[Updated] We’re all civics teachers today. 19 ways to talk with your kids about the Capitol attack

I was busy online with a small group of elementary social studies teachers yesterday afternoon when my phone started buzzing. I ignored it for a bit but after a teacher in the group sent me a private message in my Zoom window, my attention shifted. And then, of course, was distracted until late last night and into this morning.

Your role as a social studies teachers has never been more important. Or more difficult.

I was able to take part in a special #sschat session last night and walked away amazed at the power of a social studies PLN. The topic?

“How do I teach tomorrow?”

So many incredible teachers and so many amazing conversations. Blew. Me. Away. There was so much conversation going on, I’m heading back to the chat archive this evening to catch up on all I missed.

(And if you haven’t been part of an #sschat or don’t follow the hashtag, head over to their chat archives and starting getting smarter. Not sure how to do that? Start here.)

One of the amazing things that developed during last night’s chat was the crowdsourced creation of a Google spreadsheet with tons of resources. If you’re looking for ways to talk with with your kids about the events of yesterday and the events that will be taking place over the next few weeks, you need to head over and check out the combined work of hundreds of teachers:

• #sschat Resource Sharing for January 6 – Google Spreadsheet

Updated January 13:

• How should schools teach kids about the U.S. Capitol insurrection? Six education experts explain

Updated January 11:

• National Council for the Social Studies statement and list of resources
• Illinois Civics has an updated series of election and January 6 resources
• Resources for talking to students about politics, civic engagement, and uncertainty from ASCD
• How to talk to your kids about the chaos at the Capitol from National Geographic

You can never have enough lesson plan ideas: 

• How to Talk to Kids About the Riots at the US Capitol (NPR)
• Talking to Kids About the Attack on the Capitol (NEA)
• How to Talk to Your Kids About the Chaos at the Capitol (National Geographic)
• When Bad Things Are Happening (Teaching Tolerance)
• Resources for Talking To Students About the Attack on the Capitol (We Are Teachers)
• Responding to the Insurrection at the Capitol (Facing History)
• Political Polarization Explainer (Facing History)
• Three Ways to Teach the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol (PBS News Hour)
• Resources for Teachers on the Days after the Attack on the U.S Capitol (Dr. Alyssa Hadley Dunn, Michigan State University Professor of Education)

A few extra resources:

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
• An age-by-age guide on how to talk about difficult topics with your children (Motherly and Common Sense Media)
• Eleven Times When Americans Have Marched in Protest on Washington (Smithsonian Magazine)
• Election Day to Inauguration Day Graphic (Street Law, Inc.),
• The 1876 election was the most divisive in U.S. history. Here’s how Congress responded. (National Geographic)
• The U.S. Capitol’s turbulent history of bombings, assassination attempts, and violence (National Geographic)
• ‘Nothing less than a miracle’: The Constitution and the peaceful transition of power (National Constitution Center)
• Creating Civic Spaces in Troubling Times article (Illinois Civics)
• FAQs about Presidential Transitions (Center for Presidential Transition)

After a day like yesterday, we’re all Civics teachers.

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Glenn is a curriculum and tech integration specialist, speaker, and blogger with a passion for technology and social studies. He delivers engaging professional learning across the country with a focus on consulting, presentations, and keynotes. Find out more about Glenn and how you might learn together by going to his Speaking and Consulting page.