills is a former Attorney General, state legislator, and the first woman governor of Maine. Governor Mills recounts Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s stirring rejection of McCarthyism.

On June 1, 1950, Margaret Chase Smith gave an important speech in the U.S. Senate.

• At that time, the Cold War was beginning.
• Some people accused others of being communists without good evidence.
• Joseph McCarthy often made these accusations.

Senator Smith disagreed with these tactics.

• She warned against using fear, hatred, and false accusations for political gain.
• She gave a speech called the “Declaration of Conscience.”
• Smith said that leaders should act with honesty and fairness.
• She believed that people should put the country before politics.
• Her speech encouraged Americans to defend democracy and freedom.

Today, Margaret Chase Smith is remembered for her courage and leadership.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:05. Have you ever been a member of, or connected with, any Communist or totalitarian party anywhere in the world?
• USCIS 100: 51.  What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
• USCIS 128:109.  During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?

Family Fun

• Americans Who Tell The Truth: Margaret Chase Smith
• Clio: The “Declaration of Conscience” speech delivered to the United States Senate by Senator Margaret Chase Smith on June 1, 1950.
• Crash Course: The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37
• Margaret Chase Smith Library: Biography
• Retro Report: Cold War Timeline: Origins of the Cold War
• Teaching American History: Declaration of Conscience
• TED-ed: What is McCarthyism? And how did it happen? - Ellen Schrecker 
• uscitizenpod: Margaret Chase Smith coloring page

250 to 250: 12. Constitutional Convention, Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Constitutional Convention, Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson is an award-winning historian and the author of Letters from an American. She’s the author of seven books, including the bestselling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. Richardson tells the story of the Constitutional Convention, where 55 delegates constructed the framework for a new government.

In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to improve the government.

• They wanted to replace the Articles of Confederation.
• The Articles of Confederation were too weak to govern the new country.

Fifty-five delegates worked together for four months.

• They created a new plan for the government.
• This plan became the United States Constitution.
• The Constitution created three branches of government.
• It included checks and balances to prevent one person from becoming too powerful.

On September 17, 1787, the delegates signed the Constitution.

• The Constitution was sent to the states for approval.
• A woman asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government had been created.
• Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

The Constitution remains the highest law of the United States today.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:31. Do you support the Constitution and form of Government of the United States?
• USCIS 100:65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
• USCIS 128:14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

Family Fun:

• Ben's Guide: Constitutional Convention
• Constitution Facts: Quiz
• Print Coloring Sheet: The Constitution
• Randolf Academy: Constitution Crossword Puzzles
• USCIS: Constiution Conversation Cube
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to Constitution Gardens | complete series
• USCIS: One Nation, One People 2024 (100qs) | 2025 (100/128qs)
• VOA LearningEnglish: The Constitution