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Democracy in the United States is in danger. We are witnessing the gutting of federal services, public health, and public education; the erasure of diverse cultures; continued attacks on truth and constitutional rights; and rising political violence, division, and dehumanization. These developments can make us fearful for our future, but we, the people, are not powerless. Collectively, we can fight for a democracy that works for all of us—and Share My Lesson has devoted resources to help.
Understanding Threats to Democracy
To better understand why democracy is so important, start with the principles integral to the founding of the United States. SML’s “Understanding Threats to Democracy” collection features “Why Doesn’t the United States Have a King?” This lesson, adaptable for many grade levels, details how our country’s founders envisioned a republic with shared power and accountability; it also considers the advantages of a government that represents everyone.
Next, learn what makes democracy work by exploring democratic and anti-democratic efforts across the world. The for-credit webinar “Authoritarianism vs. Democracy” compares countries using 12 categories of freedom—including free and fair elections, consent of the governed, and freedom from state tyranny. In the mini lesson “The Hope and Fragility of Democracy in the United States,” students in grades 6–12 explore US tactics to both strengthen or weaken democracy since the Civil War. “Comparing Trump’s Second Term to Autocracies Around the World,” adaptable for many grade levels, examines the importance of governmental checks and balances and the dangers of executive branch overreach. And in “Understanding Authoritarianism,” students in grades 10–12 research and compare authoritarian regimes and discuss ways citizens can respond and resist.
Several resources tackle how manipulating history contributes to democratic backsliding. One is a lesson based on Jason Stanley’s book, Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future. This lesson, suitable for students in grades 10 and above (including AP levels), emphasizes teaching honest history to make countries less susceptible to violent authoritarianism.
Taking Action
Educators and students can strengthen democracy through several SML resources highlighting the power of individual and collective action. “The Purpose and Power of Protest” prompts conversations among students in grades 4–12 on the constitutional right to engage in nonviolent resistance and advocacy for change. In “Defending Democracy: Lessons for Building Resilience and Taking Action,” high school students learn 12 actions to fight authoritarianism, including boosting media literacy, standing against misinformation, and becoming global citizens who influence society for the better.
Also notable are recent additions to the AFT Book Club series. In “A Conversation with Ali Velshi,” the author of Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy shares that although today’s problems seem overwhelming, “Your job is not to fix the whole world. Your job is to fix something.” Learn how engaging in community building and inspiring students to imagine the world as it can be help create a more just democracy. And in “A Conversation with Sami Sage,” the co-author of Democracy in Retrograde highlights how civic engagement aligned with your personality and unique skills—from joining a local school board, to advocating for public health issues, to volunteering for voter registration or organization drives—can increase interconnection and personal fulfillment.
Finally, the on-demand webinar “How to Stop a Backsliding Democracy in Its Tracks” gives practical strategies to help civil resistance movements succeed, including playing the long game, engaging youth, and using listening skills to disrupt isolation and polarization. For more teaching strategies on defending democracy, check out Share My Lesson’s “Educating for Democracy” playlist on YouTube: go.aft.org/8tr.
Do you have resources you’d like to share? SML makes it easy! And if you have ideas or requests, reach out to content@sharemylesson.com.
–THE SHARE MY LESSON TEAM
[Photos by Muhammad Farhad / iStock / Getty Images Plus]