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FAQ

What is CIVICS?

CIVICS sends Harvard undergraduates into 5th-8th grade Boston and Cambridge classrooms once a week for 8-10 weeks per semester to teach students about the US government and how it is relevant in their lives. Teachers work in groups of two or three to present the basics of government through a combination of lectures and hands-on activities. While the lessons teach the mechanics of the political process, we also make connections to current events and emphasize the importance of personal involvement in the system. Students who are involved with CIVICS routinely cite it as their favorite activity at Harvard.

 

What would I do as a CIVICS teacher?

As a CIVICS teacher, your primary job is teaching a class once a week for 8-10 weeks during the course of the semester. We work with your schedule to place you in a classroom with one or two other Harvard students, and we cover transportation expenses. At bi-weekly meetings, we address any problems and share any ideas that come up in the classroom during the week. Following the meetings, teaching teams get together and plan their lessons for the coming week. At the end of the spring semester, teachers organize special projects such as visits by local officials or field trips to the Kennedy Library.

 

What is the curriculum like?

The CIVICS curriculum is divided into a fall and spring semester. The fall semester focuses on the organization of the US government (e.g. the three branches, checks and balances). The spring semester focuses on the rights and responsibilities of citizens. In addition to factual content, each section includes a variety of possible activities. There is always enough material provided to fill a lesson, but it is just a guide. You are encouraged to add, cut, and innovate!