Here is a great program that uses a deep-dive into court cases to explain constitutional law. It's aimed at high school students and is a critical thinking program.

The Harvard Civics Project is an initiative formed (1) to bring case method teaching to high schools, and (2) to use this methodology to deepen students' understanding of American democracy.

Based on the highly successful experience of Harvard Business School and other graduate and professional programs that use case-based teaching, the case method can be employed to strengthen high school education as well, ensuring a more exciting, relevant, and effective experience for students and teachers across a range of subjects. The case method can be especially effective at engaging students with topics in history and democracy, and it presents a unique opportunity to help reverse the broad decline in civic education and civic engagement in the United States. The national media have also pointed to the advantages of this method for engaging students. A Better Way To Teach History

Project cases are based on those outlined in Harvard Business School Professor David Moss's recent book, Democracy: A Case Study. Click here to watch Professor David A. Moss discuss his book, Democracy: A Case Study.

To access the Harvard Case Method Project website: Click Here

As part of its mission to expand civic awareness and participation of young voters, the Greenwich League initiated this program in partnership with local high schools. A description of the Greenwich program is available here.

Teachers were trained and the pilot community discussion -- James Madison, the "Federal Negative", and The Making of the U.S. Constitution (1787) -- occurred in November 2017.

David Moss at Greenwich High School, November 2017

Survey results from the pilot show significantly increased interest in voting, political engagement and constructive debate. For a full report on that presentation, click here. Local newspapers covered the event. Click here....and here.

From left to right, Greenwich High School teachers Jessica Keller, Karen Boyea, and Steve Swidler led a community discussion on Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Black Voting Rights (1965).

In November 2018, 100 Greenwich residents of diverse ages and political viewpoints participated in a community discussion about this case.For more information click here.

For the most recent full report on the Harvard Civics Project in Greenwich, click here.

GUIDELINES FOR RUNNING A COMMUNITY CASE DISCUSSION

In the past year, the Greenwich League has encouraged other Leagues across the country to organize community discussions, which are part of the Harvard Civics Project. For tips about how to organize a community conversation, click here.

2020 HARVARD CIVICS WORKSHOP: HOW TO RECRUIT TEACHERS

For detailed information about how to recruit teachers for the 2020 Harvard Teacher Workshop, click here. Please note that the deadline for workshop registration has been extended to April 15, 2020.

As part of its mission to expand civic awareness and participation of young voters, the Greenwich League initiated this program in partnership with local high schools. A description of the Greenwich program is available here.

Teachers were trained and the pilot community discussion -- James Madison, the "Federal Negative," and The Making of the U.S. Constitution (1787) -- occurred in November 2017.

The teacher nomination deadline for the Harvard Civics Workshop has been extended to April 15 (from April 1) at the request of a number of participating Leagues.