2022: The Summer Institute for Teachers featured a special theme of "Understanding and Teaching Delaware Civics and History Standards for Grade 4 Teachers​." This special institute was designed to offer grade 4 teachers professional learning and resources to prepare for the shift in social studies curriculum​.
2020 & 2021: The Democracy Project held its annual civics education summer institute online in a scaled-down fashion based on advice from K-12 teachers. The institute ran four days with opportunities for online interactions with elected officials and others influencing policies.
2019: Participating teachers learned new ways to teach Delawares civics standards through engagement with model lesson plans developed by Democracy Project Director Fran O'Malley and about the inner workings of state and national politics from IPA Senior Fellow and former Delaware Secretary of State Ed Freel. More information on the 21st annual Institute for Teachers can be found in this featured article.
2018: Polarization of the American Electorate
For its 20th year, The Democracy Project Summer Institute for Teachers focused on the polarization of the American electorate and featured guest speakers representing Delaware on the local, state, and federal level. Additionally, in-depth teaching lessons and discussions, interactive teaching opportunities, and a visit with teachers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia helped to bring new perspectives to the classroom.
2017: Transitions, Budgets,
and Media Literacy
For the 2017 institute, participating scholars
met with key leaders at the local, state, and national levels as well
as civics and literacy education specialists who provided guided
practice in the use of standards-based lessons that support student
achievement in the areas of civics, literacy, media literacy.
2016: Advanced Institute with Election Focus
For
its 18th year, The Democracy Project Summer Institute for Teachers
shifted its curriculum from a general civic-education theme to an
in-depth focus on the election process. The new program highlighted a
range of topics relating to elections, including fundraising, running
campaigns, the roles of the national parties, pollsters, media, super
PACs, and the Electoral College. Teachers also enjoyed one-on-one
interactions with prominent candidates currently running for statewide
elected office.
Twenty-five Delaware school teachers participated
in this advanced summer institute, including alumni of the original
program. The teachers represented elementary, middle, and high schools
and public, private, parochial, and charter schools.
This five-day
seminar focused on the election process. It is designed to inspire
civic involvement in Americas youth through innovative classroom
teaching. The following video provides highlights of the week-long
institute:
