Civic Participation Pathway

This pathway is aligned to the “Civic Participation” theme on the EAD Roadmap.

This theme explores the relationship between self-government and civic participation, drawing on the discipline of history to explore how citizens’ active engagement has mattered for American society and on the discipline of civics to explore the principles, values, habits, and skills that support productive engagement in a healthy, resilient constitutional democracy. This theme focuses attention on the overarching goal of engaging young people as civic participants and preparing them to assume that role successfully.

Member Resources

  • PA Youth Vote

    These statewide and county voter toolkits are for teachers and organizations to use in classrooms and community meetings. Each kit is comprised of a slide deck and one-sheet printable handout. We'll update the slides regularly as candidates come and go. They're nonpartisan and free for anyone to use.

  • Generation Citizen

    Civics Day is an opportunity for students to share real-world civics projects with their communities. Learn how to organize a Civics Day using this how-to guide and this toolkit.

    Middle School and High School

  • Committee of Seventy and PA Youth Vote

    Created by a PA social studies teacher, this high-school level curriculum allows educators to pick from multiple in-depth lessons that help students understand elections. It also gives them experience preparing to vote themselves.

  • Union League Legacy Foundation

    This all-day civics education program for several hundred high school students has been hosted annually by the Union League Legacy Foundation since 1947. Nearly 19,000 students have participated in this impactful program and received the Good Citizenship Award.

    All Grades

  • Generation Citizen

    Learn more about how Generation Citizen partners with middle and high schools to implement a project-based civics curriculum that engages students in their own communities.

    Middle School and High School

  • 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? Learn more here.

    High School

  • Committee of Seventy and PA Youth Vote

    This 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.

    Middle School and High School

Other Helpful Resources

  • Educating for American Democracy

    The EAD Roadmap is accompanied by a curated resource library put together by EAD Content Curation Task Force. These lessons and resources align to the “Civic Participation” pathway.

    K-12

  • The Governor’s Civic Engagement Award is presented by the Pennsylvania Departments of State and Education. The award celebrates the efforts of Pennsylvania high school students to educate, engage and inform their fellow students about how to get involved in the voting process.

  • PA Department of Labor & Industry

    Find nearby volunteer opportunities for you and your students by contacting PennSERVE.