Verizon Thinkfinity invites teachers of grades five through 12 to enter the iCivics Impact Challenge between now and November 30, 2011. Winners receive a VGo Robot and videoconference session with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for your school. 

Through the iCivics Impact Challenge, students can extend the learning beyond Constitution Day by visiting icivics.org and earning points while playing educational games related to the Supreme Court, the U.S. Constitution, presidential roles, and other civics-related topics. The games engage students in evaluating Supreme Court cases, becoming active in their community, voting, determining budgets, passing laws, arguing cases before a judge, and even being president for a day. The team with the highest number of points at midnight on November 30, 2011, wins the grand prize. 

For more ideas on how to make civics engaging in the classroom:
• Visit the Speaker Series section of the Thinkfinity Community to watch our interview with retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as she tells us why she created iCivics, how to keep students engaged in civic life, and what civic knowledge students need to know before they graduate. 
• Add your ideas to the discussion: What would you ask retired Supreme Court Justice O'Connor about teaching students civics?  
• Visit the History Explorers group in the Thinkfinity Community to exchange ideas on making civics curriculum more compelling: What can teachers do to enliven civic education and inspire active participation? Do you think some form of civic engagement should be required as part of a school's core curriculum? 

For additional lessons, interactive games and activities, visit the Constitution Day collection on Thinkfinity.org. 

Advocacy at the International Reading Association