Engaging Differences - Key Principles and Best Practices
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | National Institute for Civil Discourse, United States
Want to move our country towards a more perfect union? Start with engaging in conversations across differences to find common ground. This document provides several key principles and best practices that are essential to connecting across divides, including:

Empathy instead of vitriol
Listening for Understanding instead of hearing to overpower
Humility instead of all-knowing.

As you read them, consider reflecting on those that speak to you, or recall a compelling personal experience.

Reform Movements in America
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress, asks how can citizens of a country affect change for the common good? The French commentator on American society in the 1830s, Alexis de Toqueville, observed that Americans are very quick to join together to promote whatever causes they favor, and there was certainly evidence around him. Reforms on many issues — temperance, abolition, prison reform, women’s rights, missionary work in the West — fomented groups dedicated to social improvements.
Students will reflect on the following questions:
What factors motivated antebellum reformers to take action?
What were the common strategies antebellum reformers used?
What did antebellum reformers achieve?

Women's Suffrage Movement
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines, IA, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress asks, “why did it take so long for women to get the right to vote?” Sex and gender are two different concepts. Sex refers to biological differences while gender relates to the roles and expectations culture assigns to each group. Every culture struggles with adjusting the roles of men and women to secure a just and harmonious society. Several factors like religion, science, tradition and technology influence gender roles. By tradition, men had near exclusive domination of politics in the United States, but that began to change in the 19th century with increasing urbanization, educational opportunities for women and changes in home responsibilities.
Reflect on the following questions:
What attitudes about their gender and expected role in society did women need to overcome to gain the right to vote?
What tactics did suffragists use to convince society they deserved the right to vote?
What impact did the 19th Amendment have on women and their government?

For Educators + Students: What’s YOUR Civic Superpower?
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | New American History, United States
Civic Season is about finding your Civic Superpower! This includes motivating young people to make space for more telling stories from the past, more voices from the present, and more input on what an annual tradition for civic participation could look like. When Civic Season kicks off in June 2025, you can explore a multitude of offerings and activities filtered by topic, location, and format, designed to support your own personal exploration into history and democracy. These learning resources include digital content to support schools, students, and communities participating in virtual and place-based events. What role will you play? How will you tell your story? We can help!

#Legography for Storytelling and Civic Engagement
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | New American History, United States
This summer we are partnering with our friends at the History Co:Lab to encourage everyone to discover their Civic Superpower and participate in using Legography (Legos + photography) to share how you explore during the Civic Season. Using Lego mini-figures, or any other small toy or action figure, snap a photo as you visit a local museum, historic site, or another community event! Share your story with us via social media using #CivicSeason #BuildAWorldOfPlay and tag where you explored. Need more details for inspiration? Check out our Civic Season learning resources and scroll down to the Extend activity! Follow our explorations @newamericanhist

Rep Ep 5: Tell The Truth, Truth
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | At Your Service Imprint, United States
Do we even need representation? What does “telling the truth” actually mean and why do we do it? Does objectivity exist? Can our biases work in our favor? These questions have come up over and over again throughout the journey of Rep, and in this chapter, we face them head on.
Our story guides include comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj, journalist Aymann Ismail, writer Najma Sharif and others.
