Two resources of interest for teachers of civics and social studies are the 60-Second Civics podcast from the Center for Civic Education and lesson plans from the ABA Division for Public Education.

The podcast 60-Second Civics is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education which aims to help students “develop an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy”. Each podcast lasts about one minute and may be accessed via the Center for Civic Education’s website, iTunes, or Stitcher. The podcast covers both historical and current topics such as the Declaration of Independence and recent U.S. Supreme Court cases. The website also includes a searchable database of podcasts.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Division for Public Education provides free lesson plans for use in K-12 classrooms at its website. The ABA Division for Public Education’s mission is “to advance public understanding of law and society.” Here is a sample of the lesson plans available: “What Makes a Good Judge,” “Modern Day Human Trafficking,” “Music Distribution and Copyright,” and “Introduction to the First Amendment.”

The 60-Second Civics podcast from the Center for Civic Education and lesson plans from the ABA Division for Public Education are only two of the myriad civics resources available for educators. Review social media hashtags such as #civics, #civcsed, #civicseducation, #socialstudies, and #lawrelatededucation for additional ideas and resources.