6-12, Education, Games, Social Studies, Teaching Tools, Websites

iCivics Update

image from: icivics.org

I have posted about iCivics.org a couple of times on my blog- once about the website, spearheaded by Sandra Day O’Connor, and once about the awesome free app, Pocket Law Firm.  As today is Election Day, I thought it would be appropriate to once again mention the value of iCivics.org.  According to the site, “In 2009, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor founded iCivics to reverse Americans’ declining civic knowledge and participation. Securing our democracy, she realized, requires teaching the next generation to understand and respect our system of governance.”  Since my first post on this topic, over a year ago, iCivics has gained even more features.  It has become a robust resource with 16 games, 15 curriculum units, and a multitude of service projects.  Now, teachers can create their own accounts to which they can add classes, allowing them to track assignments and student progress.  Students can earn points for playing games, and “spend” their points on community projects that they favor.

Although the curriculum units are geared toward students in grades 6-12, some of the games, like “Cast Your Vote“, could probably be played by advanced 4th or 5th graders.

And, if you are a U.S. citizen, don’t forget to cast your own vote today! 😉

6-12, Apps, Critical Thinking, Education, Games, Independent Study, Problem Solving, Social Studies

Pocket Law Firm

Pocket Law Firm is an iDevice app that is free.  It comes to us from Sandra Day O’Connor’s iCivics program, which has a wonderful website that I have featured on this site.  Pocket Law Firm is a game designed to teach about the Constitution.  In the game, the user is in charge of a law firm, and must “match” the clients to the lawyers who can best fight for their rights.  By earning points, the user can hire more lawyers, and buy ads and furniture for the firm.  As lawyers win trials, they develop more experience, and can help with additional constitutional rights.

If you have a student who is interested in the law, or wants to learn more about our Constitution, this simulation will satisfy his or her quest for knowledge.