Civic Action, Community Engagement, and American Representative Democracy
2022 Block Semester Schedule
August 5 - 31: Introductory Training - Visit the training materials and join us for one of the virtual meet-ups to get acquainted with Byrd Center staff and fellow master teachers.
September 1-30: Phase 1 - Incorporate resources to introduce the Constitution and the legislative process with your students.
September 30: Phase 1 Check-In - We will gather on Zoom to chat and review each others progress and concerns.
October 1-28: Phase 2 - Work through Redeveloping Appalachia with your students and begin guided conversations to decide what issue your students will work on addressing in your community.
October 28: Phase 2 Check-In - We will gather on Zoom to chat and review each others progress and concerns.
October 30 - December 2: Phase 3 - Lead students through the discovery, research, and project components to craft their proposal for solving their community issue.
December 5 - 16: Presentations and Wrap-Up - Students will present their projects after which we will gather virtually to discuss project results and conduct assessment to gather feedback on the success of the program and areas for improvement in the future.
August 5 - 31: Introductory Training - Visit the training materials and join us for one of the virtual meet-ups to get acquainted with Byrd Center staff and fellow master teachers.
September 1-30: Phase 1 - Incorporate resources to introduce the Constitution and the legislative process with your students.
September 30: Phase 1 Check-In - We will gather on Zoom to chat and review each others progress and concerns.
October 1-28: Phase 2 - Work through Redeveloping Appalachia with your students and begin guided conversations to decide what issue your students will work on addressing in your community.
October 28: Phase 2 Check-In - We will gather on Zoom to chat and review each others progress and concerns.
October 30 - December 2: Phase 3 - Lead students through the discovery, research, and project components to craft their proposal for solving their community issue.
December 5 - 16: Presentations and Wrap-Up - Students will present their projects after which we will gather virtually to discuss project results and conduct assessment to gather feedback on the success of the program and areas for improvement in the future.
Project Background:
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has awarded the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education a grant of $136,250.00 for a new initiative that will expand civics education in West Virginia. “People Powered: Civic Action, Community Engagement, and American Representative Democracy” will launch in the fall of 2022 and will bring together the Byrd Center’s leadership in teacher training with leading learning resource creators from across the United States to deliver innovative educational materials to West Virginia teachers and students.
“People Powered” is a supplemental year-long curriculum designed to support the 10th-12th grade civics and social studies standards which are taught in schools throughout West Virginia. Grant funding will enable the Byrd Center to produce lesson plans which utilize the primary sources in its archival collections in engaging, inquiry-based learning tools to connect the broader concepts of American government and civic life with a West Virginia and Appalachian regional focus. The grant will also allow the Byrd Center to offer specialized training for teachers to incorporate these resources in their classrooms. Paired with tested learning tools from such highly regarded institutions as the National Archives and Records Administration and iCivics, “People Powered” will provided a robust resource for West Virginia educators.
The Byrd Center is uniquely positioned to lead such an initiative. For six years, the center has worked closely with teachers to discover and implement primary sources in classroom instruction, demonstrating the immense value these resources can lend to civics education. The center’s highly regarded Teacher Institute has served over 300 West Virginia teachers since its launch in 2013. From this foundation, “People Powered” will be the Byrd Center’s next step in engaging with West Virginia’s excellent educators as we work together to prepare our nation’s next generation of public leaders and engaged citizens.
“People Powered” is a supplemental year-long curriculum designed to support the 10th-12th grade civics and social studies standards which are taught in schools throughout West Virginia. Grant funding will enable the Byrd Center to produce lesson plans which utilize the primary sources in its archival collections in engaging, inquiry-based learning tools to connect the broader concepts of American government and civic life with a West Virginia and Appalachian regional focus. The grant will also allow the Byrd Center to offer specialized training for teachers to incorporate these resources in their classrooms. Paired with tested learning tools from such highly regarded institutions as the National Archives and Records Administration and iCivics, “People Powered” will provided a robust resource for West Virginia educators.
The Byrd Center is uniquely positioned to lead such an initiative. For six years, the center has worked closely with teachers to discover and implement primary sources in classroom instruction, demonstrating the immense value these resources can lend to civics education. The center’s highly regarded Teacher Institute has served over 300 West Virginia teachers since its launch in 2013. From this foundation, “People Powered” will be the Byrd Center’s next step in engaging with West Virginia’s excellent educators as we work together to prepare our nation’s next generation of public leaders and engaged citizens.
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Our Mission: |
The Byrd Center advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
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© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
Congressional History and Education |