Civics & Government Current Events Lessons

7 current events lessons for Civics & Government. Each lesson has readings at three grade levels, discussion questions and a critical thinking task. Teaching it in Grades 6–8? Start with the Level 1 readings.

Also taught as Civics, American Government, U.S. Government, Government, American Civics, Civics and Government, Senior Civics, Participation in Government, Problems of Democracy, Civics and Economics, Political Science.

7 lessons

  • New

    Gerrymandering Lesson Plan: Who Should Draw the Lines?

    This gerrymandering lesson plan shows how district lines can decide an election, using maps drawn by both parties and Missouri's 2025 redraw. In this lesson for Grades 6-12,…

    Democracy & ElectionsEqualityPower
    North AmericaMini-unit: 2026 US Midterm Elections · Lesson 3
  • New

    Issues in the 2026 US Midterm Elections

    Branches of GovernmentElections & VotingMedia & Public Opinion

    The economy leads the list of American voters' concerns, but according to an Ipsos/Reuters poll from September, 71% name something else, from democracy to immigration to healthcare. Using…

    Democracy & ElectionsIdeologySecurity
    North AmericaMini-unit: 2026 US Midterm Elections · Lesson 2

  • White House Press Ban

    Rights & Liberties

    A differentiated lesson on what freedom of the press protects, why it matters, and what people can do when they believe it has been violated. This lesson is…

    Rights & JusticeLegitimacyPower
    North America

  • What are US Midterm Elections?

    Constitution & FoundationsBranches of GovernmentElections & Voting

    Every two years, Americans elect a Congress that can reshape what a president is able to do, but without removing the president. This background lesson explains how that…

    Democracy & ElectionsLegitimacyPower
    North AmericaMini-unit: 2026 US Midterm Elections · Lesson 1

  • USA – Canada Trade War

    Hours before a midnight tariff deadline, Canada suspended trade negotiations with the United States and 50% tariffs took effect. Both governments blame the other. This lesson uses the…

    Economics & DevelopmentPeace & ConflictInterdependencePowerSovereignty
    North America

  • Dr. Anthony Fauci Congressional Hearing

    Branches of Government

    A U.S. Senate committee voted to hold a former health official in contempt after he refused to answer questions. Students use the case to ask a bigger civic…

    Rights & JusticeLegitimacyPower
    North America

  • Comparing Independence Movements

    Four regions, one question: who gets to decide whether part of a country can leave? Students examine Scotland, Catalonia, Quebec, and Alberta to understand why independence movements arise,…

    Democracy & ElectionsIdentityNationalismSovereignty
    Europe & Central Asia · North America

Lessons are matched to this course from the curriculum links in each lesson’s teacher notes, which list the specific outcomes.