A comprehensive set of free resources for educators and learners designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for American political and civil society.
Full Curriculum
The Civic Literacy Curriculum is a resource for teaching and learning American civics. Organized around but going beyond the U.S. Citizenship Test, it is available as both a full curriculum and abridged study guides.
The full Civic Literacy Curriculum offers over 100 lessons including historical background, edited primary texts, exercises, worksheets, discussion prompts, and other tools to incorporate into your class,
whether in-school or home-learning.
These materials are completely free. ASU aims to make it easier for educators to access the tools they need to effectively teach the next generation of leaders. Click the button below to access the curriculum guide.
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Abridged Study Guides
The Civic Literacy Curriculum also offers abridged study guides for each learning section, with practice quizzes and flashcards, and hundreds of videos to help you prepare.
The abridged Civic Literacy Curriculum offers even more free materials for over 100 lessons including historical background, edited primary texts, exercises, worksheets, discussion prompts, and other tools to incorporate into your class— whether in school or home learning.
Our goal is to give lifelong learners the tools needed to hone your citizenship skills and knowledge. Browse the study guides for each of the seven learning sections, watch our curated video playlists or prep for your test!
Browse the Civic Literacy Curriculum
Section 1: Principles of the American Republic
Section 2: Systems of Government
Section 3: Rights and Responsibilities
Full CurriculumStudy Guide
Section 4: Colonial Period and Independence
Full CurriculumStudy Guide
Section 5: The 1800s
Full CurriculumStudy Guide
Section 6: Recent American History
Full CurriculumStudy Guide
Section 7: Geography, Symbols, and Holidays
Full CurriculumStudy Guide
Additional Resources
The Civic Literacy Curriculum also includes more than 200 videos, flashcards and an actual test for learners.
The Civic Literacy Curriculum video archive contains more than 200 short videos for educators and learners to help build their knowledge around American civics and politics. Use the playlist browser below, visit our YouTube channel or check out the archive for the complete list of videos.
And be sure to check out the flash cards and Civic Literacy Curriculum Test itself!
About the curriculum
The Civic Literacy Curriculum is a comprehensive civics curriculum developed and reviewed by educators and university scholars. The study guides, curriculum content for teachers, videos and flash cards are all based on the United States Customs and Immigration Naturalization Test required by the federal government for those looking to become naturalized American citizens. The curriculum also goes above the federal Naturalization test, offering more opportunities for learning about the systems of government, American history, and more. Arizona State University faculty plan to continue to develop additional learning sections to supplement the Civic Literacy Curriculum
The Civic Literacy Curriculum was developed by Arizona State University's Center for the Political Thought and Leadership. The CPTL aims to further research in American political thought and support civic education at all levels inside and out of the classroom. We support scholars, teachers, and students in their efforts to understand and improve American political society. We are nonpartisan and inter-ideological, focused on the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of truth as common goods for American politics and culture.
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
The CPTL is a research center in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. Established in 2017, the school combines a classical liberal arts curriculum with intensive learning experiences that include study abroad programs, professional internships, and leadership opportunities. Students graduate ready for careers in government, law, business and civil society.