Civic Education in the Elementary Grades: Promoting Engagement in an Era of Accountability

Based on a 5-year study of an elementary school with socioeconomic diversity, the authors provide an active model of civic engagement organized into three settings: Classroom, School, and Community. Each chapter includes an overview of what research has demonstrated about civic engagement in that particular space, offers detailed descriptions of activities, and closes with lessons for practice. This case study demonstrates how putting civics at the center of the curriculum gives purpose and motivation to traditional academic learning, including tested subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics. As former elementary school teachers, the authors focus on what is possible in schools rather than a romantic vision of what schools could be. Classroom teachers, school principals, community members, and teacher educators can use this resource to foster a deeper, richer understanding of what is entailed in civic life.