SC250Education Resources
National Educational Contests, Challenges, & Materials:
America’s Field Trip https://america250.org/fieldtrip/
Application process for 2025-2026 NOW OPEN !
An essay contest that invites students across the country in grades 3–12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.
Civic Star Challenge https://civicstarchallenge.org/
A partnership between Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics. This website has a wealth of resources about teaching the Declaration of Independence and integrating it into multiple teaching areas. Teach the themes throughout this school year for chances to win over 400 incredible prizes (from a $300 cash prize for classroom teaching, to classroom grants, to more cash prizes for a teacher essay contest addressing "Why is civic learning important in my classroom, and how does it empower my students?")
C-Span
C-Span Classroom https://www.c-span.org/classroom/
Includes special section C-Span America 250: Resources Celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial (videos, lesson plans, short films)
C-Span Student Cam 2026 https://www.studentcam.org/
A national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that a ect our communities and our nation. 2026 THEME: America’s 250th Anniversary. Cash prizes. Submission deadline January 20, 2026.
History Made by US (Smithsonian)
https://historymadebyus.org/
This is only organization with the central mission as Gen Z engagement for the 250th. This group also encompasses the Youth250 Bureau, Wish Wall Project and Civic Season. Our SC Youth250 contact is Mallory Panuelo, mallorypanuelo@gmail.com
iCivics https://ed.icivics.org/
Website with educational resources focused on civics ( including curriculum units and online games) and professional development information.
o Civic Learning Week https://civiclearningweek.org/about-us/ (CLW) is hosted annually by iCivics and seeks to highlight the importance of civic education in sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in the United States. In-person and virtual events in March.
National Archives: America’s 100 Docs
https://docsteach.org/topics/america-250/
America’s 100 Docs, an initiative of the National Archives Foundation in partnership with More Perfect, invites the American public to vote on 100 notable documents from the holdings of the National Archives—the nation’s o icial record keeper.
National Constitution Center
https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/Essay_Competition_Packet.pdf
Founding Freedoms Essay Contest
This contest challenges public and independent schoolteachers throughout the MidAtlantic region to increase constitutional literacy and awareness of individual rights in their classrooms. The essay contest asks 6th, 8th, and 12th grade students to compose essays
exploring the contemporary meanings of the relationship between the founding documents— the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
National Daughters of the American Revolution
Partnership with America250: https://www.dar.org/outreach/america-250
Essay Contests: https://www.dar.org/outreach/education/essay-contests
o American History Essay Contest (grades 5th-8th)
o Patriots of the Revolution Essay Contest (High School students)
National History Day https://nhd.org/en/
The 2026 theme is“Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History”
Students start their History Day journey by competing locally, with top entries advancing to regional and then a iliate contests. First and second place winners at each a iliate contest advance to the NHD National Contest set for June 2026.
SC History Day contact: Dr Charlie Harris at Coastal Carolina University.843.349.6478 charris7@coastal.edu
National Museum & Center for Service : 250 & Beyond https://www.nmcfs.org/250andbeyond
A national initiative, led by a coalition of leading service organizations, to create inspiring, inclusive, and enduring exhibitions to honor service in ALL its forms in communities, schools, libraries, and museums all across the country. Toolkits available.
National Museum of American History https://americanhistory.si.edu/
o National Youth Summit (likely happening September 2026) https://americanhistory.si.edu/education/national-youth-summit
The National Youth Summit brings middle and high school students together with scholars, teachers, policy experts, and activists in a national conversation about important events in America’s past that have relevance to the nation’s present and future.
PBS: The American Revolution by Ken Burns
o PBS Learning Media – To recieve updates from PBS Learning Media and learning about upcoming education opportunities related to The American Revolution (inperson and virtual teacher learning events, community film screenings, and the robust collection of classroom resources coming November 2025 – submit this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe11Gf9bGsZV_h0EZx5CndAxkCF6NtDPhB3hjQrEiiRkzulg/viewform
o PBS The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge https://youthmedia.kqed.org/pbs-learningmedia-the-american-revolution
Drawing on the themes of The American Revolution documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, premiering on PBS on November 16, 2025, PBS LearningMedia’s Youth Media Challenge invites students to explore Revolutionary ideals— such as liberty, self-governance, and democracy—through media-making.
National Sites for Arts, Humanities & Storytelling Opportunities
Sing Democracy 250 https://www.singdemocracy250.org/
Choirs across the United States are invited to participate in this national commemoration of America’s 250th birthday by organizing their own Sing Democracy 250 performance to take place between March 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Eligible choirs will receive free scores of the two new choral compositions.
America250: Our American Story https://america250.org/nominate/
This is an oral and visual storytelling project aimed at collecting and preserving our nation’s stories. This is your opportunity to nominate a living person – a friend, family member, neighbor, or community leader – whose story you think needs to be shared and preserved.
On Our 250th https://www.onour250th.org/
A partnership with History Made By US and the New York Historical Society, this website allows each of us to leave a 250th birthday message for America. Share your hopes and dreams for America’s future and our democracy.
South Carolina Education Resources
American Battleground Trust, South Carolina American Revolution Curriculum
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/module/south-carolina-american-revolutioncurriculum
Lesson Plans for 4th & 8th Grades, With Adaptable Resources for Other Grades.
SC250 Educational Resources
https://southcarolina250.com/education-resources/
Classroom materials, lesson plans, graphic novels and more.
SCETV Know-It-All https://www.knowitall.org/
Videos and classroom resources on South Carolina in the Revolutionary War.
South Carolina’s Palmetto Civics Project https://ed.sc.gov/palmettocivics/
This resource-rich initiative is designed to foster students’understanding of and respect for the institutions that sustain our civic life. The goal is simple but profound: every South Carolina graduate will leave school prepared to embrace the privileges and the responsibilities of American citizenship.