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Group Discussion

SEMINARS & LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Immersive Civic Learning for Educators and Students

The Power of Patriotism seminars are intensive, interdisciplinary learning experiences designed to strengthen U.S. History and Civics instruction while supporting meaningful civic engagement in classrooms and communities nationwide.

Delivered through national cohorts and guided by faculty, historians, and experienced Educators, the seminars combine historical inquiry, instructional practice, and applied civic learning.

A Distinctive Seminar Model

The seminars offered through The Power of Patriotism are designed to move beyond traditional professional development. Rather than focusing on isolated content delivery, the seminar model integrates historical study, pedagogical practice, and civic application.
 

Participants engage with foundational U.S. history and constitutional principles while also examining how civics can be taught in developmentally appropriate, inquiry-based ways. Seminar learning is directly connected to classroom implementation and student-led civic action, ensuring that ideas explored during the seminars translate into practice.

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​The seminar model integrates three interconnected pillars that together support deep civic learning and meaningful classroom implementation.

HISTORICAL
UNDERSTANDING

Historical understanding is foundational to meaningful civic education. Seminar participants engage with U.S. history through primary and secondary sources, guided inquiry, and contextual analysis that emphasizes both continuity and change over time. Rather than presenting history as a static narrative, the seminars encourage participants to examine how historical events, constitutional principles, and civic institutions have been interpreted and debated across generations.

This approach supports Educators and Learners in developing a nuanced understanding of American history—one that acknowledges complexity, multiple perspectives, and the evolving nature of democratic life. By grounding Civic learning in historical inquiry, participants build the knowledge base necessary for informed civic participation.

INSTRUCTIONAL
PRACTICE

Effective Civic education depends not only on content knowledge, but on instructional practice that is developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and responsive to diverse classroom contexts. The seminars emphasize pedagogical strategies that support inquiry-based learning, structured dialogue, and interdisciplinary instruction.

Participants explore how to translate historical and civic concepts into classroom experiences that engage students actively—through discussion, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. Instructional frameworks introduced in the seminars are designed to be adaptable, allowing educators to align civic learning with their existing curricula while maintaining academic rigor and clarity.

CIVIC
ACTION

Civic action is the application of knowledge and skills in meaningful, real-world contexts. Seminar learning culminates in student-led civic action projects that invite learners to identify issues relevant to their communities and design thoughtful responses grounded in civic understanding.

 

These projects are intentionally scaled to be age-appropriate and locally relevant, emphasizing civic participation, responsibility, and ethical engagement rather than advocacy. Through guided civic action, students move beyond learning about democracy to practicing the habits of democratic life—developing confidence, agency, and a sense of shared responsibility within their communities.

Educator seminars are delivered through national cohorts and consist of approximately 30 or more hours of structured learning.

Cohorts bring together K–6 Educators from diverse geographic and community contexts to study U.S. history and civics while sharing instructional approaches and classroom experiences.

 

Seminars are facilitated by a multidisciplinary team that may include historians, civic education experts, faculty affiliated with Long Island University, and experienced practitioners. Sessions emphasize discussion, inquiry, and collaborative problem-solving rather than lecture-based instruction.

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Educator Seminar Cohorts

  • National cohort-based learning

  • Hybrid delivery (synchronous and asynchronous)

  • Interdisciplinary civic content

  • Classroom-ready instructional frameworks

  • Professional learning community engagement

KEY
FEATURES​

Student
Participation and
Civic Leadership

Learners move from learning about civics to practicing it.

Learners participate in selected seminar experiences alongside Educators, with learning designed specifically for their developmental stage. Student seminar components focus on understanding democratic principles, engaging in respectful dialogue, and applying civic knowledge through real-world projects.
 

Through guided instruction and mentorship, students develop civic agency by identifying issues relevant to their communities and designing thoughtful, age-appropriate civic action projects. These experiences reinforce classroom learning while fostering confidence, responsibility, and civic voice.

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From Seminar Learning to Classroom Practice

Seminar content is aligned with interdisciplinary instructional frameworks developed through the American Emergent Curriculum and refined through classroom implementation at The School House. Educators leave the seminars with access to Civic Learning Resource Sets that translate seminar learning into classroom-ready materials.

 

These resources support Educators in implementing high-quality civics instruction that is historically grounded, developmentally appropriate, and adaptable to diverse classroom contexts.

INCLUDED
MATERIALS​

  • Civic Learning Resource Sets (CLR)
     

  • Interdisciplinary lesson frameworks
     

  • Student project guides
     

  • Reflection and assessment tools

Accessible and Flexible Delivery

The seminar model is intentionally designed to support participation from Educators and Learners across varied settings, including rural, remote, and low-bandwidth communities. Learning experiences combine live sessions with asynchronous components, allowing participants to engage meaningfully without unnecessary barriers.
 

Materials are designed to be accessible, mobile-compatible, and adaptable for different classroom environments. Support structures are in place to ensure equitable participation across all cohorts.

Seminar
Outcomes

By the conclusion of the seminar experience, participants are expected to demonstrate growth in:
 

  • Civic content knowledge

  • Instructional confidence in teaching U.S. History and Civics

  • Learner engagement and participation

  • Capacity to implement civic learning in classroom and community settings
     

Outcomes are measured through participation tracking, pre- and post-seminar assessments, and ongoing instructional feedback, supporting continuous improvement and accountability.

Upcoming Seminar Cohorts

Multiple seminar cohorts will be offered throughout the three-year initiative. Cohort timelines, participation expectations, and application windows are announced on a rolling basis.

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