What is Civics?
Civics is about learning your rights and duties as a citizen and how the government in which you live functions.

Civics Games

• Pick Twelve
  In Pick Twelve you get to play the role of an attorney for the prosecution or defense of a civil or criminal case and analyze the likelihood of potential jurors to issue a verdict in your favor. Read the short biographies of these candidates and receive a score on your ability to project how these citizens' backgrounds may shape the outcome of trials.

• Pirates of the Preamble
  Help a band of pirates answer questions about American history and civics in order to find all the missing pieces of the Preamble of the United States Constitution. This is a fun way to reinforce the knowledge every United States citizen should have.

• There Should Be a Law
  Carry a bill from its inception into law by navigating the political process with fun multiple choice questions that test your knowledge on the civic "roadway".

• Image Detective
  Play the role of an investigative historian as you ask questions about images, then use your observational and critical-thinking skills to collect clues and draft conclusions, just like real historians (and journalists) do.

• News Gaming
  The "games" on News Gaming, which include "September 12" and "Madrid", are closer to editorial (or opinion) pieces, than the traditional news-based game. Interact with these graphics and consider what the commentary may be. These flash "games" strengthen the interpretive skills we put to use when encountering news stories with complex implications.

• An Ordinary Day: The Impact of Congress/Government
  This interactive flash graphic leads you through an average American town, showing how the actions of the United States Congress impacts everything that surrounds us.

• News Mania!
  Play a quiz-show about current events in News Mania! This continuously updated flash graphic tests and reinforces your knowledge about the "big headlines".

Game Sites and Other Resources

• Play the News
  Learn about current events and play a role in their outcome with the games on Play the News. These games are constantly updated and are not only great sources for information, encourage players to formulate opinions or project the outcome of on-going events.

• Interactive Narratives
  Check out the best interactive narrative graphics in the news! These graphics (flash-based and more) visually enhance, provide clarity or offer perspective on the news stories they support.

• Mercury News Photos
  Explore these Flash and Quicktime supported narrative news photo stories, which help link news writing and news photography in these dynamic presentations.

• New York Times Multimedia
  Learn with the interactive features on the New York Times multimedia site. Their interactive graphics are fascinating! Check back periodically to see what new projects they've uploaded.

• Student Voices
  The Student Voices Project is an excellent resource for young people who want to learn about current events and the civic process.

• Justice Learning
  An issue-based resource that helps high school aged students become informed about important themes in our democracy by connecting them to the best audio-based and written news sources online.

• Our Courts
  Our Courts provides resources for learning about all three branches of government from the vantage point of the judicial branch.

• PBS News Hour Extra
  A comprehensive, non-partisan, student/teacher geared news resource to learn about current events.

• Journalism 2.0
  An e-book about journalism in a New Media age.