Youth Civics
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Youth Civics

Classroom resources for American democracy

We believe that civic education is about teaching kids how to live in community with each other.

Citizenship includes learning how to vote, and it continues through many different actions that strengthen our democracy.

We have a host of different programs, from kindergarten to college, for youth to learn how to practice engaging in government and civics.

Elections & Voting Curriculum
This high school-level curriculum is the core of our work. Created by a PA social studies teacher, it allows educators to pick from multiple in-depth lessons that help students understand elections. It also gives them experience preparing to vote themselves.
Explore the lessons

Experiential learning programs for youth

We offer an interactive Democracy for Kids program for K-8 students that helps them practice basic civic skills, like respectful listening, creative inquiry and thinking, and community problem-solving.

For high schoolers, our Elections & Voting curriculum is a starting point for multiple programs that allow young and future voters to engage with their community. We have many FREE programs that educators and students can participate in to understand and practice engaged citizenship. Check them out! 

PA Youth Mock Election

The mock election gives students hands-on experience with researching candidates, casting their vote, and a preview of results of the actual vote on Election Day.
Sign up your class

Presidential STAR Cards

This deck of 36 cards, each containing a discussion question about the presidency, gives young people information about elections and makes them aware of the power of their voices.
Bring these cards to your class

Can We Talk?

Can We Talk? is a research-driven, skills-based program that introduces students to habits that promote productive dialogue across difference, to counter polarization and division.
Build student skills

Student-candidate interviews

Your class can interview candidates running for office. C70 works with you to connect with candidates or public officials from all parties. Your students supply the questions.
Request a candidate

17-year-old poll workers

Did you know that if you are 17 years old, you can get paid to serve as a poll worker at your local polling place on Election Day?
County-by-county guide

Elections 101 - Core basics

These sessions teach first-time and future voters the simple fundamentals of elections. Using C70's popular WeVote program, we present short sessions for your class to discuss what an election is and why they matter.
Elections 101

Draw the Lines PA

Every ten years, Pennsylvania redraws its election maps for Congress and the state legislature. DTL has learning materials for high school students to draw their own political maps, using free, web-based software.
Access learning resources

Vote That Jawn

#VoteThatJawn uses the power of youth voice and connection through social media to bring 18-year-olds and other first-time voters into civic engagement
#VoteThatJawn

Democracy for Kids

We offer interactive programs for K-8 students that help them practice basic civic skills, like respectful listening, creative inquiry and thinking, and community problem-solving.
Learn more

Additional Educator Resources

The Committee of Seventy also has numerous resources for educators to support civic education in classrooms and with our community partners.

Professional development for teachers

C70 is an approved provider of Act 48 professional development for educators from the PA Department of Education. Click below to register for one of our Classroom Resources for American Democracy training sessions!
Register

Teacher Advisory Council

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Teachers: interested in joining C70's Teacher Advisory Council? Shape policy, access curricular materials, and help expand quality civics education across Pennsylvania.
Learn more and apply

Sign up for the #c70ed Civics Newsletter

Get new ideas for civics lessons and access to creative programs delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe and see old newsletters

PA Civics Coalition member

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We are a proud member of the PA Civics Coalition, a group of organizations that support schools throughout the Commonwealth with resources they need to teach civic education.
PA Civics

Programs for College Students and Faculty

Colleges: Join the Unify Challenge

C70 is partnering with Unify America to helps Americans practice conversations across diverse backgrounds and learn, first-hand, about the power of new perspectives. Learn more about Unify America and watch their video.

Want to bring the Unify Challenge to students at your school? They can participate in the Unify Challenge College Bowl. Two college students—total strangers from different schools with different political leanings or backgrounds—are matched into a one-on-one guided video conversation to talk about big goals for our country. After discovering that far more unites us than divides us, students report feeling more hopeful about our country.

Participate by reaching out to Justin Villere, C70's Civic Engagement Program Manager.

WeVote for Colleges

Your campus can play a crucial role in getting voters involved. Partner with us.

C70 is here to help colleges and universities make use of their resources to help students use our BYOBallot tool, learn about the recent big changes to PA’s election law, find their polling place, learn about the offices and candidates on the ballot, and answer any questions they have.

C70 is partnering with Vote That Jawn
Two of PA's leaders in civic participation are joining forces
#VoteThatJawn
Evaluating C70's youth civics programs
An independent study shows C70's program is well-received and valuable to teachers
Read more