Foundations of Democracy

K-5 Civics Toolkit

A comprehensive K-5 civics toolkit empowering educators to shape tomorrow’s citizens through democracy, responsibility, and community.

Young children are natural citizens—curious about their communities, developing a sense of fairness, and learning to navigate social relationships. Our toolkit builds on these natural inclinations, providing age-appropriate resources that make abstract concepts like democracy, rights, and responsibilities accessible and engaging for K-5 students. Every resource in this toolkit is aligned with the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards. This careful alignment ensures that as you incorporate these materials into your classroom, you’re simultaneously meeting curricular expectations while building essential civic competencies.

Democratic Classroom

Whether you’re a veteran teacher looking to refresh your civics curriculum or new to teaching foundational government concepts, you’ll find accessible entry points and scaffolded resources to support your students’ civic development. Each resource clearly indicates which specific 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards it addresses, making lesson planning and curriculum mapping effortless.

Values of A Democratic Classroom

  • Cooperation

  • Equality and Fairness

  • Inclusion and Diversity

  • Participation

  • Respect

  • Responsibility

Features of a Democratic Classroom

  • Active Participation

  • Civil Discourse

  • Collaborative Decision-making

  • Diverse Perspectives

  • Social-Emotional Learning

  • Social Responsibility

  • Problem-based/ Project-based Learning

Instructional Strategies of a Democratic Classroom

  • Collaborative Learning Groups

  • Structured Conversations

  • Peer Teaching

  • Participatory Rule-making

  • Voting

  • Student Choice

  • Service Learning

Classroom Resources

Join us in nurturing the next generation of informed, engaged, and empathetic citizens—one classroom at a time.

Grades K-2

Grades 3-5