Click here to view Voice & Choice
Honoring kids’ voices can make all the difference in their school.
We’ve launched Part Two about Civics in the Early Grades - its called Voice & Choice as part of national Civics Week (3/11-15) in 2024.
Learn how adults can nurture the inherently civic-mindedness of our (K-6) citizens who are passionate about justice, liberty and happiness.
Fran Wills, NYS regent and 17 year old David respond to; a Kindergartener Gabe (above), a 2nd grader named Lizzy (with her elementary school principal, Chelsey Palmer); a 4th grader (with her teacher Gail Sider); 5th grader Cruz (with neuroscientists Senegal Mabry and Elizabeth Waters) and DK Holland, K-6 civics advocate. All deliberate about how to bring productive civics into the whole school. The video is moderated by Rashid Duroseau, Civics Director of Democracy Prep Public Charter Schools.
Since we start with kindergarten and end with a senior in high school, we see how students can grow and emerge as independent and self-reliant critical-thinkers.
Voice & Choice was co produced and moderated by Rashid Duroseau and DK Holland, Executive Director of Inquiring Minds Institute.
Whole child /whole school
In Part 1 Civic Learning in the Early Grades: Whole Child/Whole School, experts answer Inquiring Minds’ student questions during the webinar, which was hosted by the Center for Educational Equity / Teachers College, Columbia University.
Panelists include Inquiring Minds’ board members, Patricia Crain Galarce, Lesley University; Elizabeth Waters, NYU. Moderated by board member, Rashid Duroseau of Democracy Prep; and advisor Jaqueline Simmons, Teachers College. Also Carrie Manchester of New York State Ed commented at the end of the webinar on how the State can better help our youngest citizens along with Katonah high school senior, Pierce Burke.
Democracy is fragile: That’s why we help grow good citizens
Only an engaged, well-informed, active citizenry of individuals will strengthen it: By improving civic education for all children we help raise them to become part of a critically-thinking, active citizenry .
Our latest strategy to engage young kids in the civic life of their school is a brief and easy K-6 morning meeting protocol tool that teachers may use – while giving students a role – to help resolve classroom issues.
Kids are born citizens
We relate civics – using inquiry – to young lives as they develop their values and civic mindsets. Go to Our Theory for more including our peer-reviewed white paper.
By kids for kids...
By kids for kids...
5th graders can play this fun but hard game on their fictional island together. Melanie, 11, says, “This game should be played at the beginning AND end of 5th grade.”
Watch 5th graders create their own country!
How did ‘The United States of…’ (our game) develop?
Snapshot below, for more go to this page
Our student team, of 10-19 year olds, created a game – exploring ways to engage kids in understanding and possibly proposing solutions to thorny climate challenges.
The student team used a Jam Board to explore each of their ideas. After months of debate they grouped their concerns and narrowed down to 4 broad categories: government, natural resources, economy, and society. That’s when the idea of a 3D classroom game surfaced.
The team got very focused – researching, debating and writing – and ultimately, creating helpful tools to be used in the game over 6 additional months.
We named the game The United States of… because many countries (Ukraine and Mexico, for instance) are, in fact, The United States of...
“Civic education is an integral component of a complete education, yet too many of our students never have access to it.
Inquiring Minds has been an invaluable resource to not only provide this critical education, but to also challenge the children to think independently and develop a strong sense of self.”
Letitia James, New York State Attorney General
Our institutional collaborators
Each and every child has a civic heart
Kids are the future. Our democracy makes a bold promise: that all may seek liberty, happiness and justice. For this promise to be kept these intertwined tenets must be embraced by every citizen, in every community: A robust democracy is, after all, a collective. Therefore, if all children seize opportunities to act as good citizens, they will learn about the important individual roles they play in society firsthand. And for these kids, the promise of democracy will shine brighter. Here is our theory about kids and democratic civics in school.