Lexandria

Which symbol of America tells the country's story better: the flag, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or something else?

What is one history or civics book you'd recommend for summer reading?

Summer is one of the few times teachers get a chance to step back and think about the bigger picture.

What worked this year? What sparked the best discussions? What would you like to spend more time exploring next year?

When those ideas start taking shape, Lexandria will be here with free resources to help bring them into the classroom. Until then, we hope you're enjoying a well-earned break. 🍎📚

America will celebrate its 250th birthday in July.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence asserted that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed” and challenged centuries of inherited power and monarchy. The American founding drew from decades of debate about liberty, rights, power, and the responsibilities of a free people, launching what the Founders saw as a new experiment in self-government.

Lexandria’s eTextbook, The American Experiment: 250 Years of Enduring Principles, traces the intellectual roots of the American founding and examines the ideas and institutions that continue to shape civic life today.

250 years later, Americans still carry that experiment forward.

Read the free eTextbook here👇

Lexandria Social studies for the 21st century and beyond

Before summer break officially begins, here’s a quick civic vocabulary check:

Could your students explain liberty, governance, trade, equality before the law, or responsibility in their own words?

Which civic term do you think deserves more classroom discussion today?

Memorial Day is an opportunity not only to remember those who gave their lives in service to the country, but to reflect on the stories, sacrifices, and ideals that shaped the nation itself.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense captured the gravity of that moment when words and petitions gave way to conflict: “the period of debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide the contest…the Continent has accepted the challenge” Behind every holiday remembrance is a history filled with real people wrestling with impossible decisions about liberty, duty, sacrifice, and the future of self-government.

This Memorial Day, consider visiting a local memorial, reading a historic speech or letter, or exploring foundational texts like Common Sense that help illuminate the human cost and civic ideals behind America’s history.

How will you reflect on the past this Memorial Day?

Stories like The Mandalorian remind us that traditions, customs, and shared values shape more than just fictional worlds. They shape identity, belonging, and the way communities hold themselves together.

What makes a code more than a catchphrase?

Classrooms should be one of the first places students learn how to ask difficult questions, challenge ideas thoughtfully, and engage with people who see the world differently.