When I heard about Retro Report’s #CivicEngagementChallenge, my mind raced with ideas for integrating it into my classes. For several years I have incorporated projects into my curriculum, asking students to research and communicate information in a way that is engaging and relatable. These projects have included Instagram accounts on topics like paying for higher education and the importance of voting. Information was documented in video form and shared across social media platforms. This new challenge enables me to take those project ideas and elevate students’ work to reach beyond the classroom.
The student population at my school is diverse, with a growing number of bilingual students. Some students are from the center of the city; others live in the farmland surrounding the school. They bring many beliefs, backgrounds, traditions, and ideas about the role of government. Prompts in the Civic Engagement Challenge ask students to model civil discourse while exploring varied viewpoints. In this way, they will explore what civic engagement looks like, feels like, and is within their community. With these prompts, students can use C3 Inquiry skills and take action, inspiring viewers to become more civically engaged.
For this project, I plan to combine my civics courses with an advanced-level media production class in a cross-curricular collaboration. This project is a great way to encourage students to explore what civics means to them through research, and to embrace creative storytelling. I look forward to seeing every student’s project, and I am thankful for Retro Report resources that help educators promote civic engagement.
About the Challenge
Teachers, are you looking for ways to get your students more excited about civics? Encourage them to enter Retro Report’s #CivicEngagementChallenge. Judges will award $500 to the top 10 entrants. Find the rules here. Submissions must be received by Oct. 13.
Are you a civics teacher looking to implement this challenge in your classroom this fall? Access free classroom materials on our Civics Resource page today.
NICOLE FRAZER is an AP Government and Politics teacher at Jefferson High School in Rockford, Ill. She is a member of the Retro Report Council of Educators.
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