For K-12 teachers in the western U.S. looking for relevant, timely, and interactive civic education classes and digital resources—plus a “virtual field trip” to historic Boston, Massachusetts—the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate invites you to sign up for one of their new 10 a.m. PDT classroom slots (11 a.m. and noon in the Mountain and Central time zones).

Starting on Monday, March 14, the Kennedy Institute is making its age-appropriate, highly interactive classes on civic education–including sessions focused on basics of the Constitution and the workings of the Senate, voting rights, immigration reform, the Green New Deal, the Electoral College, and other timely topics¬–available to teachers at 10 a.m. PDT/11 a.m. MDT/noon CDT weekdays. Programs can host up to 50 students at a time and are led by highly trained Institute educators who faithfully present Democratic, Republican, and politically diverse viewpoints. Signup information is at https://www.emkinstitute.org/resources/visit-request-form
Students in grades 4 to 12 can participate as a “U.S. Senator for the day” in the Kennedy Institute’s “Today’s Vote in the Classroom” of “Real Life Civics” modules. They participate by Zoom in a developmentally appropriate simulated Senate session with a live floor debate on an actual piece of legislation pending before the Senate. Students consider issues from multiple perspectives, share their own ideas, and then cast their votes.

Besides civics teachers, hundreds of history, social studies, government, and general-classroom teachers have also found valuable and relevant offerings from the Kennedy Institute for their classes.
For student groups connecting by Zoom from other parts of the country, a highlight of the program is a virtual tour of the life-sized replica of the U.S. Senate chamber at the Capitol that is the centerpiece of the Institute’s facility on the shores of Boston Harbor, close to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
For students in grades K-3, the Kennedy Institute offers “Welcoming Words,” covering civic education basics and focusing on how the Statue of Liberty welcomes diverse neighbors into American communities. Students as part of the class create their own symbols of welcome for new friends using art and collage supplies.

Kelly Feurt, a 5th grade teacher at Bentley Academy Innovation School in Salem, Mass., signed up recently to have her class participate by Zoom in the “Pathways to Environmental Justice” class, which focused on proposed legislation to protect people from the effects of climate change. She called it “the best virtual experience my students and I have experienced since remote learning began in March 2020.’’

“Our presenters created a professional atmosphere, referring to our students as ‘Senator Sanchez’ and ‘Senator Castillo,’ and treating them like colleagues debating ideas, rather than children,’’ Feurt said. “The fifth grade rose to the occasion and dazzled all of us with the level of discourse they engaged in.’’
Feurt noted that presenters moved seamlessly between interacting with students on video and responding to their questions and comments in the Zoom chat box, which many students found more convenient and comfortable for asking questions. “I would recommend this program to any fifth-grade class,’’ Feurt said.

"These days we see more and more people from all across the political spectrum agreeing on how important it is for Americans, regardless of party affiliation, to gain a greater understanding of how our constitutional democracy functions,’’ said Caroline Angel Burke, the Kennedy Institute’s Vice President of Education, Visitor Experience & Collections.

"We want to partner with even more teachers across America to encourage participatory democracy and civil discussion of important current issues and to inspire their students--our next generation of voting citizens and leaders--to engage in the civic life of their communities and country,’’ Burke said.
The Kennedy Institute, named for the 47-year senator from Massachusetts, opened in March 2015, six years after Senator Kennedy’s death. The mission of the institute is to educate the public–and particularly K-12 and college students–about the role of the Senate in our country’s government and to encourage participatory democracy, invigorate civil discourse, and inspire the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities.

Among the many Republican leaders who have joined former Democratic officeholders in supporting the institute’s work and educational programs are former Senate leader Trent Lott of Mississippi; Andrew Card, chief of staff to President George W. Bush; and former Republican senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

For school groups, the Kennedy Institute charges $6 per student for classes of up to 50 students at a time, with some scholarships and discounts available for qualifying schools. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Kennedy Institute switched to offering classes by Zoom, and reopened for limited in-person visits this fall.

A two-minute video showcasing the Kennedy Institute’s online educational opportunities can be found at https://www.emkinstitute.org/explore-the-institute/dynamic-educational-experiences/online-resources/facilitated-school-programs. A complete list of educational offerings may be found at https://www.emkinstitute.org/explore-the-institute/dynamic-educational-experiences/ . The form to register for an online class can be filled out at https://www.emkinstitute.org/resources/visit-request-form