Saturday, December 6, 2025

Bill of Rights Day Conversations

Source: GPO BookTalk

Get ready for Bill of Rights Day on Dec 15!  Use these dialogues to extend EL Civics instruction, learn about the Bill of Rights (and UDHR), and introduce KYR resources.

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for Family Literacy

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 1

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 2

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 3

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 4

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 5

 

EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA! 

Dec 15 Bill of Rights Day resources:

  • LINCS: Civic Resources for Bill of Rights Day 2024 links
  • GPO BookTalk: Bill of Rights post and cartoon
  • uscitizenpod: A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 (2024) Part 9 plus Civics Questions 2024 video | pdf  | mp3
  • Bill of Rights pptx via Google Slides
  • Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 01  pdf
  • Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 02  pdf
  • Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 03  pdf
  • Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 04  pdf
  • Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 05  pdf
  • Bill of Rights Citizenship Quiz  pdf

Dec 10: Human Rights Day

·       LINCS: Civic Resources for Human Rights Day 2024 links

·       A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf

·       The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Word Search Puzzle pdf

KYR Resources:

·       Literacy-level KYR card png

·       ILRC Red Cards (multiple languages) page  

Prepare for an Immigration Consultation Appointment (includes KYR resources from adult schools) page 


Friday, December 5, 2025

Who Was Benjamin Franklin?


PBS Learning Lab: Who Was Benjamin Franklin? 

Introduce your students to the multifaceted life of Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers and a true innovator. This video from PBS LearningMedia explores Franklin’s contributions as a politician, his pivotal role in drafting the Declaration of Independence, and his numerous inventions that shaped the nation’s development. More at PBS Learning Lab

USCIS 128:85.   Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. 
• Founded the first free public libraries 
• First Postmaster General of the United States 
• Helped write the Declaration of Independence 
• Inventor 
• U.S. diplomat

Thursday, December 4, 2025

PBS: The American Revolution

PBS: The American Revolution | A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein & David Schmidt | Official Trailer

Official website: https://to.pbs.org/amrevpbs |
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Premieres Sunday, November 16 at 8/7c.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Anniversary of the Monroe Doctirne

 
 
National Museum of American Diplomacy: Monroe Doctrine 101 | What is the Monroe Doctrine?

Dec 2, 1823: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James Monroe proclaims American neutrality in future European conflicts, and warns European powers not to interfere in the Americas.

The Monroe Doctrine was an early U.S. foreign policy that tried to stop European nations from getting involved in the Western Hemisphere. President James Monroe explained this policy in 1823, during a time when world powers were changing. This lesson explains what a doctrine is and how the Monroe Doctrine became an important part of U.S. foreign policy.

When many Latin American countries won independence from Spain and Portugal, the United States worried that other European countries might try to take control again. Monroe worked with his Secretary of State and then announced in a speech that the Americas were no longer open to colonization. Why was this seen as a strong statement of independence? And how did the Doctrine affect old and new relationships between nations? Learn more in this video.

Learn more about the National Museum of American Diplomacy

POP QUIZ

USCIS 128:58.   Name one power that is only for the federal government.

USCIS 128:85.   Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. 

Monday, December 1, 2025

Rosa Parks Day

What does it mean to stand up for something?
How do you show your support for causes you believe in?



TED-ED: The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

Learn about the life of civil rights activist Rosa Parks— her work with the NAACP, bus boycotts, and her lifelong fight against racial inequality.

Throughout her life, Rosa Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators. Her refusal to move to the back of a segregated bus ignited a boycott that lasted 381 days and helped transform civil rights activism into a national movement. But this work came at an enormous risk— and a personal price. Riché D. Richardson details the life of Rosa Parks.

Lesson by Riché D. Richardson, directed by Eido.

Learn more:

Rosa Parks Day is a U.S observance that celebrates the famous civil rights leader Rosa Parks. In different parts of the United States, this day is celebrated on different days. In some areas, its celebrated on December 1, the day in 1955she refused to give up her seat on bus, kicking off the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  In other places, its celebrated on Rosa Park’s birthday—which is February 4th. No matter what day it’s observed, however, it’s a good day to learn about the civil rights movement or to take part in activities that support the civil rights movement.

POP QUIZ:

12. What is the “rule of law”?

42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? 

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

37. What does the judicial branch do?

23. Name your U.S. Representative.