Classroom Content
Sphere provides educators with viewpoint diverse resources to bring conversations to the classroom and equip students to engage in civil discourse. Sphere offers lesson plans, discussion questions, videos, and publications on various topics for use in the classroom that are exclusively nonpartisan.
Collections
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America’s 250th
Sphere Education Initiatives’ 250th collection integrates the study of civics across disciplines to help students identify, analyze, and evaluate the underpinnings of the founding principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence through the framework of civil discourse.
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Getting Started with Civil Discourse
Learn how civil discourse can help you foster strong discussions and connections for your students. Explore our lessons, conversation frameworks, teacher tools, and explainers adaptable for all disciplines and grade levels to get started.
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Human Progress
This collection explores historical figures and cities who epitomize human progress and innovation worldwide. Students will examine influential individuals and places in science, art, and social reform, appreciating their transformative impact on shaping our world.
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Civil Discourse and Economics
This collection aims to cultivate critical thinking skills in students as they explore microeconomics and macroeconomics, examining the role of government in the economy through lessons that encourage analysis, evaluation, and understanding of economic principles and government interventions.
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Politics and Society
Politics and society are interconnected and shape our daily lives. Values and principles should steer decisions on healthcare, education, immigration, and national security. Fostering civil discourse amidst disagreement is important for constructive governance and social harmony.
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Civil Discourse and English Language Arts
This equips teachers with engaging lesson plans to promote respectful and inclusive discussions around literature, enabling students to develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and effective communication while exploring diverse perspectives and themes in literary works.
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Constitution and Law
Examine the Constitution’s principles and interpretation. How to balance personal freedoms with government intervention in areas such as health or national security? Consider the implications of constitutional amendments or law changes on rights and governance.
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Civil Discourse in Science and Technology
This collection is curated with lessons and resources that support the unique nature of civil discourse discussions in the science classroom. Lessons help students explore the intersection of the sciences, economics, public policy, and human progress.
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Centers of Progress
This module explores the locations that have served as hubs for human progress and innovation throughout world history. Students will delve into the stories of significant cities and regions, examining their contributions in fields such as science, technology, arts, and governance, fostering a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of societies and the impact of key cultural and intellectual centers.
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Heroes of Progress
This module explores people who have made extraordinary contributions to human wellbeing throughout world history. Students will delve into the stories of important individuals, examining their contributions in fields such as science, technology, arts, and governance, fostering a deep appreciation for innovation, openness, and curiosity.
Latest Lessons
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Using Poetry to Understand Others
In this lesson, students examine slam poetry performances that explore heritage, traditions, and cultural influences through the AWARE framework, analyzing how word choice and rhetoric reveal poets’ perspectives on relationships and identity formation.
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Using Poetry to Understand Society
Using the AWARE framework, students explore social commentary in music and slam poetry through works like “The Sound of Silence” and “Paper People” in order to analyze how artists critique societal behaviors and express perspectives on social issues through creative forms.
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Using Poetry to Understand Place, Setting, and Tone
This lesson combines art analysis, poetry performance viewing, and reflective journal writing to examine the connection between setting and personal identity. Using the AWARE framework, students analyze slam poetry like “Suburbia” by Phil Kaye to explore how language patterns reveal speakers’ perspectives on place and identity.
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Introduction to Slam Poetry
In this lesson, students will use the structure of the AWARE framework to explore slam poetry as a dynamic performance art form while learning to analyze how poets use language patterns and word choices to convey their perspectives and purposes.
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Civil Discourse Through Slam Poetry Overview
These lessons guides students through an exploration of personal identity using the AWARE framework, combining slam poetry analysis, reflective journaling, and civil discourse activities to examine how place, others, and society shape who we are.
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Memory Circles Lesson Plan
Through structured small‐group conversations about place, others, and society, students practice the AWARE framework for civil discourse and build classroom community while learning to use each other’s names and express opinions respectfully.
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Introduction to Civil Discourse Notes
In this lesson, students explore civil discourse through collaborative vocabulary analysis and note‐taking activities, developing student‐friendly definitions while applying discussion principles to quotations about respectful communication.
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Centers of Progress, Part 27: Hong Kong (Non‐Interventionism)
In this article, Chelsea Follett explores the principles of economic freedom through the words of Sir John James Cowperthwaite, the British financial secretary who championed a hands‐off approach. Students will learn how limited government intervention helped turn Hong Kong from a poor colony into a global economic powerhouse.
