The Civic Renewal through Education for Agency, Tolerance, and Engagement (CREATE) is an innovative approach to instruction, student learning and professional development in civics, that integrates American history, geography, government, and media literacy.

In cooperation with Muncie Community Schools (MCS), Ball State developed CREATE as an innovative approach to instruction, student learning, and professional development in civics that will integrate American history, geography, government, and media literacy.

CREATE seeks to cultivate a community of educators, administrators, and those with similar concerns, and will provide opportunities through a series of monthly workshops designed to equip educators with curricular resources, pedagogical strategies, and relational tools to help teachers guide inclusive, respectful discussions about fundamental civics and historical subjects—both in and outside the classroom.

CREATE May 2023 Newsletter

(A list of hyperlinks from the newsletter can be found at the bottom of the page.)

Hyperlinks from the Newsletter

• Summer Civic Learning Academy – A few seats remain. Click here to apply.
• CREATE Wants to Hear from You about Professional Development! Teachers will receive professional development compensation for taking a brief survey to help CREATE better support PD needs.
• To stay informed of the latest resources and opportunities, sign up for CREATE’s email list.
• Visit the CREATE website.

Professional Development Calendar

To qualify for PD funds, we ask that teachers complete a brief registration form prior to the event and a brief survey following the event.

• June 5-16 – CREATE Summer Civics Learning Academy, Muncie, IN
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $3,500
• June 18 – Indiana Bar Foundation–We the People Summer Institute, Indianapolis, IN
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200/day
• June 20-22 – RISEUP 2023 Conference, Atlanta, GA 
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200/day
• June 24 – Indiana Bar Foundation–Civics Engages All Students Institute, Indianapolis, IN
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200/day
• June 25-28 – International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: TBD
• June 26-29 – Colonial North America, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• June 26-29 – History of American Protest, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• June 26-29 – Lives of the Enslaved, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• June 26-29 – RISEUP 2023 Conference, Cincinnati, OH
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200/day
• July TBA – Summer Educators’ Conference, C-SPAN
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: TBD
• July 9-22 – The Making of America: Colonial Era to Reconstruction, Gilder Lehrman, Washington, DC (Participants will receive a stipend of $2,200 from host to cover housing, meals, and travel.)
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: TBD
• July 10-13 – American Indian History since 1900, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 10-13 – Presidential Leadership at Historic Crossroads, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 10-24 – CREATE Leadership Academy, Muncie, IN
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200
• July 11-13 – RISEUP 2023 Conference, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 
  • Format: Conference
  • Stipend: $200/day
• July 17-20 – Black Women’s History, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 17-20 – World War II, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 24-27 – History of Chinese in the United States, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 24-27 – History of Latina and Latino People in the U.S., Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 31-August 3 – The Global Cold War, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session
• July 31-August 3 – Making Modern America: Business & Politics in the Twentieth Century, Gilder Lehrman
  • Format: Webinar
  • Stipend: $100/session

FOCUS on Classroom Resources

• The Resources for Educators tab on the CREATE website currently offers lessons and activities for Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers.

iCivics Topic Examples:

• Elementary School
  • How Do Communities Make Good Decisions?
  • How Do We Celebrate Our Shared Traditions?
  • What Makes a Good Leader?
  • Why Do We Need Maps?
• Middle School
  • Woman Suffrage and World War I
  • Cast Your Vote
  • Immigration Nation
  • Gerrymandering: Where Do We Draw the Line?
• High School
  • Colonial Beginnings
  • Got Grievances?
  • Six Roles of the President
  • Win the White House
  • Veto Power
  • Power to the States!

iCivics also offers teachers a wide variety of online PD opportunities, including readings, recorded presentations, and webinars. Examples include Civic Leadership: Building a Community One Step at a Time, Cut through the Noise: Teaching Students Media Literacy, Teaching with Primary Sources, Teaching Civic Education as a Matter of National Security, and Your Roadmap for Teaching Controversial Issues.

Feel free to contact CREATE with any questions or comments you have.