Student Resources

 Political Sites for Students 

  • Ben's Guide to U.S. Government - Grades K-12 - With sections for grades K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12; and parents and teachers, this site from the U.S. Government Printing Office features overviews of how government works and includes games and activities for the student.

  • Congress for Kids: Elections - Grades 3-8 - This site from the Dirksen Congressional Center features information about the primaries, the political parties, the national party conventions and more.

  • Elections - Grade 4-12 - This site from the Library of Congress provides primary source materials, lesson plans and other resources focused on elections.

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Learning Resources 

  • U.S. Voting Data

    • CIRCLE - ​The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement provides comprehensive data and analyses on young people's participation and influence in general elections.

  • The U.S. Constitution 

  • Ohio's Judicial Branch 

    • History of the Supreme Court - See 50-year slices of Ohio Supreme Court History 

    • The Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Judicial System - Learn about the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio Judicial System and structure, and Ohio's Supreme Court Justices with this guide from the Supreme Court of Ohio. 

    • How Does Ohio’s Court System Work? Video - The primary function of the judicial branch is to fairly and impartially settle disputes according to the law. To do this, a number of courts have been established in the state by the Constitution and by acts of the General Assembly. Ohio's court system is organized into trial courts, intermediate appeals courts, and the Ohio Supreme Court.

    • A Day in the Life of the Supreme Court of Ohio Video - A inside look into the work that is done at the Ohio Supreme Court.

    • Ohio's Three Branches of Government Video - Ohio's Constitution divides the power of our government equally between its three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This not only shares the responsibility of running our democracy, but it makes sure the citizens are protected and represented to the fullest extent possible.

    • Welcome to the Courts - A four-part video series that looks at the purposes and principals that dictate how the Courts in the United States operate. Brought to you by the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

 

Games and Activities

iCivics Games

  • Argument Wars - Ever tried to win a disagreement? In Argument Wars, you will try out your persuasive abilities by arguing a real Supreme Court case. The other lawyer is your competition. Whoever uses the strongest arguments wins! 

  • Branches of Power - Do you like running things? Do something that no one else can: control all three branches of the U.S. government.

  • Cast Your Vote - Election Day is coming, are you ready to vote? In Cast Your Vote, discover what it takes to become an informed voter — from knowing where you stand on important issues to uncovering what you need to know about candidates.

  • Counties Work - Learn how to manage local government by playing a county official responding to citizen requests!

  • Court Quest - Grab the keys and get behind the wheel! It’s your turn to drive the Justice Express in our new version of Court Quest. Explore state and federal courts as you help passengers navigate their path through the American judicial system.

  • Do I Have a Right? - In Do I Have a Right? you can run your own firm of lawyers who specialize in constitutional law. Decide if potential clients have a right, match them with the best lawyer, and win their case. The more clients you serve and the more cases you win, the faster your law firm grows!

  • Executive Command - Ever wanted to be President for a day? In Executive Command, you can be President for four years! 

  • Immigration Nation - Do you know how people become citizens of the United States? In Immigration Nation, you’ll help guide newcomers along their path to citizenship. 

  • LawCraft - Are you ready to learn how laws are made? In LawCraft, select a district to represent in the House of Representatives. You'll then review letters from constituents, dig into survey data, and select an issue that's important to you and the people that live in your district.

  • NewsFeed Defenders - Welcome to Newsably, a fictional social media site focused on news and information. Your mission? Maintain the site, grow traffic, and watch out! You'll also need to spot fake posts that try to sneak in through hidden ads, viral deception, and false reporting.

  • Race to Ratify - Race to Ratify drops you into 1787, where the ink is still drying on the new Constitution. Will it become the law of the land, or will it fall into the dustbin of history? The fate of the young nation is in your hands!

  • Sortify: U.S. Citizenship - Are you an expert on U.S. citizenship? Put your knowledge to the test ​

  • Win the White House - Do you want to be the next President of the United States? This refreshed version of Win the White House challenges you to build your campaign and allows you to simulate a presidential election

Voting Process Games