iCivics prepares young Americans to become knowledgeable, engaged 21st century citizens by creating free and innovative educational materials. In 2009, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor founded iCivics to reverse Americans' declining civic knowledge and participation. Securing our democracy, she realized, requires teaching the next generation to understand and respect our system of governance. Today iCivics comprises not just our board and staff, but also a national leadership team of state supreme court justices, secretaries of state, and educational leaders and a network of committed volunteers. Together, we are committed to passing along our legacy of democracy to the next generation. In just two years, iCivics has produced 16 educational video games as well as vibrant teaching materials that have been used in classrooms in all 50 states. Today we offer the nation's most comprehensive, standards-aligned civics curriculum that is available freely on the Web.

Good site for content area literacy activities in the area of evidence and argumentation. Students use higher-order thinking skills when they learn to critically construct, evaluate, and defend their arguments using the "Showing Evidence Tool". Project examples and strategies are also provided here.

This site provides current events articles. A good source for close reads and "One Page Wonders".

Good resource for Common Core information. Site contains helpful guide for creating questions for a close read, and close read exemplars for grades 6-12.