iCivics releases new election resources to help US K-12 teachers combat misinformation

iCivics, a civic education nonprofit in the United States, has introduced a set of new resources aimed at helping teachers navigate the 2024 election. 

These materials include a Civic Digital Literacy collection, educational games, lesson plans, and more, designed to help students better understand the electoral process and critically evaluate information.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, iCivics is offering free, nonpartisan tools to educators, K-12 students, and families. The initiative seeks to explain how elections work and address the challenges posed by misinformation and political polarisation in the classroom.

The iCivics Election Headquarters offers a range of resources, including interactive tools. Digital literacy content, such as short videos and lesson plans, helps middle and high school students develop skills to assess political claims, identify the origins of online content, and differentiate between legitimate information and clickbait. These materials were developed with input from the Digital Inquiry Group, a nonprofit specialising in digital literacy and curriculum.

The organisation’s election-related games, such as Win the White House and Cast Your Vote, have been played nearly 200 million times. These games engage students by allowing them to participate in simulated electoral processes, covering areas such as building political platforms and managing campaign fundraising.

For younger students (K-5), iCivics has partnered with Nickelodeon and ATTN: to create Well Versed, a series of music videos that introduce the basics of democracy. The series, launched in October 2023, has been supported by figures like Shari Redstone of Paramount and First Ladies Jill Biden and Laura Bush. 

Other resources, including Private i History Detectives and the game Uncovering Loyalties, developed with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, aim to introduce younger students to civic life and democracy.

Founded in 2009 by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics works to promote civic education across the United States. The organisation collaborates with teachers nationwide to prepare students for participation in democratic processes, offering tools that promote understanding of the nation’s political systems.