Kids need to understand civics too! Join us as we explore hands-on activities and children’s literature that will help teachers lay a foundation for teaching responsible citizenship and celebrating America’s beliefs and principles. The institute will provide resources to address:

Characteristics of good citizens 

Community Helpers

Symbols, customs, and celebrations that represent America’s identity

These concepts are explored through guided and shared reading/writing opportunities appropriate for kindergarten through 3rd grade students. To support the teaching of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) a variety of rich materials such as historical children’s books, primary sources, poems, songs, and biographies are part of this professional learning. Explore lessons and  strategies that support student success and enrich existing curriculum. Participants receive access to all materials upon completion of the course. 

Course Credit: Teachers will receive 6 hours for this institute. For virtual courses, this is based on the  successful completion of all asynchronistic components of the course and attendance at the live facilitated sessions.

This training is free of charge !!

Civic Education at its finest!! Join us as we explore how to integrate language arts and social studies curriculum to build your students' knowledge of civics. This institute provides professional development for teachers incorporating these social studies concepts through content-area literacy best practices: 

Civic Participation

Characteristics of good citizens

Texas Government

Declaration of Independence

Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

These concepts will be explored through reading/writing opportunities appropriate for 4th grade through 5th grade students. To support the teaching of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), a variety of rich materials such as children’s texts, primary sources, poems, songs, and biographies are part of the professional learning.

Course Credit: Teachers will receive 12 hours for this institute. This is based on the  successful completion of all asynchronistic components of the course and attendance at the live facilitated sessions.

 This training is free of charge !!

Teaching Social Studies IS teaching READING !! You do have time for Social Studies. Join Law-Related Education as we explore how to use social studies content to sequence events and examine the cultural and historical significance of events. Educators will experience ready-made resources and lessons designed to allow students to engage with content as they explore History and Government from a Texas perspective. See how you can use these resources to begin preparing your learners for the new cross curricular passages on the redesigned STAAR for Reading Language Arts. Participants will receive lunch and all materials. 4th Grade
Coming soon...

Do you need help with your district professional development staff days?

Let Law-Related Education help you customize learning for your elementary and secondary audiences. From one hour to six hour sessions, these low to no cost options can help you meet the content and pedagogy needs of your teachers.

School districts, regional service centers, local bar associations, and other entities can request programs throughout the year. Please contact Jan Miller at jmiller@texasbar.com to inquire about setting up a session.

The following topics are currently available.  Let us help you mix and match.

Process Topics:

  • Using event cards
  • Navigating the website
  • Using literature to teach Social Studies
  • Simulations for the elementary classroom

Content Topics:

  • Characteristics of Good Citizens
  • Community Helpers
  • Symbols, Customs, and Celebrations
  • Systems of Government
  • Country Cards
  • LRE Website Exploration
  • Mock Trials
 
  • Civic Engagement/Civics Works
  • Understanding Eras of Texas History
  • Comparing Texas Constitutions
  • Unique Branches of Texas Government
  • Civil Rights and Modern Era in Texas
 
  • Institutions of Government
  • Principles of the Constitution (both U.S. and Texas)
  • U.S. Constitution
  • Bill of Rights
  • Public Policy
  • Interest Groups/Political Parties
  • Presidential Nomination Process
  • Judicial Nomination Process
  • Incorporation and the Bill of Rights
 
  • Founding Documents
  • Constitutional Convention
  • Origin and Evolution of Political Parties
  • Early Republic - Domestic Policies
  • Early Republic - Foreign Policies
  • Civil War
  • Reconstruction
 
  • Gilded and Progressive Eras
  • New Deal and Changing Role of Government
  • Conflicts in U.S. History
  • Civil Rights
  • Modern America
  • Review Strategies for STAAR and/or EOC

Virtual Course Information:

LRE will be utilizing Canvas, a learning management system, for all virtual courses.

Participants will have the opportunity to work at their own pace on portions of the institute, learn from consultants in live Zoom sessions, and demonstrate their learning through a variety of activities. 

Funding Note: While this course is provided free of charge to participants, once an educator logs on to the course, Law-Related Education is charged for a license. Please help us be good stewards of our grant funds by only signing up if you are intending to complete the course.

For additional details about our virtual learning format, click here

Summer Registration opens April 1, 2023.

Register Here for Virtual Courses 

Note: Once you register, you will receive an email to complete your registration and set up your Canvas account. If you are having trouble, please see this click sheet for more information.

Already registered? Access your course here.

Note: You will use the login information you used when you registered to access this course.