Hi John,
Teachers help build student leaders every day through programs and initiatives aimed to foster relevant skills and knowledge. The Bill of Rights Institute is pleased to offer one such program through our Student Fellowship. This student program encapsulates the necessities of a civil society and how your students can use their skills and passions to influence the outcomes of their communities at large.
Student Fellowship is a 6-month educational program that helps high school students develop as leaders and develop civics and leadership skills. Applications are open now to 15-18-year-old’s who are currently high school juniors or seniors (or equivalent).
Twenty students are selected for the program and meet twice a month for 90-minute sessions, design and lead public virtual events, and are invited for a week-long capstone experience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each session will have a short reading, discussion, and writing assignment. |
Tuesday, Nov. 11, marks the 107th observance of Veterans Day in the United States. The day began to honor the service members of World War I and was expanded to include all veterans. This year, we have a special opportunity to highlight veterans throughout our nations upcoming 250 years through Civic Star Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative from iCivics and the Bill of Rights Institute. |
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| The contest rewards K-12 teachers and classrooms for any classroom activity that references themes from the Declaration of Independence in American history for an opportunity win over 400 incredible prizes! |
| Robert Gould Shaw’s Courageous Decision
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Start with our Robert Gould Shaw's Courageous Decision Lesson. This lesson includes an adaptable, ready-made lesson plan, a narrative, and two primary source activities. As the lesson progresses, students should better understand:
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How Colonel Robert Gould Shaw displayed courage when he took charge of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry regiment.
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Why he made his decision and its significance to the nation and the overall war effort.
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How they can make similar courageous decisions in their own lives.
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| | Link this classroom activity to Civic Star Challenge using the themes of equality and revolution and change.
Get started now! The first submission deadline is Friday, Oct. 31. |
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| A Veterans Day Classroom Initiative |
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United Through Reading and engage your classroom with a virtual story time with a service member. Teachers who participate will receive a free video playlist of age-appropriate, military story readings from active and veteran service members. |
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The first 1,000 classrooms to sign up will receive access to a special recorded conversation or reading with a featured author.
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100 classrooms will be entered to win a library book pack just for their students.
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10 schools with the most classroom sign-ups will each receive a large book pack for their school library.
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Founding Forward and the Bill of Rights Institute are pleased to announce the
Debate & Leadership Institute, a 5-day student debate program in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on July 20-24, 2025. Students will spend the week strengthening their debate skills and deepening their civic knowledge.
Previous debate experience is not required to apply. Bookmark this student program, applications open in November!
The Debate & Leadership Institute is open to rising 10th-12th grade students in the 2026-2027 school year. Full tuition for the program includes, lectures, room and board, all meals, site visits, and program materials for a $1,000.Scholarships are granted to accepted attendees for the full cost of attendance. |
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The 2026 National Civics Bee® invites students in grades 6–8 to explore an issue in their community, propose a solution, and compete for recognition and prizes. The essay application portal is open now and closes on Feb. 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. HST.
Find out more today >> |
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BOE: Bottom of Email
Hi John, Next month, join the Bill of Rights Institute in celebrating Native American heritage and educating students on their deep rooted history from the pre-Columbian era until present day.
As we review these resources through the lens of America's 250th birthday, begin with our Native American lesson from our Documents of Freedom curriculum. The lesson reviews the history of the Native Americans through governmental policies and their continued demand for liberty and equality in the American system of self-government. |
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In addition to hundreds of lessons and classroom-ready activities, we also maintain a Current Events page
. Our team searches for recent news articles that explore relevant themes and connect those articles to our resources.
Warmly,
Laura Vlk
Director, Educator Engagement
Bill of Rights Institute |
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